Shortage of Massage ladies

[baldman]

I am not talking about the pretty girl happy endings brigade, but the ladies who actually know what they are doing.

Seems here in Phuket, that this year, there is a shortage.

Not sure why this is.

Maybe better economic situation in Isaan, with big economic injection via minimum wage, rice subsidies, ASEAN centre etc

Interested in members opinions, observations

Declaration of interest: I have a financial interest in some massage shops, so I don't need the give her the money comments<smiles>

[GuestHouse]

Correct, I know someone who owns a Thai Traditional Massage business, he's having a problem getting and keeping staff.

[tim armstrong]

Good masseuse need to be paid differently. My wife is one and her friend in BKK is another. The friend has maybe 10-20 customers. But they pay up to 20,000 baht for a series of sessions over several weeks or longer. Both women have been masseuse for 15 years+ and are constantly updating their skills, much like any other health professional. Maybe the professional masseuse should have a different title, and accreditation system, gov't approved, to differentiate them from the rest, and to ensure they get appropriate fees ?

[HerIndoors]

My wife is a traditional massuese...but as she has gotten older finds it physically more difficult. It is after all a physical task. By and large, in IMHO if you want a good, proper massage you need to find the older women who have had training and experience. Maybe the course costs involved (e.g. 20,000 B at Wat Po school) are putting the younger ones off.

[Costas2008]

Unfortunately, I know of some qualified masseuse’s that joined the "pretty girl happy endings brigade" as you put it.

And this is due to lack of sufficient earnings.

They start with a dream, but when money is not enough to support the family, they turn the other way.

Feel sorry for them and I beg you as you have "financial interest in some massage shops" try to convince the massage parlour owners to reward them better.

After all they do a good and exhausting job.

[BlueSkyCowboy]

Good masseuse need to be paid differently. My wife is one and her friend in BKK is another. The friend has maybe 10-20 customers. But they pay up to 20,000 baht for a series of sessions over several weeks or longer. Both women have been masseuse for 15 years+ and are constantly updating their skills, much like any other health professional. Maybe the professional masseuse should have a different title, and accreditation system, gov't approved, to differentiate them from the rest, and to ensure they get appropriate fees ?

My guess is that the "soft massage" girl makes more money

[BOBAKAT]

Answer is easy..... shortage is due to "Sabaidee pii mai"....MAny girls coming home for one or two week for New year.... I see lot of the "happy ends brigade on DMK few day before 31....wait 2 or 3 days and i am sure they are going back....

[HerbalEd]

In Thailand I have been massaged hundreds of times by scores of massagers .... and some of the best quality massages were from men ... not women. The older retired Muy Thai boxers are especially good, as are the blind men massagers.

The very first Thai massages I had 32 years ago in Koh Samui were from an 83 y.o., ex-Thai boxer and he was a true master.

FWIW, I've studied several styles of massage and have given over 700 clinical massages ... and taught massage and yoga ... so I consider myself a skilled connoisseur of massage.

[NeverSure]

Tell them to stop beating the hell out of their customers. Then maybe they'd have more customers, make more money, and stick around.

The last massage I had was enough to make me swear off Thai massages forever.

[FiftyTwo]

If given the choice would you

1 Wank off a guy for 500bht 'cash in hand' for 10 minutes.

2 Train for years then work hard for 1 hour to earn 30bht.

I think I know the answer.

And that answer tells you why traditional massage is becoming a thing of the past.

[NeverSure]

If given the choice would you

1 Wank off a guy for 500bht 'cash in hand' for 10 minutes.

2 Train for years then work hard for 1 hour to earn 30bht.

I think I know the answer.

And that answer tells you why traditional massage is becoming a thing of the past.

I wouldn't wank off a guy for money, marbles or chalk.

[FiftyTwo]

If given the choice would you

1 Wank off a guy for 500bht 'cash in hand' for 10 minutes.

2 Train for years then work hard for 1 hour to earn 30bht.

I think I know the answer.

