We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Moreau a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

In going to massage school they prepare you to be the best employee you can be. Just go and work for a spa. They give you tips and tricks to stand out from the crowd and help you create your resume. They host hiring fairs and post job ads and send out email blasts. But they don’t give you any guidance on working for yourself.

My massage school said dual licensed massage therapists were more likely to be hired by Spa Managers because of the flexibility of services you could provide. So my goal was to get a massage license and then become an esthetician.

The one day we had a guest speaker come to the school. She had graduated a few years before and she came in talking about how wonderful and awesome her life is. She was self employed, she paid off all her debt, she saved up $20,000 dollars, and goes on vacation with her family every other week!

I thought, “Wow!” Here I am trying to become dual licensed so I can get a job in the spa and I don’t even LIKE esthetics!

From that moment forward, my paradigm shifted. And while I still ended up working at the spa, deep down, I knew it just wasn’t for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello! My name is Marie Moreau and I am the proud owner of, “Prestige Massage.” A mobile only massage business that specializes in hosting spa parties for large groups of people.

Some of the different types of massages we provide are Deep Tissue, Hotstones, Cupping and Swedish. In truth anyone can give you a “massage.” We’re here to provide you with an experience, the “Prestige Experience” as we like to call it.

Our business is set apart from others in many aspects. For starters reliability. When you book with us, rain or shine we will be there for you.

We want our clients to know that they are special. You are wonderfully and beautifully made. Love yourself and love your body.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After graduating massage school, I knew somehow someway I had to be self employed. But, I knew nothing about opening or running a business and hopped on the Spa train. I worked for a certain franchise for over 5 years. They became my crutch, I was comfortable I knew all the protocols and subconsciously was afraid to leave.

Until…

I worked for a different spa under the same franchise. They were up tight and had too many corporate rules. In the massage industry, most spas are relaxed, you can’t treat therapists like you would any regular office job.

For example, most spas are commission only. You only get paid for the clients you massage. If you have a 7 hour shift and only 3 clients, any logical person would want to go home. Why would I want to stay here if I’m not getting paid. Some spas will let you leave but other delusional managers and owners will demand you stay, “just in case” someone walks in.

In the corporate world for example say it’s a slow day in a retail store, they will send people home. Why? Because they don’t want the expense of paying them when there are no customers. In the massage industry managers are fine with letting you stay because if there are no clients they’re not paying you.

This same spa sat me down and said to me that a couple of my clients complained I didn’t do enough small talk with them while they were getting their massage. The thing about massage is you have to set up the client with the right kind of therapist. My massages are geared more toward relaxation. You can’t relax if I’m yapping in your ear the whole time. But if that was what the client wanted they should have paired them up with a chatter box therapist.

Instead, the spa made it seem as if I was the problem. They said I had to, “mold” myself into, “whatever the client needs.” Not everyone is my ideal client and not every client will like my massage and that’s ok. You always want to make sure it’s a good match up for the best outcome.

It was right then I knew the Spa life was no longer for me. I couldn’t do it anymore. It was time to spread my wings. It was time to venture out on my own and become fully self employed.

Any advice for managing a team?

In hosting massage parties it is imperative that I work with other massage therapists. The best advice I have for managing a team and maintaining high morale is placing everyone in their best position. Place them where they will perform the best and allow people to have some input. Anticipate their weaknesses and be ready to hold them up if they fall.

When people are working together, everyone wants to feel important and everyone wants to be heard. Do they have a better idea on how to address an issue? Do they have suggestions on how to create the best presentation or experience? Sometimes you might not incorporate anything, but let them contribute and give them the opportunity to feel like their voices are heard.

Contact Info:

• Website: prestigemassagefl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestige_massage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prestigemassagefl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestigemassage
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/prestigemassag3
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgs4cCzKOnQGIP_4zvw4obw
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Yhrsps2DLclZBCAvDp0d2?si=JejROGGLTJKVVCQrHEeeVA