The first thing that comes to my mind should be pretty obvious: Do you realize that you will be touching people for a living, and working in a very close proximity to them for an hour or more at a time? You do? Good, now let me ask you this - Do you realize that very few of your clients will look like the models you see in the ads for spas? Hey, it doesn't bother me, because I'm not perfect either, but you really need to ask yourself if you are able to deal with normal human bodies. Normal human bodies may have excess hair, and a few love handles (or a lot), perhaps some skin conditions, some may exude occasional odors, you know what I mean. And honestly, though you will probably like the vast majority of your clients, you may have a few that you just don't 'click' with. You're still Ok with it? Great, keep reading!
These same human bodies often belong to people who may be very different from you, culturally, educationally, socially. You need to ask yourself if you have the maturity required to accept someone for who they are, without prejudice or judgment, and work ethically in their best interest? Is your character big enough to look beyond the personal differences you may have with someone and how they live their lives, and still do the best you can for them? In a healing profession which begins the moment you set foot inside a massage therapy college, you need to be accepting of other people for who they are - if you're not, then clients will pick up on it, and you may have a hard time developing a clientele once you're working. Think about it, if you're still Ok with this, then keep reading.
Good job, you've made it this far. Now here is a great question which will probably give you a reality check: can you see beyond the one-hour price tag to see the person you'll be treating? This is huge, because so many people, including students, have said to me "It must be nice to make $80.00 an hour." Yeah, it must be nice, but I wouldn't know. You see, I may (or the clinic may) charge $80.00 an hour, but I sure don't take that home. I have worked at great clinics, and been charged a fair commission-split, but at the end of the day, after commission and expenses have been factored in, my taxable income works out to be about half of my gross annual income, and a lot of my colleagues take home even less. Remember, too, that a massage therapist can't work 40 hours a week actually treating, and depending on where you are, you may be lucky to treat for 20 hours per week. Of course, you may decide at some point that you want to open up your own massage therapy clinic, which may be to your advantage financially.
What I've also noticed is that if you think about money too much as your clients walk in the door, you won't provide the best therapy possible. I'm not sure how it works, but my guess is that as soon as you stop looking at someone as a person and start looking at them like a paycheck, they'll pick up on it. Your motivation then becomes more about the money and less about the people you are serving, not a good attitude to retain clients or to become the best you can be professionally.
Before you take the plunge, get your calculator, figure out the tax in the state or province you are in, and see if you can make a go of it. Talk to therapists already in the business, and ask them what you can expect when you're a new grad in respect to commission, wages or salary. It may be necessary to work elsewhere part-time to pay your student loans and rent until you get into your ideal situation and get established as a massage professional. That being said, I have lots of friends who have done it, and they've become very successful. (and a side note: don't blow all of your money on nice clothes and vacations, put about 10% of your gross annual income aside for the tax man! Trust me.)
Keep in mind the high burn-out rate of massage therapists. I have been a massage therapist for 9 years, and I am considered a veteran, surprisingly enough. Burn out can happen for a variety of reasons, it can be either financial, physical or emotional. Do you have a game plan in case something happens that you don't want to practice anymore, or if for some reason you physically aren't able? Do you realize that you'll need to take care of yourself physically and emotionally? There are several reasons why massage therapists leave the industry, and you may want to talk to therapists or former therapists to get their input. Don't let their opinions dissuade you from becoming a massage therapist, but it is helpful to know the reality of the industry.
Are you available to work evenings and weekends? This is such a huge thing, that I can't believe new therapists actually expect to make a living working a 9:00 to 5:00 schedule. Let's face it, most people who work 9-5 (read: your potential clients) can't get away for a massage, and have to wait until the evening or Saturday to get a treatment. Are you able to make a go of it only seeing clients who can come during the weekdays? Even if you can, I hope you realize that a lot of clinics won't be interested in hiring you if you can't work at least some 'massage therapy prime time' shifts. So, if your lifestyle doesn't permit you to dedicate a few evenings a week, or Saturdays, to work, then you may have a difficult time finding a placement. This is a reality check, as I have met and heard of many clinic owners who lose money every week because they have to turn away clients during the evenings and on weekends. The bottom line is this; if you're not available when clients can come, you're going to have a hard time making a living.
Massage therapy has made my life so much richer, and I feel truly grateful for this path I have chosen. It hasn't always been easy, or a walk in the park, but I have learned so much, gained so many friends and had a great time doing it. I have had the privilege of meeting and helping fantastic people from all walks of life, and they have really expanded my awareness of myself and others. Massage therapy is a profession that can change your life for all of the right reasons; just make sure that you understand your reasons for wanting to join the profession.
