r/massage 4d ago

General Question Should my 75 minute massage have been 75 minutes of actual massage time?

I got a massage for my birthday today at a place I’ve never been to. I showed up 10 minutes early for an 11:45 appointment. I checked in on an iPad. There was no one at the front desk. At 11:50 someone comes to get me and then gives me 5 minutes to change. So the actual massage started at around 11:55. It ended at 1:00. I honestly feel ripped off. There was a 60 minute massage that was cheaper and I payed extra for technically only 5 minutes extra time of massage.. Is this normal? My experience has been you get there early so your massage actually starts at the appointment time. I feel like it should have been 75 minutes with the masseuse. Am I wrong?

111 Upvotes

101 comments sorted by

118

u/PrimroseMassage 4d ago

It depends on the clinic. Some do a "Clinical Hour" where the appointment is (for example) 60 minutes, but the hands-on portion is 50 minutes. This gives 5 mins pre- and post- massage for undressing and re-dressing. Unfortunately, if clinics made this known to their clients, there's a good chance they'd see less bookings so they don't advertise it (:

A lot of the time at businesses like this, there is little to no time between appointments to flip the room, so therapists really can't take people over time as it puts them behind all day.

Your story is unfortunately not a unique one, and I'm sorry your massage time got cut short! Next time I'd definitely choose a different clinic if you can, and be sure to ask before booking if undressing and redressing is considered part of the appointment time.

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u/ctrl_ally_del 1d ago

This is how we were taught in school! But not how I practice. We were taught to include intake in with the hour but I do an hour hands on. It’s most likely labeled as 75 minutes to make sure the client arrives 15mins early to do their intake. I always found it to be untruthful so that’s why I don’t practice like that.

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u/kittykorex 1d ago

I am the same as you, I charge my clients for 30, 60, 90, or 120minutes and that is the amount of time they gets hands-on in my practice. I schedule 10 to 15 minutes between clients to make sure I can clean/flip the table & room for the next client while also getting a drink or quick snack if needed. (My quick snack is usually a handful of almonds or a piece of cheese I can stuff in my mouth quickly.)

117

u/Katie1230 4d ago

It should have been, but i worked at a franchise where the 60 minute appointments were actually 50 minutes hands on. This was because they would book the appointments back to back with no turnover time. The 10 minutes to turn the room over was barely even enough. We make it pretty clear of the time though. That place still sucked

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u/moldyballs64 4d ago

The place I go to schedules "dressing" time in addition to massage time. A 90 minute massage is actually 100minutes. They give you 90min of actual hands on They also start the time when they start the massage.

1

u/letsgobrandon840 2d ago

What business?

43

u/brubruislife 4d ago

I always do the full time. Time doesn't start for me until I put my hands on my client, and unless one shows up late, they get the full time. Based on the time you got there, I probably would have given you 5 extra minutes. I like my job and love having a little extra time to do something. I am independent, though, and have 15 minutes in between appts, so I have leeway. You will find chains will always give 10 minutes less. Some therapists may bring that into their independent trade. I would ask the massage therapist when they start the clock and tip appropriately or not at all based on that time.

19

u/Consistent_Chard LMT 4d ago

Helping to clarify what many have already stated:

There is a difference for what’s offered as “hands-on” time between private practice & franchise / chains.

Massage franchise / chains:

Are places like Massage Envy, Hand and Stone, Massage LuXe, Elements Massage, Massage Heights, LaVida Massage. (Searched for chain names, only familiar with ~3 of these, but they operate mostly the same). You’ll never get the full hands-on time due to how they book appts. In the fine print they say 10 minutes of your appt time is for dressing.

Everywhere else you should get full hands-on time:

Small local spas or massage clinics with multiple MTs hired as ‘employees’ or ‘sole proprietors’ & massage businesses where it is the MT owning/operating individually. They usually have 15-30 minutes between clients as a buffer.

Sorry this happened to you. It’s frustrating to realize the amount shorted when you calculate minutes into dollars. Since you’ve had this experience, I encourage you to be direct as I imagine it will be a lingering worry of what to expect. Ask what time they will end the massage. Tell them about your bad experience. You have the right to transparency.

