Why do many Massage clients book things at the last minute?

[Jarrod_Uncut]

This is something I’m grappling with, as I’m in between on whether I want to keep advertising on RentMasseur. It just seems that with bookings from the site, people often text me without any opportunity to arrange a session. Just in the past 24 hours, I’ve had 2 people reach out to arrange a visit. I was unable to take either one because the 1st one was at a hotel and contacted me around 7:30. The typical “are you in…(insert city)” reply (I have an auto-response to deal with such vague inquiries, but it very often an indicator of someone who’s not going to be reliable). When I said I’d be available at 10, he says it would be too late, but would try me back tomorrow. Tomorrow is here and he never followed back up 🤦🏽‍♂️ 
 

It seems like the clients from RentMasseur just have no idea how to book a session with someone online. I don’t know if they come into it like they’re going into a store or barber salon or what. But it just grates my nerves. It’s almost a weekly basis I’m having to explain to a client from RentMasseur that, you can’t just text me an hour before you want a session and expect me to just be “available”. Why can’t they get it into their heads? Do people just expect massage guys to have or be at a studio round the clock?

I hear people say, “oh I don’t know when my meetings or time will be free”. But if they’re too busy to meet, how am I supposed to help? And there’s only 4-5 guys advertising on the site in this city as it is. I get tired of people expecting me to drop everything and accommodate, when I’ve had no sort of idea of when to be expected to take a booking. I can literally be quiet with no bookings for 2, 3 days…and then someone will reach out asking to meet without any notice. And most times I end up not being able to take it because after so long, I actually do have to do something with my life.

Or is this more to do with this thread, that seems to be the overall issue with taking bookings in this area.

 

[jeezifonly]

Receiving massage is something that takes preparation and a mindset, and some of us have to listen to our bodies about whether today is a good day, before we set an appointment. If I find that my first choice may not be available, Ok, I’ll try him another time, and move on to second choice, third…

Sometimes my necessary lack of planning results in no massage. It’s better than booking an appointment and then not showing, as a courtesy to the provider. 

[Walker1]

I prefer same day appointments. It really depends on how I feel like. It is something you fit with the rest of my crazy schedule.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

41 minutes ago, jeezifonly said:

Receiving massage is something that takes preparation and a mindset, and some of us have to listen to our bodies about whether today is a good day, before we set an appointment. If I find that my first choice may not be available, Ok, I’ll try him another time, and move on to second choice, third…

Sometimes my necessary lack of planning results in no massage. It’s better than booking an appointment and then not showing, as a courtesy to the provider. 

That’s understandable, but sometimes it not so much that I’m not available (in many cases I am), but I’m not really being given enough time to coordinate it. Like in the above example, client contacts me right on the middle of dinner. Not to mention, the hotel where he was, is 50 minutes to an hour away from me. Contacting me at 7:30 and being given a 10 pm time isn’t unrealistic..when contacting the day of. If that time was too late for that person, then I feel they shoulda contacted me earlier. 
 

it’s impossible for me to just “be ready” 24/7. Even “available now” on RentMasseur is for a maximum of 6 hours. And some would be hard pressed to believe: most times I put available now, I can be waiting around for 6 hours straight and nobody contacts. Therefore, I rarely even put available now much now, as that usually translates to just a waste of a day sitting around doing nothing. 

[jeezifonly]

16 minutes ago, Jarrod_Uncut said:

That’s understandable, but sometimes it not so much that I’m not available (in many cases I am), but I’m not really being given enough time to coordinate it. Like in the above example, client contacts me right on the middle of dinner. Not to mention, the hotel where he was, is 50 minutes to an hour away from me. Contacting me at 7:30 and being given a 10 pm time isn’t unrealistic..when contacting the day of. If that time was too late for that person, then I feel they shoulda contacted me earlier. 
 

it’s impossible for me to just “be ready” 24/7. Even “available now” on RentMasseur is for a maximum of 6 hours. And some would be hard pressed to believe: most times I put available now, I can be waiting around for 6 hours straight and nobody contacts. Therefore, I rarely even put available now much now, as that usually translates to just a waste of a day sitting around doing nothing. 

Instead of sitting around doing nothing, you should go get a massage!

[+ glutes]

I like having massage after dinner. Being very social with other people, I don't know when that dinner is going to end. Hence for me, it is last minute.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

2 hours ago, glutes said:

I like having massage after dinner. Being very social with other people, I don't know when that dinner is going to end. Hence for me, it is last minute.

I told the same person yesterday, I’d rather wait on standby until he’s done doing whatever. Better that, than to have to stop what I’m doing and “try” to arrive on time for someone who contacted me out the blue. 
 

I’m starting to wonder: how often do clients actually find someone available at the last minute? And how often is that person breaking plans or “always available” to take on a visit? It’s just not healthy. I stopped working that way long time ago. Occasionally I’ll post up and take something short notice when I’m traveling, but even that doesn’t always work. 
 

