How to be a masseur

[Twinkle]

Any advice how to start?

 

Do I need to be licensed(Canada/Europe)? Should I buy a table? Can I work from my home (apartment)? Should I take classes or a course or learn from experience (or a book?). What do clients expect from me and what are they looking for? How much would extras cost? Will the client want to touch me, am I clothed?

 

No idea what to expect, my only reference is from porn which always turns into full on sex which would technically be escorting but I'm looking to do massages only and more if I'm comfortable.

 

Any advice or even your experiences and how it went (what went on?) would be great!

Thanks

[+ not2rowdy]

Licensing, table, work from home, classes, client expectations, extras, touching…

 

Well, It depends…

 

It would help to know location(s) you are considering to provide service. Europe? Canada? US?

 

Here’s a thread with some links that might be helpful to get you started.

 

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/thinking-about-becoming-a-masseur.118636/

[+ not2rowdy]

Rules vary by state in the US.

 

I have no real basis for the following statement - but I suspect only about a third of those who advertise massage actually follow the book.

 

But these are basic rules if you do follow the book.

 

The terms “masseur” and “masseuse” have legal meaning in many jurisdictions and can, technically, only be used by licensed providers. That is why you may see the use of terms like body rubs, tantric, etc.

 

Again it varies by state. But professional massage therapist training is typically conducted by regulated schools. The curriculum typically involves a couple hundred hours of classroom training followed by a few hundred more hours of supervised hands on training. Most larger cities have a massage therapy school that can give you the legal requirements for that jurisdiction. These schools also often have a massage clinic open to the public where you can get a massage at a very reasonable rate. You would be used for practice by a student.

 

A table is almost necessary for deep tissue massage. It is quite possible to damage tissue conducting deep tissue therapy without proper support. A table is probably not necessary for light and moderate pressures.

 

Working from home depends on local jurisdiction. Technically you would probably need a business license and the zoning in your location would have to allow for a home operated business. You would be expected to pay taxes on your income.

[Bearofdistinction]

Rules vary by state in the US.

 

I have no real basis for the following statement - but I suspect only about a third of those who advertise massage actually follow the book.

 

But these are basic rules if you do follow the book.

 

The terms “masseur” and “masseuse” have legal meaning in many jurisdictions and can, technically, only be used by licensed providers. That is why you may see the use of terms like body rubs, tantric, etc.

 

Again it varies by state. But professional massage therapist training is typically conducted by regulated schools. The curriculum typically involves a couple hundred hours of classroom training followed by a few hundred more hours of supervised hands on training. Most larger cities have a massage therapy school that can give you the legal requirements for that jurisdiction. These schools also often have a massage clinic open to the public where you can get a massage at a very reasonable rate. You would be used for practice by a student.

 

A table is almost necessary for deep tissue massage. It is quite possible to damage tissue conducting deep tissue therapy without proper support. A table is probably not necessary for light and moderate pressures.

 

Working from home depends on local jurisdiction. Technically you would probably need a business license and the zoning in your location would have to allow for a home operated business. You would be expected to pay taxes on your income.

 

Yes be careful -- A Forum Member got into A LOT of trouble in Georgia for advertising as a Massuse without the proper licensing and certification. It cost him in legal fees, income, lost client and a downturn in health.

[Mydavid]

I think going to a training school is very important.

[Twinkle]

I'm in Canada right now but I might move to Europe for work at some point. I wouldn't be against going to class to learn but for licensing I thought it was only necessary for people doing therapy massages (in collaboration with hospitals and doctors for patients recovering..etc) and the regular spa/chinatown massages can be done by anyone.

[Despardo]

I recommend legitimate training. If you want to give a real massage, you have the potential to injure someone if you don't know what you are doing. Licensing is not always necessary depending on how you advertise your services. Don't know anything about regulations in Europe. I have had massages by guys who were really terrific and some from men who had only the most tenuous idea of what they were doing. In other words from therapeutic deep tissue to smearing around some cream. I no longer hire masseurs because I get either a light rubdown plus some limited sexual play or a real massage with maybe a happy ending, but no satisfying sexual contact. I got tired of second guessing what services I was purchasing. Decided to stick to escorts where there is less room for misunderstanding. Some escorts like to use a massage or rubdown as a form of foreplay to start off a session which is OK by me. If you are looking to provide a massage with "maybe" a happy ending depending on how you feel about the client, I strongly suggest that you learn how to give a thoroughly professional massage in which case certification would definitely be a plus.

[Twinkle]

I never thought of the possibility of hurting a client by accident by not knowing proper massage technique. But I fully intend on doing happy endings + and maybe a lot more if it's a client I've come to know better. It's a good compromise I find for people who want to do escorting but aren't comfortable with the idea of having sex with a complete stranger. It's an innocent enough profession without the details. But again apart from the legalities what goes on in a session? What would make you want to go back and how do you choose your masseurs?

