Music Legalities

(No affiliate links were included in the writing of this blog post. None of this should be taken as legal advice. Dang it, Jim, I’m a massage therapist —- not a lawyer.)

Jamakassi

Many of us strive to act and to run our businesses in an ethical manner by following personal and societal mores and norms. Ethics not only relate to how you interact with clients and peers -- it also can include obligations imposed by law.

The use of music in your office or massage space is governed by your country's laws surrounding copyright: protections given to authors for their original works. If you play copyrighted music "in public" without proper licensing, you could be hit with statutory damages of $750 at minimum to a maximum of $150,000 per song (depending on whether or not you knowingly/willingly violated the law).

The reason behind this being illegal is that when licensed music is played in a commercial space, it is played with the intention of creating an experience for customers that is conducive to the interests of the business (getting customers to pay money for the goods and services on offer). The business gains from the music being played. For that reason, the law says that the creators of the music should get a piece of the profit being made.

-- Can I Play Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, or Other Music Services in My Business? from Cloud Cover Music.

"But I've bought copies of my music and/or pay for a consumer-level streaming service!"

Sorry, no. You can't get around the copyright regulations if you've only paid for individual, personal services and products:

The law distinguishes between owning a copy of music, like a CD or a song saved on an iPod, and owning the rights to those songs, including the right to publicly perform them. When you purchase a CD or DVD or download an audio file, software, game or other product containing music, even those specifically marketed for business purposes, you are only buying a copy of the music and the right to play it “privately.”

... When music is streamed over the Internet, however, there is a distinct performance right with respect to the “sound recordings” of songs publicly performed via digital audio transmission. So, theoretically, streaming online music into shared spaces could also require a performance license from the sound recording copyright owners.

-- Music Licensing Basics for Apartments, by Cindy A. Tune, .PDF accessed 1/23/2020 11:00AM EST. 

There is one specific exception to be aware of:

There are exceptions to when a license is required to play copyrighted music; stores under 2,000 square feet, and restaurants and bars under 3,750 square feet, can play music over a radio, TV, or similar device [i.e. cable or satellite broadcast], but there have to be fewer than six speakers carrying the sound.

-- In-Store Music Laws in the U.S.: Licensing, Legalities, and Fines from Cloud Cover Music.

However, this exception strictly limits you to using those specific sources (radio, TV, cable or satellite broadcast) and only the music and visuals licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

For any other device or music source, you need to have a Public Performance License through one or more Performance Rights Organizations (PRO). Rather than go through the individual PROs (the costs of which can be over $1000 annually), there are services that will provide you the public performance licenses and access to music covered under those licenses. These services will cost more than your standard consumer subscriptions, but you will be able to rest easy in knowing that your butt (and your business) has been covered.

"Okay, what are my (cheapest) options?"

Here are three under $30/month services to consider:

• Soundtrack Your Brand: high quality, wide variety, connection to Spotify and its playlists (as it was originally sponsored as "Spotify for Business"), and a free 30-day trial. After that, it's $26.99 a month.
• Cloud Cover Music: not quite as robust as Soundtrack Your Brand, but if you're only needing licenses in the USA and Canada, the ~$17 a month price tag is a little easier to swallow.
• SighTunes: specifically designed for massage therapists, providing 10-hours of royalty-free music, refreshed each month (so long as you're connected to WiFi... and remember to do it at the start of each month), for $9.99 a month. Plus, if you have a professional membership like ABMP, there is a discount code to take up to an additional 40% off. I have tried it... it's not my favorite due to the design of the app itself, the "blah" choices of music, and the aforementioned need to connect to the Internet before you drive out to a client's house on the first of the month and suddenly can't access the previous month's music. (ಠ_ಠ) (This may have changed since I last attempted to use it. I'm not holding my breath.)