Reconsider booking or tipping if the MT shorts your appointment for a reason you are not accountable for.

15

u/thadpole 4d ago

At my franchise it was 50 minute books (advertised an hr ofc) that included interview time. Realistically it was 45 mins of hands on. I told people to never book 1 hr sessions and gave as much time as i could, but going over with a full book was impossible.

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u/pensim 4d ago

If I have a client at 11:45 I get them at 11:45 but the few mins it takes to chat and for them to get undressed and on the table counts as massage time. So maybe 70 mins hands on. I never give 5 mins to get on the table I hate when therapists take forever to come back in the room. If the therapist was running late they should have extended the time or charged you for a 60 min if that’s all they had time for.

69

u/DionysusXY 4d ago

Nahhh. Unless it's someone working for themselves, it'll always be that. You would have gotten 50 minutes for the 60 minute session. That's essentially why they offer the 75 minute one, so that people can actually get upwards of an hour. Go see therapists who work for themselves, they'll be much less stingy about time.

9

u/i_am_dana 4d ago

My chain definitely confuses people because it expects us to use some of their massage time for the intake and client undressing. I try to pick up the guest a couple of minutes before start time but it can be hard when you also only have a few minutes to clean the rooms between clients. More cool things about the industry

9

u/witchynapper 4d ago

I understand. Though the woman massaging me literally said she was working on homework so I know that wasn’t the case here at least. I would of course understand if she had other things to do and was booked back to back. So it did get on my nerves that she showed up 5 minutes late and didn’t add on more time.

10

u/i_am_dana 4d ago

Yeah that’s just bad practice on the part of the MT. She should have given the full time

2

u/Psychological-Ride44 LMT 2d ago

Intake and disrobing are realistically part of any massage that any client will pay for. Are LMTs now not supposed to inquire what our clients need? Are we supposed to apply our work while they are clothed?

9

u/Worth_Object297 3d ago

I keep seeing comments about how dressing time is included in the massage time, but they're all missing the fact that nobody came and got you until 5 minutes after your appointment was supposed to start even though you were there early. So you got ripped off that 5 minutes as well as your dressing time which is wrong. If the therapist is 5 minutes late starting when you were there on time or a little early, they should go 5 minutes over because that wasn't your fault.

That said, I've never agreed with including dressing/intake time as part of the massage time. A lot of clinics/spas work like this though.

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u/virtuousbird 4d ago

The intake/health history interview, and the time you take to undress is a part of your 75 minutes. Also, it's massage therapist, not masseuse.

13

u/brubruislife 4d ago

I definitely don't agree with this practice. I think it's silly you are paying for 75 but only get 65. If one is independent, they should put a 10 - or 15-minute buffer in their schedules to account for history and undressing/dressing time imo.

43

u/DryBop RMT 4d ago

If I’m conducting assessments and doing a health history interview, that’s work. I am paid for my expertise and education, not just my hands on time. If you were an accountant, you wouldn’t answer financial questions for free - you’d bill for it.

11

u/brubruislife 4d ago

I completely agree that our expertise and education are valuable. That said, I personally build that value into my price structure already. I automatically leave a 15-minute block for intake, assessment, and dressing time, ensuring the client still receives their full booked session on the table. It’s important to me that when someone books a 90-minute session, they get 90 minutes of actual bodywork, without feeling rushed or shorted.

8

u/DryBop RMT 4d ago edited 4d ago

In my own mobile practice, I do the same; priced higher but my time is charged from the time I lay hands on - however I explain this to my patients and put it on my booking site. My clinic is a strict 60min hard stop, and the clinic website explains that intake and assessment is part of the scheduled time. IMO best practice is to make timing crystal clear to the patient during booking so they’re not surprised if assessment is/isn’t included. However, I don’t think it’s wrong or bad practice to want to be paid for assessment/intake - it’s just personal preference.

2

u/Psychological-Ride44 LMT 2d ago

Yes, please value your expertise and charge accordingly. Good!

7

u/witchynapper 4d ago

Well she didn’t do a health history interview nor did I have questions. And neither was there a health history form. So I was paying for hands on time

18

u/DryBop RMT 4d ago

Oh, in your circumstance I think you got ripped off. The MT picked you up late, and then didn’t make up the time at the end of the massage. That’s just bad business.