[Mydavid]

I never thought of the possibility of hurting a client by accident by not knowing proper massage technique. But I fully intend on doing happy endings + and maybe a lot more if it's a client I've come to know better. It's a good compromise I find for people who want to do escorting but aren't comfortable with the idea of having sex with a complete stranger. It's an innocent enough profession without the details. But again apart from the legalities what goes on in a session? What would make you want to go back and how do you choose your masseurs?

I guess different people have different expectations. For me, when I go to a masseur, I always expect a happy ending, and even more.

So I guess, if an escort can deliver more services, it is likely he can have more clients.

[pubic_assistance]

I never thought of the possibility of hurting a client by accident by not knowing proper massage technique. But I fully intend on doing happy endings + and maybe a lot more if it's a client I've come to know better. It's a good compromise I find for people who want to do escorting but aren't comfortable with the idea of having sex with a complete stranger. It's an innocent enough profession without the details. But again apart from the legalities what goes on in a session? What would make you want to go back and how do you choose your masseurs?

I prefer to hire for massage, rather than "escort". It extends my enjoyment of the time spent...and doesn't necessarily involve sexual contact..but a skilled practitioner can ideally bring me to an incredible orgasm without. So for me, an hour of an expert/skilled erotic massage is often more satisfactory than full-on sexual contact, which tends to NOT last the entire hour.

[+ not2rowdy]

More for your pleasurable reading:

 

You have clients that schedule with a masseur because they want, first and foremost, a genuine massage. They probably hurt somewhere and want someone who knows what the hell they’re doing. They probably don’t want to pay Spa Resort fees but typically aren’t diehard bargain hunters. These clients likely have a high preference for someone who’s licensed, or at least well experienced, in massage techniques. They often seek a “go to” guy for their legitimate therapeutic needs. They may, or may not, even care about “extras”. If extras are a consideration these clients are likely willing to see how the initial, legitimate, massage goes before pursuing the subject.

 

You have clients who are really seeking an “escort on the cheap” experience. Masseurs typically charge less than than “full service” escorts. So these clients are looking for satisfaction at a reduced rate. They may have never had a massage by a properly trained, experienced professional massage therapist. These clients typically “play the field” more rather than settle in on a small cadre of massage providers.

 

Advertising as a “masseur” offers the advertiser a bit of a built in vetting opportunity. If the client really isn’t “his type”, and no prior discussion has taken place, the “masseur” can proceed with the just the massage. No misrepresentation has likely taken place. If, on the other hand, the masseur likes the client he can expand his services accordingly.

 

More here (I tend to throw my 2 cents in often on these discussions):

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/first-meeting.88312/#post-807329

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/whats-the-range-of-possibilities.103777/#post-954666

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/suggestions-for-upcoming-las-vegas-visit.103371/#post-954891

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/what-do-you-guys-think-about-no-table.106766/#post-990945

[Twinkle]

Thank you! You really nailed the part of the vetting it's just perfect for people like myself who are unsure about full escorting.

Also for in calls and outcalls which is more common? And if you were to meet at a hotel how does that work? As in who pays for the room and such. I can see myself getting a better apartment/studio if I knew I would get additional income from doing massages there. Also is there anything else you look for in a masseur?

[+ not2rowdy]

Incalls vs Outcalls will depend. - on both you and the client.

 

I started out going to the providers location.

Now my “go to” guy comes to my location.

 

Some clients are uncomfortable hosting a provider at their home. Same goes true with providers hosting clients at their home. Sometimes it is impossible to be the host.

 

But lets say one, or both, of you are “neutral ground” like a hotel. Again, who hosts, will depend. Some clients (or providers) like to have “control” of the venue and prefer to be the host. The person who hosts typically pays for the hotel room.

 

A provider who is traveling will often have a higher incall rate to recoup some of the hotel costs for hosting.

 

Maybe check this out.

http://www.devonhunter.info/archives/2685/

[LivingnLA]

Some great advice. It all depends on how and where you advertise. As has already been discussed, different jurisdictions have different requirements for massage professionals and erotic/sexual massage is illegal in many places around the world.

 

Masseuse and Masseur are French for a woman and man who perform massage. In English, they have an added sexual subtext because of prostitution scandals many decades ago. In many places, legitimate massage professionals call themselves "Massage Therapists."

 

If you're planning to primarily work for clients who expect happy endings, then you don't necessarily need to go to school. But, you should be smart enough to stay with only relaxation techniques and limited pressure. Anything else and you run the risk of injuring a client because of your ignorance of the anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, and physiology taught in good massage schools.

[Twinkle]

Or I could just play Enya, light a candle and edge them for an hour haha

I wouldn't mind getting certified though, it never hurts to be good at your job. It's just probably gonna be expensive :/

 

But thanks for all the input everyone! Now I just have to figure out which sites to advertise (masseurfinder is like $100 usd a month!!) on and how to price myself. I like the idea of travelling and working out of my hotel to pay for the room. Hopefully there's no downside to something like that.