Pros and Cons: Chair Massage Company vs. Massage School- people getting massages outside

Pros and Cons: Chair Massage Company vs. Massage School

Amelia Wilcox
May 10, 2016
October 9, 2022
Executives

If you've decided to have massage therapists at an upcoming event, you may be wondering where to go next. You've got some options when it comes to having event massage services.

When deciding who to staff your event, you'll probably be weighing pros and cons of a massage school and a national chair massage company. In this article, we've spelled out the most common pros and cons for chair massage at your event.      

National Chair Massage Company vs. Massage School: Who to Hire?

Using a National Chair Massage Company for your Event

Chair Massage Company Pros

National companies are well-equipped to handle a massage event of any size. Though national companies can usually do table massage or chair massage, events are usually set up for chair massages, or for sports massage, which happens while clients remain clothed.

Massage companies are also prepared to schedule, set-up, staff, and send invoices with professional efficiency. Since massage events and programs are all massage companies do, the service is specialized and easy to set up.

Related: 5 Reasons to Use a National Chair Massage Company for Your National Business

Chair Massage Company Cons

All the bells and whistles you get with a national massage company are going to be more expensive than hiring a massage school. For one thing, depending on the state regulations, massage students may not be earning money while working at a massage event.

So while fully licensed and insured therapists at a national company need to get paid a competitive wage for their work, it makes a national company cost more.

Related: 5 Tips to Manage the Cost of Mobile Massage

chair massage company

Hiring a Massage School for your Massage Event

Massage School Pros

The main reason companies choose a massage school to work their event is the cost. The massage students working at the event may not be earning money, since they are not yet licensed. Instead, they'll be earning school credit for the time they spend.

This means massage schools can afford to charge much less for their services, since most of that money is not going back to the students.  

Massage School Cons

The downside of using a massage school is that often, there is very minimal chair massage instruction given during a typical training program. Chair massage is usually only a very small portion of an entire massage school curriculum, and some students may not study it at all.

While some massage techniques learned for table massage will also work for chair massage, it is a specialized skill, so the average massage student won't be heavily experienced with chair massage.

Related: Onsite Massage: 5 Tips for Hiring the Best Massage Company

Final Verdict

It all boils down to what will work best for your event.  If money is tight, a massage school is your best bet. If you'd prefer more specialized, professional work, a national massage company will be able to deliver.

Whichever you choose, make sure the whole process will be an easy set up. Read this to prepare for your event: 4 Keys for Smooth Event Chair Massage Scheduling.

Disclaimer

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Amelia Wilcox
Amelia Wilcox
Amelia Wilcox is the Founder and CEO of Nivati, a leader in corporate massage and employee mental health support since 2010. Her high-growth B2B company provides employee stress management tools that arm businesses with actionable data and positive employee experiences to improve wellbeing, boost morale, and increase engagement. Amelia has exponentially grown her company from a solo living-room service business to an international technology brand.