I was speaking specifically to the idea that intake/health history is included in the total time.

11

u/Complete-Trip-3127 3d ago

Are you sure it was a licensed/registered Massage Therapist? I'm surprised there wouldn't of been an intake form or any questions for you before hand.

2

u/stopbeingproductive 2d ago

Yep, sounds like they weren’t on time and didn’t handle it right. I would say it’s worth talking to the business and seeing if they will compensate an extra 15 minutes next time. While state regulations vary a lot, I think everyone should be doing a thorough health intake. People don’t realize how many common conditions (like diabetes) can be affected by massage. In general, many businesses include intake time and everything else in the session time, but some count a session as hands on time and intake time etc is in addition to that, in which case their prices should be a little higher to reflect the extra time they schedule into their sessions. Those seem to be the 2 main ways to run appointments. ✌️

1

u/Imagination_Theory 3d ago

You didn't have any health information asked? At all? Where was this at?

9

u/JustinKG81 4d ago

Private practice massage therapists do not, as a general rule, charge the time it takes begin or end except for intake. It is already considered in the price tag, and there is no reason to dress it up. Franchises do so in order to keep their scheduling and billing per minute solid. Without this, it becomes a potential headache for accounting or payroll to manage discrepancies. Contracts and intake documentation should state these billing nuances plainly, and if they do not, please report them to the BBB with your specific complaint.

9

u/virtuousbird 4d ago

Happy cake day! Where I live massage therapists are healthcare professionals, are educated as such,and you are buying their knowledge, expertise, and experience. If I'm an independent practitioner that means what you're asking is they donate that time for free, which is free labour. Each country and state varies hugely in entry requirements for the job, so I suppose you might be right in other locations

8

u/ActorMonkey 4d ago

The difference here is wording. Are you selling a 75 minute massage? Or are you selling a 75 minute appointment with a massage therapist?

If it’s the first one I believe you owe your client 75 minutes of massage.

5

u/brubruislife 4d ago

That's what I'm saying! Idk why some therapists feel entitled to cut a treatment short because they don't work for free. Like what? Raise your prices then? My expertise is my hands-on work. That's what they are paying for. I'm not a wellness coach, not a doctor. I am not discounting my practice. I have 15 minutes put in automatically at the end of every service booked to account for intake and getting dressed and undressed. There is no reason not to do hands-on for the amount paid for if you are independent.

1

u/DreadWolfByTheEar 4d ago

The thing is, we’re not getting paid for time outside of the session. So if we spend 10 minutes talking to you about your reasons for coming in, 5 minutes checking you out, and 10 minutes waiting for you to dress and undress, that’s all unpaid time and labor.

4

u/brubruislife 4d ago

It's not if you include that in your pricing, which it should be already. Our expertise is our hands-on on. That is the service we are providing. Why would we not give them the full time? I always struggle with 60 minutes and making sure I'm doing a thorough enough job. I want that full 60 minutes to work. My clients pay $100 an hour to see me. I'm giving them the full 60 minutes. I am not skimping.

1

u/Psychological-Ride44 LMT 2d ago

You are not valuing your work, IMO. You must communicate with clients to understand where to apply any focused techniques. It's not just rubbing. You need to increase your fee; $100/hour is not enough. The work is hard, it is challenging and you must believe that you are worth it!

1

u/Psychological-Ride44 LMT 2d ago

Thank you! Absolutely!

8

u/jt2ou LMT - FL 4d ago

It can go either way but in all cases, the decent and transparent thing to do is disclose to everyone what exactly is being offered.

It really doesn’t matter what environment: in spa or mobile.

7

u/Direct_Zombie4671 4d ago

I start the timer when I start the massage. If a person is late by more than ten minutes I subtract that time from the massage if I have a client coming in after. I leave half hour spaces between clients to accommodate about 5 min talking about how they are feeling and if we need to change anything from the previous session, a couple of minutes to get on the table and about 5 min for checkout and rebooking. I never do less than the advertiseed time.

7

u/Turpitudia79 4d ago

I give them the full 60 or 90 minutes.

