Question about massage in Charleston, SC area.

[Mr_University]

Hi everyone!! My name is Shannon and I am a LMT in Buffalo, NY at the moment. It is virtually impossible to have a career in massage in this area. We were voted the 4th (I think) poorest city in the nation, so people here are not spending money on massage. . .espically when people in this area still think that getting a massage is nothing more than spoiling yourself.
I am seriously considering moving to the Charleston, SC area. Does anyone know how massage is in this area? Is is possible to make money working for someone else? I am a single mother of 2, so I need to have a consitant income.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[rockability]

Hey Shannon!

I moved to Charleston from CT about 4 months ago. Massage Therapy is EVERYWHERE here: spas, chiropractors, at the teaching hospital and the VA, and a ton of independents.

I am renting a small but nicely appointed room in an upscale fitness center, and I am VERY slowly building my clientele. I've just started seeing a counselor from SCORE who is helping me come up with some marketing ideas.

There is serious money her, to be sure. I firmly believe there is a large enough population to support all of us MTs. Feel free to PM me or email me: I can probably help you with other move-related questions.

 

[Gumdrops &Lollipops]

Massage in SC

Hello!
I am a LMT that just moved from Rochester NY to Summerville SC. (Summerville is about 30 min outside of Charleston. When I moved here I had no job lined up, and it was relitivly easy to find somewhere to work, as a lot of spas and Chriopractor offices were hireing.
Finding a job was easy, finding the right job was a bit more difficult. I worked at a spa that was apx. 5 minutes away from where I live, and it was an oncall + employee situation. The hours were ok for me, the only thing was that the spa was relitivly new, and had a small clientel for massage. I think I worked there for 2 months and did maybe 10 massages. Not enough for me. The place was wonderful, the girls were ok, but I needed more steady work. I looked around and interviewed at 2 more spas in the area (less than 10 miles away from where I live) and they were more established with a larger clientel, but because I had already made my mind up about working with my mother in her barbershop, the contracts were too restrictive about working so close. So they did not pan out.
SO.... I was refered to a chriopractor office that is about 10 miles away, and I am working there part time, along with my own place part time. I am building my business here, in hopes to slowley fade the other out.
Long story short, there is a lot of oppertunity here. Its just what you are looking for. I prefer a spa atmosphere to a medical setting. That's my thing, what's yours?
The areas that have more $ around here are Kiwha Island, Mt. Pleasant, James Island, John Island, and if you are looking for a city feel, obviously Charleston. I think you would be able to make a good amount of money working for someone else. The spa I did work at for 2 months I made 45% (I think) which would equal out to more that what I am making per hour at the Chriopractor office, but it was not steady enough.
Please feel free to ask more questions!
Justine