Another option would be to actively look for music that is within the public domain (i.e. works written before copyright law was established, or the copyrights have expired/been lost, etc.), music that is considered royalty-free, or music where the copyright-holders have explicitly given their permission for public use. Artful Touch Music is one such resource:

Artful Touch Music was created for, and inspired by, the healing arts. We invite you to use this music in your professional bodywork offices and yoga studios.

These songs are effective as music therapy for all ages and are enjoyable as a soundtrack for massage therapy and yoga practice.

This music encourages relaxation, a resting heart rate, deeper breathing, a calm and centered mind, and a general sense of well-being.

-- Artful Touch

Other References:

I went down the rabbit hole so you don't have to.

• Top 10 Licensing Questions: How to Play Legal Music in Your Business from Cloud Cover Music (because they've done the work and likely have answers to the majority of your questions)
• "You Might Need a License to Play Music in Your Small Business" from NFIB
• "Can I use Spotify at my business or school?" from Spotify's Account Support
• Music Streaming Services for Business by Legis Music (offers a longer list of the more expensive, general PRO services)
• 11 Questions About Music Licensing from the National Restaurant Association (spells things out simply)
• Copyright Law of the United States, Title 17 -- if you're adept at reading and understanding legalese or need something to put people to sleep

"But wait! What about Pandora and SiriusXM?"

These companies are jointly owned by Liberty Media, the heads of which collectively gave $1 million to Trump’s 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee (currently under federal investigation). In 2016, Sirius moved to eliminate 80 percent of its Latin music channels. In 2017, they reintroduced Steve Bannon as a regular host on its Patriot channel until he stepped down in 2018. (Source: Pandora’s New Corporate Parents Gave Millions to Trump, GOP, Sam Lefebvre, January 2019, KQED.org)

Personal ethics are just as important as professional ethics. Therefore, I cannot and will not endorse these platforms.

---

Tips for Massage School Success

• If you have a syllabus, write down the dates beside each class so that you know exactly when they're taking place. 
• Related: write down the due dates next to assignments and projects. 
• Also related: put all of these dates into your calendar(s). 
• Work ahead when you can because life will happen and you can fall behind. 
• Keep track of any missed classes and clinics: my suggestion is to have a column for the date, a column for what was missed and/or how many hours it was worth, why it was missed, and a column for the "Made Up" date. You can download mine or make your own.

• Keep a Massage Journal.
• Ask friends and family for gift certificates for local massage businesses. 
• If you're having difficulty moving your body -- i.e. if you're lacking flexibility -- checking with your doctor, visiting a chiropractor, or taking up gentle yoga (such as yin yoga) can help you move easier and with less pain. 
• Anatomical terminology (anterior, posterior, lateral, medial, etc.) and movement terminology (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, etc.) are two different but very important things for you to study early on. 
• Flashcards are your friends. 
• Strong thighs save spines: more lunging, less reaching and leaning. 
• Twin and Twin XL-sized sheets work great on massage tables. Keep your pillowcases to use as face cradle covers and for draping. Microfiber sheets are lighter and dry quicker, but higher thread counts last longer. 
• When you are struggling, ask for help -- from friends and family, classmates, teachers, other staff members of your school. 
• Make a Facebook group or an e-mail or text loop for you and your classmates.

---

7 Pro-Tips For Improving Your Massage Session

-- Ask, “Are there any areas you don’t want to have massaged, today?”

Clients may be wearing makeup or going out to work or dinner after their session. Some clients cannot have their feet touched at all. This will also help you to make better use of your time if you know you have wiggle-room.

-- Ask, “What kind of pressure do you prefer?”

Remember that pressure is a subjective measurement. Use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lightest feather-touch and 10 being crushing. Your pressure of 3 might feel like a 7 to your client, or vice versa. This tolerance or preference can also change between sessions.

-- Ask about a bolster and client’s comfort upon entering your space.

My routine after I close my office door to start a session includes turning off one of my lights, giving a client a bolster if requested, and wrapping their feet with warmed towels before I sit at the head of the table (if they’re starting supine). Any lapses or interruptions to the routine can throw off my groove and then I’ll realize I left my lotion on the shelf or missed another step.