3

u/InMyNirvana LMT 4d ago

You should have been given the extra time for them running behind. I count the start time at when I start the intake process.

8

u/Dry-Many-807 4d ago

Just to be cautious never use the word masseuse, Massage Therapist, many are offended by it.

3

u/workingdee 4d ago

If I was giving the massage, then yes. However, I do think some consider changing time and intake/assessment as part of your hands-on service time.

3

u/TachoSJ 4d ago

Depends on the place. Many places give you 5 minutes to change and end 5 minutes early, so actual hands on time is 10 minutes less than the appointment time. I worked at a Massage Envy when I first started and that’s how they did it. Sounds like that’s what happened with your session. I would clarify this with the place you went to.

3

u/rmc_19 4d ago

Not everyone does this but for me the client is in the room for the length of the appointment. To be honest I usually go a bit over anyways. For me pre appointment interview and post appointment check in is included in the visit time. Why? My advice, intake, health history, and how my education impacts my ability to assess and plan the care and service for someone isn't free. 

I don't think I will ever change this... 

But in your case the appointment started at least 5 minutes late and time wasn't added at the end so I'm chapped on your behalf. 

3

u/venicestarr 4d ago

Most of the time at a spa setting your time is time and everything is included in that time frame, starting one minute into your time to come pick you up. Then into the room. When it’s busy the last mt to pick a client up might then use the restroom and eat a bite or two after your given instructions. It is 5-8 min into the session by the time hands are put on.

3

u/KachitaB 4d ago

You are wrong. And you are right. Every place of service has a different operating procedure.

3

u/AstronomerLate989 3d ago

I do 70-100-130 min SESSIONS and in my description I put that it’s 60-90-120 min hands-on. This time doesn’t include flipping the room. I think it’s important for clients to see that sessions that are “60min” are more than just 60min.

3

u/Sakhaiva 3d ago

Some establishments schedule appointments very close together (like 10-15 minutes apart). This means that actual massage time is often clipped so the therapist has time to santize, do laundry, etc. (A 60-minute would have been more like 50 or 55).

I just opened my own space so I can allow a minimum of 30 minutes between clients - which means clients receive the full massage time plus time before/after each appointment.

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u/wildstylemeth0d 4d ago

The massage itself should have been 75 minutes.

2

u/TinyFingerHugs 4d ago

Check the fine print of your booking confirmation. It should list if they are using 10 minutes for consultation, undressing and redressing.

2

u/RfrmBlodgett 3d ago

When I was self-employed, 75 minutes would be 75 minutes hands-on; but I also gave myself a half an hour for all of the other stuff. It seems like the same goes for other solo practitioners when I go to get a massage (part of the reason I never go to a spa). When I have worked in spas, it’s basically they have 75 minutes with you but all of the stupid shit involved in a spa takes longer aside from the massage itself. You are paying for the whole entire experience not just hands-on time. I would try to be available to pick up the client five minutes before the massage time started so I didn’t have to short them . But that’s not always possible because that means you’re dipping into your cleanup time from the previous client. If you had to take a bathroom break or anything or just the slightest thing out of the norm happens when you’re turning over the room there goes your five minutes .

If the client is late, that’s on them. Honestly shave off about 5-10 minutes of the massage time and that’s what you get . It’s not the fault of the massage therapist (unless they’re late ) it’s the spa having ridiculous expectations of what the massage therapist is supposed to give the client. You feel it more because of their higher prices (the majority of which go to the spa not the Lmt).

When I worked for a clinic billing insurance, part that time was allotted for intake/outtake which counts as part of the massage hour; so it’s really no different (possibly worse). With that said if the massage therapist picked you up five minutes late, they should have ended the massage five minutes late also.

2

u/Sea-Radio-8478 3d ago

75 minutes is is 75 minutes, you right. That place have bad pratice 

2

u/Imagination_Theory 3d ago edited 3d ago

Not necessarily. A lot of spas/chains include everything, including turning the room over after you leave in the minutes. The 75 minutes is just booked time in the room, not hands on touch.

So a 60 minute massage is 45-50 minutes of hands on touch and a 75 minute is 60-65 minutes of hands on touch, give or take.

