As hippy said - dodgy clients follow a very similar pattern in their initial query.
1. I'm ringing about a massage.
2. What do you do?
3. Can I see you now; in 10 minutes; 30 minutes - 99% of the time they want to see you immediately and won't book in advance.
4. 99% of them will just come out and ask if you do extras or ask 'what else do you do?'.
5. 99% ask for a 'nice relaxation massage' - once I was asked for a sensual relaxation massage (dead giveaway).
6. They'll ask for a lot of work on their quads. (Unless of course they turn around and say they're a cyclist\marathon runner\or some other legitimate sports person)
7. They have a private phone number - it doesn't come up on caller ID.
8. I advertise as a mobile business and they'll usually ask to come to my house. I tell them I only do mobile and they usually won't want you to go to their house or they'll say I'll have to ring you back - and then they usually don't or they'll say they'll have to ring back when there's no-one home.
9. Sometimes they'll even ask what oil you use.
10. Sometimes they'll just ask if you mind if they're nude.
11. When you mention the medical form over the phone, they'll usually say they've never had to fill one in before or they don't need one or what do you need to do it for? They don't want to do it.
I lead the phone conversation and things I say in the initial phone call are:
HIM: I'm ringing about a massage, what do you do?
ME: I'm a remedial and sports massage specialist. On the initial consultation I have a medical form you need to fill in and then we'll discuss what it is exactly I'll be doing during the massage. Just for a rough idea what areas are you particularly wanting me to work on?
Then, if he turns around and says something like 'oh, i just want a nice relaxation massage,' - then you've got the opportunity to suss him out a bit further. I always say something like 'that's fine, during a relaxation massage I start on your back, neck and shoulders and arms, then work down your legs, then get you to flip over and do the front of your legs. I don't massage belly's.
I usually say that's my usual routine but if you want your feet, scalp or hands done just let me know. Sometimes they'll say things like 'can you just do my back and scalp, I don't want my legs done' - or variations on what they do or don't want.
As soon as the phone rings I can usually tell if they'll be dodgy - my intuition really kicks in as soon as the phone rings. If I think the're dodgy I'll even say 'this is a genuine therapeutic service, I don't do extras'. They'll usually then hang up. I also have this on my phone message.
My number 1 rule is - give them the benefit of the doubt to start with. I know myself when I see someone new - hairdresser, beauty therapist, chiropractor etc, I quiz them to start off to see if they're up to my standards and if I think they're going to be any good so I expect potential clients to do the same to me.
I'm different to a lot of the people on here - I do a lot of things that people here won't because my speciality is sports and remedial massage.
* If people want to go nude I don't mind as I tell them that they'll be covered in towels and I uncover the part I'll be working on - a lot of people don't wear underwear. Quite often they'll say 'I don't wear underwear, is that o'k?' I actually prefer my clients nude a lot of the time when working on their glutes.
* I do massage glutes unless they don't want me to. Most of my work is remedial and I find glutes very important when working on their hips, lower back and hamstrings. I explain everything before I do it - usually in the consultation at the beginning.
* I do a mobile service and don't have a problem seeing male clients. 3/4 of my client base is male and I've only ever had 1 dodgy client slip through. I told him on the phone that it was a genuine service and he said that's ok, I've got a sore shoulder I want worked on. Then, during the massage he wanted a bit more so I told him to get dressed, the massage was finished.
* I don't usually massage abdomens but I will usually do chests.
* Because most of my work is remedial I do work on male clients in the groinal area but I tell them what I'm going to do, why and tell them to put a hand over their bits so I'm not touching anything. I work with a football team and quite often they have groin pain and adductor problems you need to work on - mostly involving the piriformis, psoas and illiacus so you need to get in close.
*During the initial consult I'll tell them what I'll do and why. For instance, if they come to me with lower back pain I'll ask them about the pain, where it is, does it go up the back or down into the glutes or legs, any pain in the hips, groin or belly? Then I'll tell them what I'm going to massage, any stretches I'll do, how other muscles can be affected, check their alignment.
I've been very fortunate that the majority of clients who ring me are genuine and get a lot of good referrals. I have clients who I've built up a good relationship with over time and will have a good old natter to on the phone when they ring for an appointment. Some of my friends will try and torment me about extras as a joke - they'll ring up and put on a crap fake accent and ask what I'll do to them (they forget I have their number in my phone so I know it's them ringing. There's even been a few times where I've accidently scratched a regular when my nails got too long and told them that I'll have to charge them extra for that type of massage. There's only once I've gotten nasty with a client and told them 'I'm a massage therapist, not a prostitute'. He apologised.
But I love my job, knowing that I'm helping people with injury prevention and rehabilitation.