-- Get to the client’s focus area within the first 10-20 minutes.

I love to save “the best for last,” but you don’t want your client to sit in a silent panic that you won’t have enough time to give their problem area your focus. It’s okay to...

-- Shake up your routine.

Head-to-toe and toe-to-head is a great framework, but it’s not a cardinal rule. You’re allowed to start a client face-down. With hand sanitizer ready, you could start by working on their feet. Try out new ways of performing the usual strokes (i.e. using a forearm instead of knuckles, etc.).

-- Consolidate strokes and steps of your routine.

If you’re aiming for a relaxing session, minimize turning the client’s head side-to-side or flipping them over frequently. Do one gliding, encompassing motion on each finger or toe. Steps that involve the hairline or anything above it should be done as part of the scalp routine so as to...

-- Minimize or Avoid Getting Lubricant in the Client’s Hair

Clients hate this. Unless they’ve signed up for an Ayurvedic oil treatment, it’s best to have clean, dry hands for scalp work. You might also choose to have a small can of dry shampoo available for freshening up after their session.

---

How Journaling Can Make You a Better Massage Therapist

If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice before starting massage school, it would be to start and keep a massage journal.

As we learn and practice our massage skills, we need to understand that our inevitable mistakes are opportunities to reflect on, "What worked? What didn't? What can be changed?"

A journal becomes a container for thoughts, ideas, inspiration, and reflections. They can be used to hone or spark new interests, to give yourself direction and focus, and to explore how you best work as you navigate the professional world.

Journaling doesn't have to be super fancy -- don't get bogged down in the bullet journal craze and all the "must haves!" and artistic perfection that the Internet implies you need. You can grab any old notebook and a writing implement. The journal doesn't have to be wholly physical, either, if you prefer to do things digitally. Finally, remember that you don't have to share it with anybody else unless you choose to -- this is a tool for you.

With that said, here are some journaling suggestions to get you started:

• What is your "Why?"
  Why did you get into massage therapy? Sometimes having a big, specific goal goal doesn't work for everyone; what are the little things about performing massage therapy that bring you fulfillment?
• Receiving Sessions:
  As you meet other professionals and explore their businesses, write down your observations for later. Since they'll be written down, you won't have to try and pry them from your memory.
• What did you like?
• What would you do differently?
• Names & Contacts:
  Sometimes called a Client Relations Manager (CRM), include contact information that might be helpful for you or others to reach specific people in the future.
• Classmates, Teachers
• Practice & Potential Clients
• Potential Employers & Referral Partners
• What are you curious about?
  What are the things that spark your interest? What would you like to research?
• Other Modalities, CEUs
• Specific Client Bases
• Who do you enjoy working with?
  Whether it's specific client niches, working as an employee, or collaborating with other professionals, what does your ideal work environment look like?
• Make Lists:
  This way you can have all the things in one place instead of on a thousand sticky notes and pieces of scrap paper strewn through your house and car...
• Pros & Cons
• Due Dates & Deadlines
• Events & Commitments
• Media Ideas
• Collect Things:
  What are clients saying about your work? What quotes or visuals light you up and keep you motivated?
• Testimonials & Feedback
• Inspirational Photos, Quotes
• "Give yourself permission to be messy and make mistakes!"
  "Siri, how do you spell 'curious?'" "Curious: c-u-r-i-o-u-s." "... Ugh." *adds in the second 'u'*
• "These are written on paper -- not in stone. You can always change your mind!"
  Your vision of your career might change and adapt -- it probably will. And that's okay.

"That's all well and good, but how exactly does this make me a better massage therapist?"

Having your "Why," front and center, can help to keep you going -- even when you feel like throwing in the towel.

It gives you a place to record data: you may start to see patterns in your work or in your preferences for how you work. For example, if dirty and cluttered businesses make me not want to spend money there, I will make it a priority to keep my own space clean. Or if people really like my neck and shoulder work but my leg work is lacking, I might need to review old techniques and study new ones.