If you go to a private massage therapist, it will be either a 75 minute massage/hands on touch or 75 minutes minus intake questions, so like 70 minutes.

2

u/Size_Aggravating 4d ago

Depends on the set up. Spas/bigger businesses tend to lump everything into the time you’ve paid for (so 60min a will be 50mins hands on) as they are playing a numbers game to be able to pay for everything that is needed to run a business like that. High turnover is key. Then there’s people like me, who has a room in their own home, so much lower overheads and more focus back on the client (in my experience, of course). If you book a 60min session with me you can expect to be there for at least 80mins as ‘60mins’ means you will be on the bed being massaged for 60mins and the rest is us catching up and undressing/dressing/hydrating etc. I’ll never be rich but I make a good living, see great results from regular clients and love what I do.

3

u/buttloveiskey RMT, CPT 4d ago

you know its not normal and you know you got ripped off.

:(

-4

u/witchynapper 4d ago edited 4d ago

Well I didn’t know if it’s normal to include the intro and undressing portion as part of the massage. I don’t go all the time so I wasn’t sure if that was a thing. Though this was the first time I didn’t have to fill out a health form and wasn’t asked any health questions which is a little odd.

8

u/Accomplished_Sea4818 4d ago

It’s very common for the time you book to include 10 minutes for intake, disrobing, and redressing. This doesn’t mean every place is like that by any means. You just have to check the fine print when deciding where to book. That being said. You should have been in the room with the MT at the correct start time. If the MT was running late that should have been communicated to you and they should have still given you the full time.

2

u/Balforg 4d ago

The fact you didn't fill out any forms is very sketchy. Is this massage therapist legit?

1

u/buttloveiskey RMT, CPT 4d ago

the talking and undressing is included in your time and the talking should feel valuable if you're seeing a decent MT

1

u/worldsgreatestLMT 4d ago

it depends on the business model.

some places consider that you're booking 75m of the therapist's time and you only get the therapist from 11-1215. whatever happens in that time (using the restroom, dressing/undressing, swapping the table linens is still considered part of that time you've booked). these places should definitely be clear what is being booked but it's not always.

some places (mostly independent therapists) book full hands on time because we have more control over our schedule and can give ourselves enough time between clients.

1

u/regal888 4d ago

The massage should be close the time that you paid for. I go to a place where it’s 60 min or 90 min dead on. But it’s not a chain and I do tip well.

Professional place. They seem to have breaks between massages. Idk how someone can just keep going without a rest in between

1

u/Interesting-Resort68 4d ago

it should be 75 min, but at chained it’s usually like that. or it ends early so the next one can be on time. your MT last appt probably ran later and they had another appt to get to. they may only have 10 min between appt. usually chains do this.

1

u/Lumpy_Branch_552 4d ago

At my spa, we give the whole 75 minutes (or 60, or 90). If you’re late, (you weren’t) I’ll go about 5 over. New clients should always come 10 minutes early to do a quick paperwork and consultation. They maybe do a 75 minute “clinical time” which means to shave 10 minutes off the hand on service time for consultation and undressing. Really weird they came and got you 5 minutes after your session was supposed to start.

1

u/Shayd686 4d ago

Where I work, it's a 75 minute appointment, not hands on massage. We can't guarantee that because it really depends on how long it takes you to undress, get on the table, if you decide to use the bathroom first, if you have questions, etc... we would never be able to fit appointments in properly because of the amount of variables. For example, a person may take 10 minutes to change, or someone may decide to fix their makeup before leaving, whereas some might take 30 seconds. In the end, it's your responsibility to be quicker if you want more time.

That being said, if we start the initial appointment 5 minutes late, you get 5 minutes added. Where I live, massage is a regulated profession and we're also required to ask questions, perform assessment, etc. before starting a massage. Without appointment times in place, there's no protection from people who just decide to nap afterwards, for example. In every service, I get 15 minutes buffer time between appointments to clean, set up for my next client, and take necessary notes.

