Workplace 5 - Mobile Rejuvination

After high school I did a Massage Therapy course and when I failed at being a Skirmish Selling Superstar! (See last blog) I returned to Brisbane and started one of those jobs that are considered 'long term career' in my work history.

Rejuvinators Health Massage is a fantastic company. 

Each week I would tell them what hours I was available to be on call, and they would send me job details by txt. And massage pays well. Much better than whatever all my friends were doing in their first year at uni. So I found myself earning about as much as I do now (hmmm should I have made more progress in 7 years...?) and only working the hours I wanted. It was a pretty sweet gig. 

So I'd get a txt, uniform up and head off. Most of the jobs were in hotels and the staff looked after the Rejuv girls so well. I got to know most of the receptionists and concierges fairly well. They'd unpack my car, taking it off to be parked in some mysterious hidden area hotels have and someone would take me up to the room.

Now I realise you're probably thinking "What is she thinking? She just turns up to hotel rooms on call? This is sounding like the seediest job ever!" 

But really, it was ok. Rejuvinators look after their staff and the hotel crews were pretty awesome, checking up if we were late etc. And most of the people that I met were lovely. Couples on holidays, people on business trips, athletes travelling for competitions. I got to really enjoy the surprise of who I was going to meet next as it was always such different people. I'd get to talk to a stranger for an hour and I learnt lots of random things during that year. Or they would just sleep which is great for a masseuse. 

Some memorable jobs I went on were: 

• A lady who swore at me the entire massage but didn't want me to stop hurting her as she really needed to work out her back
• Massaging Geoffrey Rush. I was nearly an hour late and when I got to the hotel half a dozen staff came with me up to the room, using any excuse, such as carrying my gear or needing to push the elevator button for me and I had no idea what was going on until he opened his room door. He was lovely, blamed my lateness on traffic and slept through the whole thing. Win!
• A man who wanted his massage on the tiny balcony that his hotel suite had. The room was quite high in the city and I soon had an audience of people in nearby high-rises waving and acting out and playing charades. The guy on the table had no idea but it was quite entertaining for me!
• A lady who ordered two massage therapist to be at her room at 3am and when we arrived she was nowhere to be found. After about half an hour of searching she was finally located on one of the high roller tables and could we come back in a couple of hours as she was on a winning streak? We said no, got paid the full amount and left. Inconvenient but an easy job!
• And a couple on their 60th wedding anniversary - awwww =)

So it was interesting work, lots of variety in terms of people and location and very flexible hours. Obviously the more I was available, the more I could earn so that was good. I worked at Rejuvinators for about a year and really enjoyed it most of the time. 

If you like the sound of this job, you will need some sort of Massage Therapy qualification and reliable transport. Rejuvinators will provide additional training so that you know what you're doing. The ability to make small talk with strangers and knowing when to shut up will also be of benefit. In return you'll make good money and choose when you work. Also you'll see some of the gorgeous hotel rooms scattered around the city.

Alongside these perks however you will spend lots on fuel and washing, and need regular massages yourself due to carrying around a table and bag of equipment. And every so often someone will ask if you do extras and you will have to resist the urge to break their spine as they lie on the table. Also at some point, one of the required oils will leak in your car and you will go everywhere smelling like peppermint or lavender or orange oil. That's not so bad tho!