If you're not the right therapist for a potential client, you can say, "I know someone else who specializes in what you're looking for!"

You can better know yourself -- by acknowledging your limitations and setting your own boundaries -- and reward yourself accordingly.

You have an opportunity to explore your personal values and potential visions for your future. Having these bits and pieces in one place makes it easier to build resumes, request references or recommendations, write copy, compose business plans, and develop marketing materials.

"Who are you meant to be?"

Remember to have fun with it. Write down the funny things your classmates and clients say. Leave room to doodle in the margins. Treat yourself to a set of new pens and stencils. Daydream about winning the lottery. Print out and glue-in your favorite meme. Just start, and trust that your journal will evolve with you.

---

So You Want to Make Your Own Content

Created with Canva.com

My favorite resources for royalty-free images without the guilt of copyright infringement:

• Unsplash.com
• Pexels.com
• MassageNerd.com (Read Rules for Use)

Need help choosing colors? Try these (and remember to write the color codes down!):

• DeGraeve Color Palette Generator - Hexadecimal color palettes based off of images.
• W3S Color Picker - Offers Hexadecimal codes and RGB values. 
• Canva.com: Color - Palette generator, palette ideas, and color theory.

Want to play with fancy fonts, symbols, and emojis? There are sites for that:

• Messletters
• CopyPasteCharacter.com
• Canva.com: Font Combinations

Once you have your images, text, and colors, here are some free/inexpensive resources for putting them all together:

• Pixlr.com
• Canva.com - Also offers handy-dandy tutorials for the graphic-design-challenged.

Need a logo? Try Canva.com's Logo Maker for a free/cheap. For the ultimate $299+ business investment, check out 99Designs' Custom Logo Design contests.

Happy Creating!

---

When the Best-Laid Plans Go to Pot

August 10, 2019. I had two clients booked at my office on Main Street in Buxton, Maine. I was leisurely going about my morning at home when I was told there would be a parade going past my office that morning.

I was instantly gripped with anxiety. I called and messaged my clients to ask what they wanted to do, as there was no telling when the parade would end and whether or not we could get in and out of my parking lot.

I rushed to my office, frustrated with the cars doing 35 in a 40, frustrated with the town, and frustrated with myself for not connecting the dots sooner.

Pulling into my parking lot was easy; things weren't busy yet, though a local side-street was already reduced to local traffic only. As I finalized rescheduling my first appointment, I looked around my office...

And got to work.

"If you can't beat 'em" became my mantra as I put out my signs on the street, and then added Small Business Saturday balloons and business cards. I washed windows and mirrors and dusted surfaces, both inside and outside. I moved more signage and decoration around and tacked up an outlet cover to hide a hole in my wall. These are all things that I never would have made time for, otherwise.

I took a photo and shared it on Facebook, with a bit of (malaphoric) humor -- because that's how I deal with life when things go wrong.

The Importance of Being Adaptable

Yes, I allowed myself a few moments to wallow and bemoan the situation, as well as the (temporarily) lost income. Once that was over with, I made the best of it.

In massage school, I emphasize the importance of rolling with whatever situations arise -- because things can change in an instant, regardless of whether you're in a school clinic, working for someone else, or running your own private practice.

• You will have no-show clients.
• You will have five clients vying for the same day and time slot.
• You may plan to work on a client's shoulders but, when they arrive, you find out they have a sunburn.
• You may plan to start work on a client who is face-up, only to walk in and find them face-down.
• You may plan to have no clients at all and come to work to find three of them.
• You may expect to be fully booked and find out everyone cancelled at the last minute.
• The business next door will throw a road race and BBQ in your parking lot and not tell you about it.

Life happens.

It's easy to panic and get upset and run in circles, but none of these things accomplish much in the long-run.