It takes a conscious effort to arrange a session. If a client can plan a dinner, plan a trip, plan whatever else they have going on…surely they can figure out how to plan time with someone of the same sex for a massage. And if someone can be social at a dinner, they can be social and say, “this was fun, but I need to excuse myself this evening. I have company coming over that I booked WITH AMPLE NOTICE and coordinated a MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TIME WITH”. I shouldn’t have to carry the burden of people who  feel they have “more important” plans than I do. That…is the right way to get on to the wrong start.
 

Hell…I did it with my group of friends at a nightclub a couple Saturday’s ago. I hated having to pull apart from the circle, but I had a repeat client who booked in advance. (last time he tried to book last minute, and he didn’t get lucky). After a couple of hours with them, I had to be on my way. 
 

So if that’s hard for a client to do, how hard does one think it is for me to do? 

Edited October 7, 2021 by Jarrod_Uncut

[Jarrod_Uncut]

2 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

Instead of sitting around doing nothing, you should go get a massage!

No because that’ll be the precise moment that someone contacts me, asking for a massage…at the last minute 😏 

But that’s a good line. Maybe I can use that every time someone asks if I’m available “now”. 

[Jamie21]

It often happens. I’m amazed, guys even contact me to say “I’m in London are you available today at xx?”. They usually travelled from abroad and presumably have considered booking me but they leave it to the day to ask about booking. Often I’m booked up or out of town so I have to decline and then they’re disappointed. Those clients that book in advance get what they want because I plan my diary to accommodate them. 

I understand that sometimes you book in advance and on the day just don’t feel right for it, so that’s fine…cancel it. I don’t take deposits and if you tell me you’re cancelling at the start of the day then I can rearrange my time.

I agree with Jarrod that it’s annoying to have to repeatedly say no to last minute requests. However, in my experience those “are you available now” type clients are usually difficult anyway (drunk, high or just looking for a quick fuck) so actually it’s not the type of booking I want anyway. 

[jtwalker]

Whether Escort or Masseur, its hard to plan in advance because I often don't know when I'll be in the mood or have the time for either one.

[Sixpack]

5 hours ago, jtwalker said:

Whether Escort or Masseur, its hard to plan in advance because I often don't know when I'll be in the mood or have the time for either one.

Me too. I can’t plan too much in advance as I don’t want to cancel.  I just get the urge and it is easiest to just call in to the Asian massage place to get off.  

[Monarchy79]

I always plan/schedule in advance. My favorite massage guys are travelers and let me know in-advance when they are coming to town. 

Also, it’s a personality thing. I like making reservations for everything (restaurants, massages, movies, etc.)  and being prepared for everything, especially when it comes to being considerate of someone else’s schedule. 

 

 

[Monarchy79]

12 hours ago, glutes said:

I like having massage after dinner. Being very social with other people, I don't know when that dinner is going to end. Hence for me, it is last minute.

I’m going to pick at you for a second just to make a point…. (so don’t be offended). 
You were able to adhere to a scheduled time and date for a dinner with friends (at least some time in advance); why would it be so problematic to have the same consideration for a masseur? 🧐

[river]

Let's not forget that a lot of clients enjoy these types of massages in complete confidentiality from their personal lives.

This means that opportunities can be rare and sometimes last minute.

I always preface my last minute requests with, "Sorry for this last minute request......"

I have explained this to my regulars and they know I completely understand if they are not available....or even if they don't respond. There is no pressure on my end.

On another note, a sensual/erotic massage is a very intimate experience compared to a dinner with a friend.

If I had a miserable day in the office, I can still pull off the friend dinner but allowing myself to completely relax/unwind for a sensual massage is difficult for me to do.

[+ sniper]

I think it's just the nature of the beast and there's no getting around it. I generally look for something within less than 48 hours but I also accept that means my first choice may not be available. I ask and if they say no I thank them and move on. You aren't always going to be available even if they're calling a week ahead, anyway. If you get this upset about it get an online booking app and remove yourself from the process.

[+ glutes]

1 hour ago, Monarchy79 said:

I’m going to pick at you for a second just to make a point…. (so don’t be offended). 
You were able to adhere to a scheduled time and date for a dinner with friends (at least some time in advance); why would it be so problematic to have the same consideration for a masseur? 🧐

Because I don't know how long the dinners are going to last, and I don't want to rush the dinner.

[Pd1_jap]

I get frustrated with scheduling. Some providers have very strict scheduling and then they forget or blow me off for a client with deeper pockets. Also many providers don't take reservations. I find if I want a "special" massage I just look to see what's available the day of. 

Although occasionally I have bailed on a provider for a hot hookup. If I have to choose between paying for a message that may or may not be gratifying v.s. a hot hookup that is free and also a guy who wants me for my dick not my wallet, I will choose the later.

If you're a provider with impeccable professional standards I will come through but most of the time providers rarely stick to their own schedules. 

Everyone wants to be the exception to the rules they want others to follow. 