And that answer tells you why traditional massage is becoming a thing of the past.

I wouldn't wank off a guy for money, marbles or chalk.

Not even yourself?

[thhMan]

I think the question is really... Is there any qualified Thai.... regardless of the task in question

[Andre0720]

Unfortunately, I know of some qualified masseuse’s that joined the "pretty girl happy endings brigade" as you put it.

And this is due to lack of sufficient earnings.

They start with a dream, but when money is not enough to support the family, they turn the other way.

Feel sorry for them and I beg you as you have "financial interest in some massage shops" try to convince the massage parlour owners to reward them better.

After all they do a good and exhausting job.

Typically, the shop owners do not care about the staff....just want them to work...

Was talking to a lady doing a massage last week, she said that if she wants a day off, she has to pay the owner 500 bahts... And I heard that many times...

So they freelance..

And other girls then must be hired.....

[godden]

i've had my wallet masaged many times in thailand they seemed to know what they were doing

[Old Croc]

My wife is also having trouble keeping staff in her shops, just when business is booming. She is losing many customers who are walking out when they hear they can't get attended to straight away.

Tourist numbers are up in Phuket at the moment, probably because they are skipping Bangkok.

These massage ladies leave for many reasons: They miss husbands, babies, mum, back home, or they

think the grass is greener in Karon (or Kata or Hat Yai or KL). The grapevine is always buzzing

about where there is a better place to work.

Some find boyfriends and disappear, or even decide it is better to freelance in a different industry in the clubs in Bangla.

It's a frustrating business trying to keep these ladies. They have no loyalty to the employer no

matter what you have done for them with transport, accommodation, food or training.

[FiftyTwo]

It's a frustrating business trying to keep these ladies. They have no loyalty to the employer no

matter what you have done for them with transport, accommodation, food or training.

Try paying double the going wage.

[Old Croc]

It's a frustrating business trying to keep these ladies. They have no loyalty to the employer no

matter what you have done for them with transport, accommodation, food or training.

Try paying double the going wage.

That would be the profit margin.

Everybody pretty well pays the same amount, and charges the customer about the same.

[baldman]

Andre0720

Wouldn't believe everything you are, told by a worker, is actually the status quo :-)

Remember they chat to keep you happy and to maximise "tip" potential.

ie they are hard doneby and therefore you will be generous.

Human nature at work.

As an example, in my shops, we have trouble getting them to take a day off!!

They are there for the money!!!

You may be confused with a take a day off ""with a customer"", a fee that is usually paid as its all last minute.

The 500 baht fee is paid by the customer.

Planned days off are no problem.

and the other comment about getting 500 baht for a wank verses 30 baht for a hours work.

Best you update your knowledge on what ""real"" massage ladies get paid..

Many are on 50% of the fee plus 100% of tips.

All commenter's should also understand that many massage ladies are not there for the day to day money but to find a falang boyfriend to take care of them.

Well that's our experience in Phuket.......About 2 or 3 a month (low season) leave us for this reason!

[FiftyTwo]

It's a frustrating business trying to keep these ladies. They have no loyalty to the employer no

matter what you have done for them with transport, accommodation, food or training.

Try paying double the going wage.

That would be the profit margin.

Everybody pretty well pays the same amount, and charges the customer about the same.

So be the first one to pay substantially more, and have the pick of the massage staff.

Once you have a reputation for the best staff, you can charge the highest prices, and people will be happy to pay them.

Being like everyone else, never makes the big profits.

Take a chance to excel.

[Old Croc]

It's a frustrating business trying to keep these ladies. They have no loyalty to the employer no

matter what you have done for them with transport, accommodation, food or training.

Try paying double the going wage.

That would be the profit margin.

Everybody pretty well pays the same amount, and charges the customer about the same.

So be the first one to pay substantially more, and have the pick of the massage staff.

Once you have a reputation for the best staff, you can charge the highest prices, and people will be happy to pay them.

