Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison McDade.
Hi Allison, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
About 21 years ago, I left the US for Ireland to clear my mind, my heart, my soul, and figure out ‘where do I go from here’.
After my sabbatical, I returned home. I had sold everything before I left, so I was back in my mom’s house. I was going through the classifieds just to see what was out there. I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular. I just wanted to see what was going on in my local world. I saw an ad for a massage therapy school near me and I chuckled out loud. I turned to my mom and said, “Oh my gosh, I didn’t know that they had schools for those sorts of women! I must go and see this for myself.” I went the very next day.
After meeting with an admissions officer, she took me for a tour of the school and I was able to audit a couple of classes. I was suspicious at first. But then when I sat down and started listening, I was enthralled.
I went back to the admissions office, sat down and enrolled. I believe that was on a Thursday and the following Monday a new enrollment semester started. So that’s the one I joined.
I’ve now been doing this for 20 years. I went from working at a corporate franchise (where I won “Massage Therapist of the Year’ for my region and then became a regional manager. I also went through esthetics school with their help), to a spa, and, now I have my own practice for nearly 10years. I found my calling and I’ve never looked back.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been smooth and bumpy. Fortunately, I’ve encountered a lot of people who wanted to help me succeed. I still have those people to help me through the rough times. Some are clients, some are colleagues, and some are just good people who lend a helping hand because they want everyone to ‘win’.
The early struggles were how to build a clientele in a city where I have no baseline. I moved to Greenville on my own and didn’t know a soul. I started out with Groupon which was both a curse and a blessing. It was a curse and how the financial structure works out. It’s been a blessing in that many of my longtime clients came from Groupon.
My current struggle is lack of clientele. My practice has dropped off about 70% in the last year. It is a struggle some days to not lose sight of the end goal. Therefore, strategizing is my top priority. There absolutely are enough clients out there for everyone. Informing people that I exist, that’s where the struggle is. Word-of-mouth is fantastic, but it’s not always reliable.. Thusly, a massage therapist MUST be ever knowledgeable in the changing tides of marketing and advertising; not just in massage therapy itself.
As you know, we’re big fans of Forget-Me-Knots Massage & Bodywork I am. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a solo practitioner who specializes in pain management/relief and overall muscular wellness.
I integrate various techniques in my massage. I don’t have a standard massage that I offer. I don’t have a menu. When my client arrives that day we discuss their needs and what their goals are for that session. Then that’s what I do….whether it is light pressure and complete relaxation or deeper work with lots of ROM stretching, or Ashiatsu, or a firm ‘maintenance’ massage.
I have a flat rate for my time. I do not charge separate prices to meet a client’s needs. This is because when I receive massage and I see a trifold menu and I’m perusing it….. it becomes incredibly overwhelming. I look at it and think, ‘Yes, I do want to relax. But I also want to work out muscle tension. And I also want some specific work on my SCM to help relieve my thoracic outlet syndrome’. So then the question becomes, which menu item do I choose? If I do choose some sort of sports massage or integrated session, does that mean they will leave the lights on and blaring in my eyes and just work that one spot until I pass out? It’s been very difficult for me to find a therapist that I see repeatedly because of this. Hence, me making the decision when I struck out on my own to not overwhelm people. They’re coming to me because *I’m* the professional. They shouldn’t be made to feel confused, lost, and overwhelmed. This is just from my point of view.
I do not charge extra for cupping, essential oils, hot stones, or hot towels. I know many places do, but that’s not who I am.
How do you think about happiness?
Many things make me happy. Knowing that every day that I’m at work I affect the quality of a person’s life and well-being absolutely makes me happy. It gives me purpose.
I do a lot of Art and crafting. A lot of my clients will ask me to create something for them. They like the bespoke aspect… and it also brings in a little extra cash! I find that creating something from nothing brings me peace.
I love music and travel, so when my favorite band goes on tour, I get to combine those two things! I kind of go on tour with them whether they know it or not.😆 I’ve met a lot of fantastic people and I now have friends and travel buddies across the country and around the world.
My family makes me happy, too; especially my mom. I lost my dad about 8 years ago. So he never really got a chance to see me thriving in this city with my own practice. That breaks my heart, but it makes me treasure my 84 year old mother even more.
Pricing:
- 1hr $85
- 1.5hrs $120
- 2hrs $165
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/bodyworker4life
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YRCsSik7b/