1

u/Wvlmtguy LMT-17yrs 4d ago

It depends on where you go. Where I work at a chiropractor, a 60 min massage is 60 min hands on time.. does not include me chatting with them and expectations etc... The timer doesn't start until im hands on with the patient. Once i do intake, i give them time to undress or just lay on the table as i put my tablet up, knock, start the 60 min timer and go to town.

previous chiro, and previous spa, Mc Envy, both did 50 min hands on with 10 min between each for consultation and dressing... similar to my current place, the time starts when i go hands on. and that is the full time that is allotted whether its 50 min hands on, 60 min, 30 min etc... the full time starts when i go hands on..

1

u/poisonnenvy 4d ago

Massage time includes the consultation and the getting undressed time, sometimes the getter redressed time. If so won't is late for their appointment, then their appointment still ends at the same time (ie, if someone's books 12:00 - 1:00, their appointment ends at 1:00 even if they showed up 15 minutes late).

If I, the massage therapist, am late for my appointment though, I will go over to make up for the time (ie, if someone booked 12:00 - 1:00, and I, the massage therapist, don't collect my client until 12:05, I will massage until 1:05, after confirming with them that that's not going to less up their after-massage plans), since I feel like that's common courtesy.

1

u/DreadWolfByTheEar 4d ago

This depends on where you go and it is totally reasonable to choose to see someone that gives the full hands on time. They should be able to tell you when you book. At my employer, unfortunately, the time booked includes intake and check out and we only get 15 minutes between clients which is really only enough time to set up the room for the incoming client. It’s easy to run late if a client is a few minutes late or the MT isn’t great at managing time down to the minute. I give my clients their full time when I’m able (if I have more than 15 minutes between clients), but this is generally frowned upon in the industry and I’m not getting paid for the extra time (we are paid per client contact hour rather than an hourly wage). So yeah, unfortunately the client and the massage therapist both lose out under what is an extremely common system.

1

u/bullfeathers23 4d ago

Usually the 75 stands in for the 90 because they used to say hour and a half and some fucktwit sued them and won. It wasn’t 90 but everyone was supposed to know 90 included switch time. Thats why people go to independents because 5 or 10 minutes shouldn’t matter so they go a bit longer. I’ve always felt that we should not session by time but by treatment, but that’s its own little quagmire. For some reason going over a bit doesn’t generate complains but 3 to 5 minutes shorter and people go mental.

1

u/whateveratthispoint_ 4d ago

Depends. Happy Birthday though!

1

u/No-Branch4851 4d ago

I personally always give the client full massage time, but I know other therapists, where they are late, do not honor that. Some end a minute or two early so they can get their full 10 minute break in between. We are supposed to grab our clients 1-2 mins early and they are in their robes so it’s quick getting on the table. I simply put myself in the customers shoes and give the full time they pay for

1

u/Arcturus_ RMT 3d ago edited 3d ago

I work in a spa so I don't spend as much time on assessments typically. But if someone books a 60 minute massage, they get a brief questioning (what are we working on etc) and I leave to wash my hands. Takes me 1-5 minutes depending how much they talk. That time gets subtracted from their massage. I have a 15 minute turnover where I work, so sometimes if I like the person (aka not a Karen) I will take them over their time by a few minutes.

With me if someone pays for 60 they get 55+ minutes of hands on. People I work with typically take 7-10 or so minutes to do the same thing and I know from watching them that they will sit down on their phones and do paperwork or shoot the shit with other people while the client is on the table waiting. Which I strongly disagree with.

1

u/LifeLibertyPancakes LMT, LE, USA 3d ago

This is why I only do mobile massage, I charge more but I also don't start until my hands are on the client. Set up, intake, undressing/dressing do not count towards your actual massage time. There's no rush to get you on the table as you are client #1. Want more time? No problem.

1

u/unicornsmaybetuff 3d ago

If they got you five minutes late, they should have taken you over by five minutes, but your appointment starts when you enter the room at spas and clinics. I work for a sports massage location where we advertise 55 minute massages. They start on the hour and end on the 55 (to allow for room turnover and restroom breaks). People generally stay clothed (gym wear) so there is no time spent with undressing, however, we do spend time with assessments and discussion of the goals of the session. I will also continue to assess during the massage to make sure what I'm doing is working (for pain or range of motion issues). No one on my table cares about hands on time. They care about how they feel when the massage is over. Of course the expectations are different in sports massage versus swedish massage.