• I can't guarantee that anyone is going to take my business cards while they walk up and down Main Street. 
• Probably nobody is going to appreciate the cleanliness of my windows and office. (Though, trust me, they notice when things aren't clean -- they are just too polite to mention it.)
• My landlord is going to have to pry that outlet cover off to fix the hole properly, someday.

But all of these little things add up. They didn't take much time or effort out of my day while my original plans were already thrown out the window.

So when life happens -- when your teachers ask you to do seemingly menial tasks, your boss needs you to come in after giving you the day off, or your client has to cancel due to sudden illness -- go ahead and take a moment to vent about it. 

Then take a deep breath.

Do what needs to be done.

Make the most of the situation.

And then be proud of yourself for remaining flexible and handling things with grace.

Job Hunting for Massage Therapists: the Bare-Bones Basics

"Hi, I have five years experience, give me a call at 207-xxx-xxxx."
"Why should you need more than that?"

An on-point massage may not be enough to land you your first (or next) massage gig. When it comes to job seeking, your first impressions should represent your best efforts at communicating who you are. Potential employers will notice your attention to detail -- and they will certainly notice when you fall short.

Your response to a job ad is, to employers, a simple test: "Can you follow a few very, very simple instructions? Can I trust you to provide world-class customer service or to follow a doctor's order on a complex case?"

How to Job Hunt:

• Before you start your search, sit down with a calendar and mark out the days and times you would be available to give if you got a job. What commitments do you already have in place? Be honest with yourself without stretching yourself too thin.

• Consider your long-term goals. It's easy to focus on needing to get paid right away, but be reasonable in your expectations. Once you start a job, you need to build relationships with your employer, other employees, and the clients you interact with. These relationships and related skills (communication, money-handling, etc.) may take six-months, a year, even two years to build. Be ready and willing to tough out the quiet times -- your dedication will impress those around you. (A steady work history will also help you get auto and personal loans.)

• Read the job description and requirements. If your availability or credentials don't line up with what they're looking for, move on.

• Introduce yourself and show your personality! A cover letter is a nice touch to say hello and answer any basic questions that were brought up in the job ad. It’s a way to let your personality and customer service skills shine. Some examples: What do you bring to the table? (Pun intended.) What are some of your experiences with complex cases? How effective are you at rebooking clients?

• Have a resume. Consider the point of view of the person who will read it. Do a quick Google or Pinterest search for inspiration. Proofread it and then ask someone else to proofread it, too. Send it with your cover letter or when asked; bring a copy or two with you to your interview.

• If you seemingly have no pertinent job experience? Write up a list of your skills: massage-specific, customer service related, sales specialities, computer and social media familiarities, etc. What do you know that would benefit a potential employer and their business?

• Have a list of resources and their contact information -- these should be trusted individuals who can speak to your work ethic and character. Ask their permission, first! You may also need this information for your own sake when filling out job applications. Keep a couple of printed copies on-hand.

• Return phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. 24-hours, tops. If they ask for something specific, get it to them ASAP.

• Show up for interviews. Be on time. Silence your cell phone. Throw out your gum. Be clean and fragrance-free.

• Be professional in your dress, your words, and your demeanor. You don't need to wear a suit, but please don't wear your pajamas or holiest jeans. Keep your humor appropriate. Stay humble -- don't try to demand a high salary if you only just graduated massage school. (Likewise, don't try to tell them they're missing out on your skills if those skills aren't what they're looking for. I've done that. It's not cute.)

• Clearly communicate your availability and any potential scheduling conflicts that may arise. If you agree to work one schedule and then go back on your word -- for whatever reason -- it makes you look bad, inconveniences clients and other employees, and complicates their business.

• Along with copies of your resume and references, bring a copy of your massage license, proof of liability insurance, and your CPR/First Aid certificate if applicable.

• When in doubt, get a tutor, mentor, or counselor or find a career center to help you bolster your job-seeking skills.

• You are allowed to change your mind -- just give your contact the courtesy of saying, "Sorry, I'm no longer interested."

