massage and bodywork professionals
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Renn Faires ? ? ?
Questions:
1. Garb - What style would be suitable not risque for a Massage Therapist?
2. Table - Set up for working on clients with or without clothing?
3. Tent - Fully curtained for privacy? (for clients without clothing)? or Open so that others can see technique (for clients with clothing)? or Both?
4. Hygiene - Would not have running water for washing hands, would have to rely on wipes and hand sanitizers.
What else am I forgetting about?
Views: 259
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
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1. The Renaissance Lady might be nice. http://www.3wishes.com/victoria.asp. Short sleeves of the commoner rather than the usual flowing ones of aristocracy.
2. With clothes so people see what you do, this is to promote isn't it?
3. Open like a bazaar stall
4. Plenty of waterless sanitizer and lysol cleaner, paper towels for cleaning up in case the recipients have already visited the stables.
5. Promote!
6. Hand outs and business cards ( do you have brochures for the things you offer?
http://www.naturaltouchmarketing.com/Brochure.php I go through a lot of the brochures and have labels with company information I stick on them. People love picking up something informative to read.
But most of all have fun.
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Permalink Reply by Jill Jenks on
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Don't forget marketing options such as aromatherapy oils - special blends in 4 oz & 8 oz bottles. Easy enough to create, geared toward the fair, offering stress relief, romance, energizing, etc. You could use them on the clients then offer them to take home with them.
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Permalink Reply by Lucianna Johnston on
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My opinion.....
I would say no disrobed massage especially if you don't have running water and adequate privacy like an office. Fully clothed table and chair massage.
Garb....I would wear a company polo or tshirt with pants/capris depending on weather.
Fully clothed massage I would say no need for privacy.
Hygiene...definately hand sanitizer, towels and cleaner to wipe down equipment between clients.
Have fun!
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Permalink Reply by Jeanne Riley on
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Also, cleaned out tuna fish cans (or a similar something) so that your table legs don't get stuck in the yuck. trash bags. If it is a little later in the year, hand warmers. Also, you might consider a signup sheet with specific time slots shown so that if there is demand, people can fill their name in for a time slot and then just come back rather than waiting in a line. That also saves you if there are 10 people standing in line and the faire is ending, from having to turn people away. Have fun!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Adams on
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Awesome idea with the tuna cans!!!!!! Thanks!
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A Lot of awesome ideas and input! Thanks so much for all of your help!
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Permalink Reply by Kay Warren on
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What Faire(s) are you considering? How many weekends is it? Local Licensing. The locality may not allow for it, and you may have to buy a specific business license. Find out early. I've been a booth owner or worker at Faires all across the US over the last 20+ years. Some Faires charge "entertainment" booths a percentage of their take in addition to the booth fees. (yes, most Faires will consider you "entertainment".) Some also charge camping fees if you're staying over on the site for the weekend. Find out how many workers you are allowed with your booth size/fee, and what their pass process is should you have different workers on different weekends. You will need a hidden place to put your cooler, you'll need the water & food.
Sanitizer is great, but I promise, you will need water, but it doesn't necessarily have to be "running" water. I've used a 5 gallon jug/cistern combination, artfully draped, with good success. You'll need to pick up extra linens. Next to consider, who will be working for you? If you're at any faire of decent size, you're going to need massage help, and one helper who does nothing but keep the lists and take money. He/She needs to be conversant with the different types of massage, and what you, and everybody else there practices. You'll need a ton of business cards. I would suggest that clothes remain on. I'd also suggest that you offer foot massage, hand and arm work, and neck & shoulder work, and do it in public view. Get or devise a low key intake that gets you a name, phone & e-mail, and rules out the big red warning flags. As they go, they get thanked and get a 10% off coupon (the size of a business card) with an expiration date set 6 weeks out for an office visit. If they need more complex work, you really should be doing that in office, where you can do a more thorough intake without all the distractions. Use the Faire to drive your business, and you can do well.
As for garb, no decent Faire will allow you to wear a polo shirt. Period. You can still use a chemise and bodice, just tie the chemise high enough not to show cleavage, and make sure the bodice has enough room at the arm holes so you can work. Make sure the elastic (or ties) at the wrist of your chemise is loose enough to wear above your elbow, and leave it there all day. This will turn the too long sleeves into a little less than a 3/4 sleeve, and keep said sleeves out of your way. I have long full circle skirts, but for therapy work I prefer my very poufy pants. Some faires will let you wear pants, some won't. You'll need to check and see what your Faire's costuming requirements are. I went to the "3wishes" site.... That is not a "Lady's" costume, it's definitely "peasant". Nothing wrong with that, it's much more comfy, but no "Lady" would leave the house uncorseted, and most high level merchants and all "Nobility" (you are a Noble if you're a Lady) also require hoop skirts. Their costume requirements are MUCH tighter. Not what you want. About 1/2 the Faires I've done would let you wear that, if your sleeves were up on your shoulders. Sleeves off the shoulders = floozy, and by the way "wench" is NOT a compliment, most people don't know it, but effectively, it means "tavern whore". If you're a woman with any sort of curve in your chest, that bodice will not work, the grommets are set @ 2" intervals, it will buckle, and if they've put boning in it, (don't go there on anything not custom made) it gets uncomfortable really quick, especially if you have to bend over a lot (which we do). The skirts are fine.
Other garb hints. NO CRUSHED VELVET!!!! No bright blood red on anything other than trim, no bright pastels, no "electric" colors, and in the name of all that's holy, no neon. Oh! and no metallics, and definitely NO PURPLE!! (it's reserved for Royals) There are Faires that let you get away with an awful lot. Some Faires have almost no specific costume requirements at all, and some of the things I've seen make me want to wash my eyes with bleach. Tell me what Faire you're doing and I'll try to give you a better clue than this.
I have a set of four heavily lacquered pieces of 3/4 plywood about 4"square I use so legs don't get stuck. They're also useful for leveling, because not a single Faire I've ever been at is even remotely level. A good sign is very important. I'll second that comment. I wouldn't necessarily put my rates on it, changing a really good sign is not cheap.
Any other questions?
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