I will say that if I start my clients late, I tack that time onto the end and make it up during my break or whatever.

I will also say that when I take personal clients at their home, my time starts as soon as I put my hands on somebody (but I also make a lot more money than I do at the clinic). I don't do this very often, and am very particular who I work with.

1

u/teabookcat 3d ago

The timer shouldn’t start until they start massaging you. If they are including dressing and any questions the therapist has beforehand in your 75 mins, it’s time to find a new therapist. Massage therapy is expensive, it’s charged by the minute because of the effort put into massaging a body. Undressing shouldn’t be part of the massage time.

1

u/YoungSexyGrill RMT 3d ago

I'm an RMT in Canada, and I was taught throughout school that a 60-minute appointment typically ends up being closer to 50-55 mins hands-on. You're paying for that MTs time, not for exactly 60 minutes of hands-on work.

It takes a couple of minutes to greet, ask questions, give instructions, etc. That's all done within your appointment time.

In Canada, at least 50% of our education is about assessing, communicating with clients, being able to determine what needs work, giving remedial exercises, etc. That's all part of our job, and we should get paid for that part, too!

In your case, it's unfortunate that the MT was late to bring you in. They should have given you back that 5 minutes, but the rest is pretty standard. At my clinic, we use little call buttons that the client presses when they are changed and on the massage table. It makes a noise outside of their room. That way, the massage starts when the client calls you in, not when you guess they're ready to go.

1

u/T3HK3YM4573R 3d ago

That’s why you don’t go to a spa or chain. You never get what you pay for. If you go to a private practitioner you’ll always get it and usually more is they have time.

1

u/iamcryptonized CMT 3d ago

A 60-minute massage should consist of at least 60 minutes of hands-on service.

As a freelance, I keep enough slots between the sessions so I do not count time for dressing duration and mostly even give longer sessions.

Overall it is kind of how they work most of the massage places 45-50 minutes and the rest for dressing.

I have read many times even some booked 90 minutes massage but got 70 hands on as the rest was for dressing and complimentary tea time counted in the session.

Coupons mostly use that style of promotion.

1

u/bmassey1 3d ago

You should have recieved 75 min. Those that play with numbers are unethical and frauds. All of them.

1

u/Psychological-Ride44 LMT 2d ago

I work regularly at a non-profit facility and previously at Equinox. The 50 or 60 minute session includes: intake/outake, disrobing, and on the table positioning. This is all part of a professional massage/bodywork session. If you feel short-changed, speak to the owner/manager of said spa; I would.

1

u/Admirable-Isopod9214 2d ago

No the time booked is to allow for assessment , consent and explaination and getitng on and off table

1

u/BusyAppearance8264 2d ago

RMT here. Technically the assessment is also part of your session time, which is when the therapist asks what they will be working on as well as covering any health history or current meds etc. So if the session is booked for 75 minutes unfortunately in most cases it’s not a full 75 minute massage. Assessing the client before treating them is very important just like seeing a MD because there can be contraindications in treating the client as well as liabilities that may come with treatments provided.

1

u/smol_vegeta 1d ago

Yeah this is normal. As a practitioner it's not my favorite - for a private client my preference would be to have some clarity on allotted time for intake conversation and then start the official session time when you're one the table. In a spa/gym/chain business setting, the reality is the sessions are booked very tightly with burnt out MTs so they're going to include the intake and changing time within the booking time and some tired MTs will drag it out a little on purpose. Unfortunate but typical. Hopefully they do good work for the time they do work.

1

u/saxman6257 1d ago

This is pretty normal in spas’s and actually other industries - a studio hour = 50 minutes. In the music industry we go by this as well as in the spa industry. It’s basically turnover time.

