tipping massage students

[DarlingNikki]

If you volunteer to be a practice subject for a free massage from a student, do you tip him? If so, how much?

 

[The_old_man]

My personal opinion would be to tip on the same basis as any server. If service was not satisfactory, nothing. If outstanding, what you would tip a professional for the same service.

 

[DarlingNikki]

Thanks, but... maybe I'm making it way more complicated than it is or should be. Ordinarily I would tip 20% of the total price of the massage. But how do I know how much he would charge if he was charging? Ok, let's just assume the slightly low end of normal but common $1 per minute or $60 per hour. So that would get him $12, or maybe round up to $15. But this guy will be reading from a book, and possibly hasn't gotten it straight yet. So do I tip less, based on the fact that the massage will not be as great as it could be? Or should I tip more since I am getting a free massage and am saving at least $60, so I shouldn't be so stingy? I don't mind giving up the money, just don't want to do anything weird or make the guy uncomfortable.

...This type of thing is why I need a massage in the first place.

 

[Bobmi357]

Generally speaking you tip less when you're dealing with a trainee and a reduced price for the service.

When in doubt, do what I do, tip at 15%. In the case of a trainee, I'd roughly halve that to 8% or maybe 10% (just ot make the math easier).

 

[redrock911]

My wife is training to be a massage therapist. Her clinicals, when people off the streets come in and get massages, cost $35. She wont be reading out of a book or anything though. They have worked for a couple months now and this is putting it into action. Her only problem is that she takes to long, running over an hour so she has to cut that down a bit. Anyway just wanted to give you an idea of what it might cost if you had to pay for a student massage. Could do 10%-15% of the 35. Hell give him $5 and he should be happy. He is there to learn, not make money yet. Just be sure to give some feedback on what you experienced. Will help him of course in the future.

 

[y=mx+b]

Ask them if they can accept tips. A lot of schools nowadays don't allow the students to accept tips. Some schools pool the tips together for a end of the year party. And in some settings it is not polite to tip the therapist, as it would be like tipping your doctor, or dentist.

 

[DarlingNikki]

Thanks, everyone. Ok - another twist. I am not doing this through his school, but through an Internet ad... does that make a difference?

 

[Hotred911]

I agree with checking about the students being able to accept tips. The school I'm going to says we can't accept tips from the clients hand, but if left on the table or something, it's ours. We've also been told by a few instructors that as long as they don't see it, they don't care.

Also, we don't expect tips, yes they'd be nice. But we're not expecting them, so if you don't tip it's not a big deal.