Job searching can be super intimidating and grueling, an additional source of stress and anxiety on top of other life obligations and monetary insecurities. Knowing that returning calls and e-mails quickly is important and actually following through with it can be complicated by a myriad of reasons. Take a few deep breaths. Call up a friend, mentor, or loved one for a quick pep-talk. And then do it anyway.

It'll all be okay. I promise.

Quote:

"Give the massage that you wish to receive in the world."

- Bethany A. Ingraham, LMT

When the Money Isn't Worth It: Times I Should Have Said "No"

As a self-described Millennial, I know how difficult it is to live paycheck-to-paycheck and to say "no" to potential money.

I grew up watching the American Middle Class disintegrate and entered adulthood with student loans I knew would be next-to-impossible to pay off. The thought of graduating from massage school even further in debt triggered more fears: that I wouldn't find a job or would be injured to the point that I couldn't work. It wasn't even wholly about the money -- it was about the emotional and time investment, where I had devoted a year of my life to learning this trade.

The thought of it all going down the drain was -- and still is -- terrifying.

I made a lot of mistakes those first few years, and still make mistakes from time to time. We talk a lot in school about contraindications -- reasons why we shouldn't massage a client. We also talk a lot about setting and maintaining professional boundaries. Against my better judgment and standard medical recommendations, I have said "yes" to certain clients when I should have said "no," for fear that I would lose out on that client's business, a paycheck, or even my entire job.

For the sake of your clients, your employers, and your own reputation and conscience, ask yourself if giving this massage or bending your boundaries is truly worth the risk.

I have massaged clients who admitted to drinking alcohol before their massage session. They often felt worse afterward and never came back -- so, I lost their business, anyway.

I have massaged clients who triggered mental red flags during a session. Even though I kept it strictly professional, investing up to an hour of my time and physical energy on someone who didn't appreciate it made me feel resentful afterward.

I have taken same-day bookings on my days off with new, random clients. These sessions often ended poorly for various reasons (i.e. red flags) and, again, triggered resentment. It wasn't worth it, and now I don't do same-day bookings for new, random clients.

I have massaged clients who had various, obvious medical issues. I tried to take precautions and maintained frequent communication during the session. They would seem to feel okay afterward, only for me to get a phone call later that week saying they'd been in a lot of pain since the session. My anxiety would spike and I started questioning myself as a professional. While maybe their worsened condition wasn't because of my work, it all could have been avoided if I'd trusted my gut and said, "no."

In these cases, it was so not worth it: it wasn't worth the money, it wasn't worth the physical effort, and it wasn't worth the mental and emotional toll on myself.

There have been a few times where I did successfully say, "No," and it was totally worth it:

One of my long-time clients was in a car accident and sustained a concussion. She tried to come in for a massage with a colleague who wasn't comfortable performing it and turned her down; she wanted to see me and I said, "let's wait a week for you to heal before we do the massage." Despite her obvious displeasure and the threat of taking her business elsewhere, I held my ground and convinced her to give it time. It wasn't until after the concussion passed that she realized she'd been in an altered mental and physical state at the time. She apologized. She's still my client to this day.

A gentleman came to the salon I worked at, asking to speak to the massage therapist. I was the only therapist employed at the time and didn't come into work until later that day, so the staff took his name and number. I was so busy that night that I forgot to return his call. The next day, there was a nasty voicemail on our machine where this gentleman went on an angry tirade about his money apparently not being "green enough" for us and that he was taking it elsewhere. At first, I hung my head with guilt, ready to call and apologize and offer for him to come in. After several minutes of thinking about it, I found my fire and said, "No -- no, I'm not going to apologize. He didn't need to speak to us like that over a simple mistake." My boss took the reins and called him, telling him we didn't appreciate the tone of his message. He hung up.