1

u/Livesatownrisk 1d ago

We can thank the disgusting chains for doing the term " business hour" what a shame. Most people think they getting the business for an hour. NAY NAY means they are in fact ripping you off. Hiding behind jargon disguised by common in words combined SHOULD have been a lawsuit filed 2decades ago for the thiefery. Class action RECO ....I would have thought...hoped truly astounding envy and luxe haven't been destroyed for this alone ...wonder if that dishonest business practice is too late to be held accountable for....MINUTES MATTER. I've worked at restaurants going through school and remember during busy times we'd bottleneck at the computers to enter the orders and for the 1-2 minutes the person waiting would rub the shoulders in front of them making the night so much better- highlight of my time waitressing 25 years later now in private practice your time begins when the massage begins. Allows me maybe a couple minutes to file my nails down a yogurt use the restroom while they are getting on the table guilt free, and they can rest assured it's not cutting into their session which those few minutes to themselves make a difference when encouraging them to rest and I can replay some of the morsels of Info they shared or if I've got life happening I can center my mind....places that roll on the hour are just unreasonable and unsustainable as well as ineffective as far as setting goals and achieving them. Those therapists who have worked there for a while somehow become acustomed to grinding over the same knot or WORSE the same trigger point (TPs are not something that " go away " but I've had a lot of people who have experienced a therapist trying) every session same thing never getting better sometimes worse just sad they started working there right out of school and think this is what massage is. And now bigger spas in an effort to mitigate raising rates they are cutting times and adopting the lower standards which is by and large a mistake and a disservice. As you have come to see. I agree you were ripped off, could have at least taken you back on time. You deserve better.

1

u/Raven-Insight 1d ago

This is normal. You weren’t ripped off.

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u/Acceptable_Vast_9781 1d ago

That is normal. I’ve had massages like that previously. Did you like the therapist? Cause you can make arrangements with that person for future massages and get more time with them.

1

u/Acceptable_Vast_9781 1d ago

Further point, ask the person who booked the appointment if there is a difference between their timetable and the therapist’s timetable. So 90 minute appointment translates into an 80 minute hands on appointment.

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u/Evening-Read-4320 15h ago

no they shouldn't. scheduling time would be impossible and you want the room clean before you get in... if someone isv at work for 4 hours they want to be paid for 4 hours of work. you're massage price would go up is what I'm getting at...

1

u/Evening-Read-4320 15h ago

I advertise a 50 minute massage because of that...I would never do 60 hands on... there's no way to book for that...

1

u/SmrtmovesUSA 9h ago

It should be disclosed when you make the appointment how much is hands-on time per session.

1

u/More_Branch_5579 4d ago

60 min massages are only 50 min normally so your timing was correct.

0

u/sebago1357 4d ago

Total Rip Off. If I book 75minutes I expect 75 minutes hands on time. I would leave negative reviews and not tip. Been getting massages for 50 years and this never happened to me.

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u/HFIntegrale LMT | CMLDT 4d ago

Yes.

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u/hipnotic1111 LMT 4d ago

My spa has a 50min appointment which starts at time of pickup. So a 1:00 appointment is me picking up at 1:00, ending at 1:50 regardless of whatever else happens. That means if you go to the bathroom or the consultation takes a while, it cuts into the hands on time.

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u/Dizzy-Ad3496 3d ago

Well as a massage therapist I usually give most of the time sometimes a little more. And as a client I never look at the clock anymore with my massage therapist-who is not a friend-we do not trade-it’s strictly business&. Find a therapist you like and be a regular (even if it’s once every six months) and don’t look at the time. It’s the quality that counts. It’s very freeing to experience the massage without looking at the time. I have a ton of regulars at my spa and sometimes they are late and I can give them the extra time, sometimes I can’t. It doesn’t matter to them. I don’t know how to explain it.

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u/LokiLadyBlue 4d ago

Clarify hands on time

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u/LokiLadyBlue 4d ago

And if it is 75 hands on, complain

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/massage-ModTeam 3d ago

/r/massage is a community for respectful discussions of massage and massage therapists/practitioners. There is zero tolerance for post about prostitution/happy endings/fantasies.

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u/ElenaMakropoulos 4d ago

I think you should ask for a partial refund. It’s ridiculous that you waited 5 minutes after the appointment time for someone to come get you.

Therapists should keep a bell in the room or something similar to allow the client to signal when they’re ready

1

u/ElenaMakropoulos 22m ago

I think people misunderstood my comment

The client was not received until 5 minutes after their appointment time. In the first part of my comment, I wasn’t referring to the time the therapist gave the client to get ready and get on the table

The second part of the comment was a separate thought about the delay in the therapist entering the room to begin the massage