Edited October 7, 2021 by Pd1_jap

[Pd1_jap]

1 hour ago, Monarchy79 said:

I’m going to pick at you for a second just to make a point…. (so don’t be offended). 
You were able to adhere to a scheduled time and date for a dinner with friends (at least some time in advance); why would it be so problematic to have the same consideration for a masseur? 🧐

I pay for the time a masseur spends with me. I do not pay my friends to spend time with me. That is small but crucial difference. Why cut short a good time when you don't have too? Also I'm very appreciative of a good masseur and have become friends with a few but at the end of the day the masseur will not be there when you have no money but a good friend will. 

[MiamiLooker]

18 minutes ago, Pd1_jap said:

Although occasionally I have bailed on a provider for a hot hookup. If I have to choose between paying for a message that may or may not be gratifying v.s. a hot hookup that is free and also a guy who wants me for my dick not my wallet, I will choose the later.

Edited October 7, 2021 by MiamiLooker

[+ sniper]

I should note that I was only speaking to the seeking on short notice issue. Flaking out on appointments scheduled, by either party, is incredibly poor form.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

2 hours ago, Stuysavage said:

Let's not forget that a lot of clients enjoy these types of massages in complete confidentiality from their personal lives.

This means that opportunities can be rare and sometimes last minute.

I always preface my last minute requests with, "Sorry for this last minute request......"

I have explained this to my regulars and they know I completely understand if they are not available....or even if they don't respond. There is no pressure on my end.

On another note, a sensual/erotic massage is a very intimate experience compared to a dinner with a friend.

If I had a miserable day in the office, I can still pull off the friend dinner but allowing myself to completely relax/unwind for a sensual massage is difficult for me to do.

That I understand too, and is partially why also I’m having a hard time in the Midwest market (Kansas City in particular). Everything is just sort of on the whim, last minute squeezed between other schedules.  It seems like it’s majority of the closeted, married or partner types who are contacting me. In some ways, this translates to lots of business…but in other ways it translates to a lot of business that I miss, because I never know when someone is calling. 

it’s not even so much that I need days and days in advance. But what I don’t like: someone contacts me at the last minute, and is like telling me they need to meet by (as in, giving me a deadline for meeting someone I didn’t even know existed, just 5 minutes ago.). If the massage is that important to them, they need to be willing and able to work with my schedule. 
 

Just like today: someone calls (which I don’t answer because I’m not “on call”) and then texts me this morning. I got some details, and was trying to get time frame. He’s asking to meet by 4 p.m. today, but I paused for a few minutes because I already had plans set in my mind for today (because when I went to bed last night, NOBODY SCHEDULED ANYTHING TODAY)…and I need to decide whether I really want to stop and drop everything, to drive clear across Kansas City and go meet him (which I didn’t feel like doing).

Then he’s all like, “so do we have an appointment or should I contact you next week”. I told him if he’s trying to get me to meet by 4, then forget it. It’s not happening. Because right now, most of my outcalls will need to be during the evening. I told him, better to schedule for tomorrow because I’ll be out of town next week. No response.

I actually went ahead and just froze my RentMasseur ad. I honestly just cannot deal with the same BS day after day after day. It’s the same thing everyday. They just text me in the morning or early afternoon, expecting me to be able to meet by 2 or 3 p.m. it’s almost no wonder there’s only 4 or 5 massage guys on RentMasseur in my area? How can you run a business when people can’t seem to have any patience or courtesy to schedule things ahead of time? Just because someone wakes up and feels like getting a massage, does not mean that someone online who has an ad, can accommodate right away. 

I think this has become the by-product of not having Craigslist and backpage anymore. I used to deal with people like that often from those sites, but of course those last minute types rarely became regulars, and some were just unpleasant to deal with. 

Edited October 7, 2021 by Jarrod_Uncut

[+ EVdude]

3 hours ago, Monarchy79 said:

Also, it’s a personality thing…

Totally, except I’m the exact opposite. Rarely plan ahead and love off the cuff drive bys. No doubt it’s frustrating for masseurs and even spas, but I take no offense when rejected for lack of notice. 

[Jamie21]

Seems this issue is quite emotive. I take it as par for the course. I’m working in this business so it means I’ll get lots of last minute requests…it’s frustrating but nothing I can do about it. Just say “yes” when I’m available or “no” if it doesn’t fit. I must turn down about 3 a week because of my unavailability. Some come back some don’t. It’s disappointing because I hate to turn away business! 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

As a client, there is something to be said about regularly scheduled massages, perhaps a recurring monthly appointment at the same time and place.

There's also those "just one of those days" where you need a last minute massage to get you through the work day.

I tend to have two regulars in town: one whose technique is superior but books up weeks in advance, and another who's technique is adequate but is usually available late nights with a few hours notice.

[jeezifonly]

If I were as unhappy with my chosen line of work (and all it entails) I would think about taking Ivanka’s advice and TRY SOMETHING NEW…