I took a mobile massage gig that included a 40-minute drive into the city and took me away from my office every other Saturday. The clients were only able to do 30-minute sessions, and I often only had two or three. There were many variables at play that made this gig a poor fit for me: my car was falling apart and I felt stressed, spread too thin, and wasn't breaking even -- financially or otherwise. I did this gig for about two months before I had to say, "I'm sorry, I need to take a break." By saying no, I was able to restructure where I was spending my time and energy.

What You Gain From Saying No:

• You have time and energy that can be used for finding or working on your ideal clients.
• You open a space for that ideal client to fill -- getting their regular business helps give you a sustained income, and allows you to do work that feels good to you.
• Should some terrible circumstance befall that client with medical contraindications, your conscience will be clear. (Yes, it might have been nice to make them feel good for a little while, but would it have been worth the risk of making them feel worse?)
• You have the opportunity to educate new or inexperienced clients about why you need to say no -- and you can give them the opportunity to come back another day when they're better prepared. 

Remember: don't set yourself on fire (or burn-out) just to keep someone else warm. You do not have to say "yes" to every potential client or employer. Just because you've said "no," today, doesn't mean you've lost a client's business or a job opportunity for forever -- you're making room for opportunities that will better benefit you.

And please know that it is always, always perfectly acceptable to say, "No," for your own sake.

---

What Do You Need to Start Your Own Business?

So you want to start your own bodywork business? Let me preface this post with the following:

"If you build it, they will come" is a terrible marketing plan.
You can have a beautiful space with the nicest equipment, lotions and oils, and decorations --
-- but if you don't have clients coming to see you, ensuring your rent gets paid and the lights stay on, those lovely doors will be closed in a hurry.

Marketing and choosing how and where you want to work are topics for separate posts. If you want to plan ahead, here is some of my advice.

To start your business on a barebones, shoe-string budget:

• Sack away extra income to pay a first month's rent and security deposit. You can sell gift certificates, but using that money before they're redeemed carries a substantial risk. Similarly, try to avoid using lines of credit.
• Furniture, linens, and decorations can be bought second-hand or sometimes found for free. 
• Reach out to other massage professionals about any extra tables, massage chairs, or other equipment they may be willing to sell.
• Buy quality massage products in affordable quantities -- these will be used on your clients and yourself, so this is one area where you shouldn't skimp.
• Ask friends and family for gift certificates to your stores of choice.

For the back-end and marketing details:

• Vistaprint (affiliate link) has some of the best deals on basic business cards.
• Google Domains can get you set up with a .com address of your choice for as little as $12 a year, with connections to other web services at varying price points.
• Square (affiliate link) offers gadgets and an app for accepting credit card payments, along with many other resources.
• A basic MailChimp account is free and relatively easy to use for e-mail marketing. (Affiliate link, but only if you purchase a paid plan.)
• Get a free Facebook Page for your business. (Please, oh please, don't register a new profile for your business; there is a difference.)
• Use an online scheduling system (affiliate link).
• Make your own graphics and use them on all of your business-related websites, social media pages, etc. to make a consistent "brand."

You Will Make Mistakes

You will make mistakes*.

Nine times out of ten, they will not be the end of the world. 

* After seven years, I still make mistakes and I will be the first to admit them.

Advice for Bodywork Students Preparing to Graduate

Specific to (Southern) Maine:

• If you want to work on a lot of different people and make a lot of money in a hurry, then a gig in the tourism industry can help you get there. Head for the coasts in the summers and ski resorts in the winters.

In General:

• Be open to opportunities. You may not get to your ideal workplace or wage right away; accept that you may need to make concessions and take smaller steps to get there.
• Ask your teachers if they're willing to serve as references and write letters of recommendation. Networking and word-of-mouth are golden for marketing your services, but require building and maintaining rapport.
• Avoid the independent contractor trap. Unless you are really clear on your own boundaries and the regulations of the state, aim toward becoming an employee.
• Honor your body and go at your own pace: just because Joe Schmoe the massage therapist can work on five people back-to-back without a break doesn't mean that you can or should. If you push yourself too hard, too fast, you can jeopardize your career before it's barely started.