Cancellation or seeing a sick client?

[soloyo215]

I scheduled a massage session for today. I scheduled it about 4 days prior. I got sick the day after I booked the guy, but hoped to feel good by the time the appointment arrived. I didn't feel as sick, but my body wasn't exactly feeling up for being caressed by anyone. Since there are many posts here about clients cancelling at the last minute, I decided to go to the appointment, and let the guy know that I am still sick, I don't want him to catch whatever my body is fighting, and quite frankly, I wasn't in the mood. He talked me into proceeding with the massage (I was going to pay for the session even if it didn't happen since I showed up anyway, not ideal, but not a big deal).

I fell asleep during the massage and started feeling that my body temperature was rising (and not in the way we like). The guy made minimum contact and he said at the end that the massage he gave me can contribute to healing and recovering faster. I don't know about that, but I appreciate that he was a perfect gentleman and professional and didn't just want the money for nothing.

My question to providers: Did I handle the situation correctly? I now am worried about him catching whatever I have, which can make him unavailable for other clients? Did he handle it properly? Is there a right/better way to handle clients who get sick? Being sick is (IMO) a legitimate excuse for cancelling at the last minute.

Thoughts?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

A massage is actually not a good thing when you're sick or getting sick.  It usually makes you feel worse.

https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/massage-when-sick

I'd have preferred you cancel.  If you told me you were sick, I'd cancel on your behalf.

That he talked you into it says more about his need for money than his concern with his own health (and yours).

Edited December 12, 2023 by BenjaminNicholas

[Shawn Monroe]

Being an escort and masseur is often times an exercise in judgement as it is a willingness to make money. 

I’ve been that guy and taken appointments when I was sick (don’t ask me about my most embarrassing night as an escort), but i, thankfully, didn’t have a post written about me in anonymous online forum.

i would have cancelled, and any adverse reaction from the provider would have said all you needed to know about his character. 

[+ DrownedBoy]

Same thing happened to me before. Scheduled for Friday on a Monday, sick on Tuesday, and knew on Friday morning I was still sick. Just texted him saying I was sick and that I'd reschedule for the following weekend. No problem.

I said it years ago, if either a client or provider gets that sick, it's a benefit to both sides if one side cancels. If a provider complains you're somehow costing him, just ask how much it will cost him if he gets sick and loses a week of work. And I wouldn't want a sick provider to show up for the same reason.

[soloyo215]

Thanks for the replies. My instinct was right that I should have cancelled. I'm on vacation in Mexico, so I should have just cancelled.

3 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

A massage is actually not a good thing when you're sick or getting sick.  It usually makes you feel worse.

Thank you for this. Didn't know. Noted and in the future I'll make more informed decisions.

[Jamie21]

Best to cancel. If you don’t feel well you won’t enjoy the massage, especially if you have a temperature. I don’t mind clients cancelling if they’re unwell. 

may have mentioned this before but I had a client turn up one time with broken ribs. How he expected me to massage him I don’t know…(he did say “can you just do my bottom half…so actually perhaps I do know what he wanted 😂). I had to send him away to come back when he’s better. Apart from anything else I don’t want to injure him or make things worse.

 

[Simon Suraci]

Agree with all the above.

[ICTJOCK]

I would have had a conversation with him at the time you became ill.  I would have passed on the massage just with the worry of his catching my issue.  You made a reasonable decision, however.  You conversed with him.

[soloyo215]

11 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

I had a client turn up one time with broken ribs. How he expected me to massage him I don’t know…

Kudos to you, maybe you are just that hot. 😉

[Jamie21]

1 hour ago, soloyo215 said:

Kudos to you, maybe you are just that hot. 😉

Or maybe he was desperate 😂

[Moke]

Clearly if you are sick, not only is it “ok” to cancel, it’s the moral thing to do to prevent infecting the provider with your flu bug. 
 

i get the anxiety of being labeled a “flake” for a cancellation. If you don’t already have a relationship with the provider, I’d suggest sending him a cancellation fee/deposit. 50-100 bucks as down payment on your rescheduled future appointment to assure him your cancellation was in good faith and to assuage the inconvenience of the cancellation. 

[soloyo215]

7 hours ago, Moke said:

Clearly if you are sick, not only is it “ok” to cancel, it’s the moral thing to do to prevent infecting the provider with your flu bug. 
 

i get the anxiety of being labeled a “flake” for a cancellation. If you don’t already have a relationship with the provider, I’d suggest sending him a cancellation fee/deposit. 50-100 bucks as down payment on your rescheduled future appointment to assure him your cancellation was in good faith and to assuage the inconvenience of the cancellation. 

That's actually a good middle ground. I'll keep it in mind for the future.

[+ DrownedBoy]

16 hours ago, Moke said:

i get the anxiety of being labeled a “flake” for a cancellation. If you don’t already have a relationship with the provider, I’d suggest sending him a cancellation fee/deposit. 50-100 bucks as down payment on your rescheduled future appointment

That's my policy. However, I've never had a provider take it, as long as I said I planned to hire them when I was well.

[Rudynate]

On 12/11/2023 at 5:06 PM, soloyo215 said:

I scheduled a massage session for today. I scheduled it about 4 days prior. I got sick the day after I booked the guy, but hoped to feel good by the time the appointment arrived. I didn't feel as sick, but my body wasn't exactly feeling up for being caressed by anyone. Since there are many posts here about clients cancelling at the last minute, I decided to go to the appointment, and let the guy know that I am still sick, I don't want him to catch whatever my body is fighting, and quite frankly, I wasn't in the mood. He talked me into proceeding with the massage (I was going to pay for the session even if it didn't happen since I showed up anyway, not ideal, but not a big deal).

I fell asleep during the massage and started feeling that my body temperature was rising (and not in the way we like). The guy made minimum contact and he said at the end that the massage he gave me can contribute to healing and recovering faster. I don't know about that, but I appreciate that he was a perfect gentleman and professional and didn't just want the money for nothing.

My question to providers: Did I handle the situation correctly? I now am worried about him catching whatever I have, which can make him unavailable for other clients? Did he handle it properly? Is there a right/better way to handle clients who get sick? Being sick is (IMO) a legitimate excuse for cancelling at the last minute.

Thoughts?

I would have cancelled.   Even though on short notice, even though he may not have believed you, it would have eliminated any risk to him that he would catch whatever you had.  

[+ Coolwave35]

You should have cancelled and paid him. I find it INCREDIBLY hard to believe you offered his full fee and he said, “I can make my fee for doing nothing? No way, come get me sick the week before Christmas.”