Being like everyone else, never makes the big profits.

Take a chance to excel.

Ever run a business Fifty?

I'll pass on your excellent suggestions to the misses and see if she happy to run at a loss during the high season.

[baldman]

FiftyTwo

Absolutely brilliant idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make no cash to pay the overheads until by osmosis, "the market" discovers you have lots of staff.

Then the second miracle occurs when "the market"wants to pay more....

Sheesh I must have been asleep in business 101 when this concept was discussed.

Maybe you have been reading about Silicon valley startups that bleed money until they(the few like facebook etc) hit the jackpot.

Was awake however (and 40 years in business supports it) when cashflow was discussed.

Without positive cashflow your business is DEAD!!!!

or someone with very deep pockets who can fund the lack of income.

[Old Croc]

Yes, it's a pity "the market" gets on a plane back to Russia every 7 days to be replaced by "the market" from Beijing for the next week.

[FiftyTwo]

Yes, it's a pity "the market" gets on a plane back to Russia every 7 days to be replaced by "the market" from Beijing for the next week.

Quite a lot of Chinese customers exchange recommendations via facebook and other social networking pages.

I know a person on this forum running an expensive spa/massage place. Seems to do quite well charging premium prices.

His prices seem to be 1,000bht and up.

[saakura]

Unfortunately, I know of some qualified masseuses that joined the "pretty girl happy endings brigade" as you put it.

And this is due to lack of sufficient earnings.

They start with a dream, but when money is not enough to support the family, they turn the other way.

Feel sorry for them and I beg you as you have "financial interest in some massage shops" try to convince the massage parlour owners to reward them better.

After all they do a good and exhausting job.

Could it be the other way round? That the traditional masseuse saw the big and easy money which the naughty ones were making without having to do much physical effort for upto 10hrs a day and decided to switch sides, even though they were getting a reasonable salary for their line of work?

[baldman]

Yep-love the Ford Mercedes comparisons.

Unfortunately not all of us have deep enough pockets to have a SPA as opposed to a massage shop <smiles>

Should say they have the same staffing problems us little guys have.

Had a SPA rep around the other evening looking for 8 ladies to meet his bookings for the night and subsequent.

Funnily enough they pay staff the same as we do.....Guess a lot of that extra dosh goes to cover those pesky overheads.

[The Deerhunter]

Regarding traditional Thai massage. there is more than one type. I am a professional masseur, deciding whether to modify my visa toallow mw to do my SLM massage (look it up), later in the year. In my previous country 75% of my customers were Thai women and nearly 1/2 of those were masseurs or family of masseurs brought to me by the masseur. Interestingly I would frequently get them on the table and immediately say "who did this to you?" They are black & blue from some thai masseur "at the temple" who was trained in the "If I don't beat you black & blue you won't think you had a massage" college. Most of the traditional Wat Pho trained girls are not too painful but all are more painful than what I do, so I am told. If I leave a bruise it is a mistake.

I agree, the "happy ending" stuff pays way better than the real stuff. If I dropped 40 years & changed sex I would't be here now, retired!!!! LOL.

[Sheryl]

Government hospitals (including the district hospitals which are otherwise not very useful places) and even Health Centers have well trained Masseuses.

[wotsdermatter]

A few years ago, all a person needed was to go to Wat Po and have instruction from one of their "instructors." Now, under new legislation, a person striving to be a certified masseur has to obtain training and their certificate from an establishment registered with the appropriate department of the government.

[Toscano]

My friend's wife has a beauty and massage business in Phuket , her daughter now runs the business . This lady recently sent a bunch of Isaan country girls down to her business in Phuket . It has been my experience that many well trained mature Thai masseurse are paid a pitifully small amount and work long

hours . Their surest way to make some money is by having sex with clients ; but if the police find girls having sex at the salon , they can close the

business down . I suspect not so many girls have the proper trainings as those of a generation ago .