Massage "parlors" going legit?

[Elliemare]

Do you think it can be done? Would you work at a place that was once a known prostition ring, associated with strip clubs and escort services, and is now trying to go "clean"?

We have a massage parlor in my area that is owned an operated by a local strip club owner and his girlfriend. The girlfriend did obtain a certification in MT. I know people who went to school with the gf and know that her business was not 100% on the up and up, but a little bit of both therapeutic and sexual services rolled into one.

Now that the massage license bill has been passed in our state this establishment is trying to go "clean". They are still under the same name and management. My SIL just got her first job at this place! I tried to warn her and informed her of the bad reputation. I've had several clients come to me with horror stories of what they experienced at this place. I even know other therapists who worked there for a few weeks only to learn the hard way what was really going on behind closed doors!

My SIL won't listen to me. She thinks I'm just trying to crush her hopes and dreams with my negativity. I just told her to keep her eyes open and be very, very careful. She already admitted that they get lots of calls and walk-ins (one red flag right there) asking for "light touch" massage (another red flag, plus the place is open til 10 PM, that's late for our area). I told her I would want to know why they get so many of these requests since I've never been asked for a "light touch" massage in 12 years in the business?

I already know, I can't do any more and I shouldn't be overly concerned. I warned her, that's all I can do. My SIL will figure it out... or not, that's her problem. But she's pretty thick and stubborn.

I was just wondering if you think a former prostitution ring can ever go legit? Would you ever consider working in such a place if they had really truely turned over a new leaf?

[Timedess]

Ellie, no, I would/could not ever work in such a place. I'm sorry your SIL hasn't listened to your warnings, and I sincerely hope that either those people truly are 100% legit now, or at the very least,that your SIL will figure things out before she gets burned.

[pueppi]

We have a massage parlor in my area that is owned an operated by a local strip club owner and his girlfriend.

<snip>

I've had several clients come to me with horror stories of what they experienced at this place.

My SIL won't listen to me. She thinks I'm just trying to crush her hopes and dreams with my negativity. I just told her to keep her eyes open and be very, very careful. She already admitted that they get lots of calls and walk-ins (one red flag right there) asking for "light touch" massage (another red flag, plus the place is open til 10 PM, that's late for our area). I told her I would want to know why they get so many of these requests since I've never been asked for a "light touch" massage in 12 years in the business?

I was just wondering if you think a former prostitution ring can ever go legit? Would you ever consider working in such a place if they had really truely turned over a new leaf?

I think everyone can turn over a new leaf (look at the story of Cupcake Brown, former prost. now attny.), but they really should change the name, look and feel of the business if they plan to do so.

What I find interesting is that you have clients who knew it was owned by the strip club (or did they?), went there and are now sharing horror stories.

If it's looked upon with such a bad reputation, why would they go there in the first place?

Possibly another reason why you need to open up your own place and stop worrying about trying to work with the nut-jobs around you. It sounds like your community is open to having a new therapist in town and needs to have the opportunity to go to a better venue than what they are being offered.

By the two interviews you had including your most recent (not-so-great first day) job and the stripclub/massage parlor going "new" - I think you have a good chance of getting your place off the ground.


SIL has to take care of herself at this point, or maybe you should see if she wants to work as an IC for you.

[Elliemare]

If it's looked upon with such a bad reputation, why would they go there in the first place?

The clients didn't know of the reputation prior to going there. I knew it was owned by people in the sex industry because I'm nosey and make it my business to know who the competition is.

I warned a massage therapist several years ago, not to take a job at that place. She didn't listen to me and called three weeks later to apologize because I was right about the place and the hanky panky going on. Since then the place has had a questionable reputation ranging from people being offered more than a massage, to just a dirty unprofessional atmosphere to the "girls" giving massages in mini skirts and high heels.

My SIL is on her own, I just know that I wouldn't want to associate myself with someplace like that.

Its funny that I had such a bad day at my new job and found out about my SIL's new job all in the same day! Is the universe trying to tell me something? Am I destined for self-employment after all?

[Elliemare]

I think everyone can turn over a new leaf (look at the story of Cupcake Brown, former prost. now attny.), but they really should change the name, look and feel of the business if they plan to do so.

I would expect someone to change the name look and feel of a former gentlemen's club turned therapeutic massage center too, but this place hasn't?

My SIL asked the owner the story on the place and she was told that the former owner was a strip club/gentleman's club owner and this facility was run by strippers and prostitutes... but since this woman took over it has been legit since day one. Why would she keep the same name, the same sign, the same website??? Why would anyone wanting to open a legitmate massage therapy practice even consider buying a business from a strip club owner who's been in the news numerous times for hiring underaged girls and prositution? Doesn't add up to me. (The truth is its still owned by the strip club owner and the woman who poses as the new owner is his girlfriend, they are the original owners. Always have been since day one).

But anyway my SIL was told by the owner that the establishment has had a "reputation" in the past and they are trying to change that. My SIL is choosing to continue to work there. Frankly I wouldn't if it were me, but my SIL is an adult and she has enough information now to make an educated decision if she wants to continue to work there... and she is. I guess that's her call to make.

[squash_blsm]

Okay.
You have your own stuff to deal with.
As much as you possibly can, keep releasing this.
You offered advice - it was not taken.

We each have to follow our own guidance...
this is not your problem to exert energy into.

What's the universe trying to tell you?
I don't know.
But I DO know that sometimes when I try to force or MAKE things happen, rather than to trust and work WITH the universe, they do not unfold the way I like

So - take a step back, tune into your own intuition and divine guidance and see if there is a message for you.

[Elliemare]

We each have to follow our own guidance...
this is not your problem to exert energy into.

Thank you. I need to hear that. I know it, but its hard for me, I'm always trying to "fix" things.

I told my husband yesterday what his sister has gotten herself into. I explained to him how I desperately tried to give her the facts so that she could make "the right" choice (or at least in my eyes the right choice). His sister now has the information from me as well as the owner. She's a big girl and she can make her own choices.

My DH still wants me to "talk sense into" his sister. He knows how she is! He knows she's the type that has to learn things the hard way. She's like talking to a brick wall! I explained this to my husband and I don't know if he understands or not, but I was firm when I told him I was not about to expend any more of my time an energy trying to "talk sense" in to his sister. I hope he understands, but this is not my problem to fix.

[pueppi]

I'm really finding it hard to follow this thread. Let me explain.

• First you said the parlor was under the initial management and that your SIL was working there, even though they are trying to go legit.
  
• Next you said you had clients who went there, who didn't know what kind of place it was.
  
• Now you are saying it has a new owner, but same name, look and feel of the former "Gentleman's Club".

Which leads me to believe that:

• One: your clients (scroll up in this thread to read the posts) must have known what they were getting into.
  
• And, two: the new owner is not the original "Gentleman's Club" owner, but someone else who is trying to somehow capitolize on the prior business (bring in clientele off the old look), but then doing some sort of bait and switch to the new "legitimate" business. Which in itself is weird.

Now, I have no vested interest in where your clients go, but I am bringing it up, because of the varried comments you are making about this Club. Something smells... strange. Not you. But, after your changing comments, you may want to keep an eye on those particular clients. I believe that everyone who goes to a strip club does not want a questionable massage. I've got clients who go to strip clubs and are every bit legit on my table - no hanky panky what-so-ever. But, if you have any sort of questions surrounding that (regarding your own clients), you may want to re-visit them now.

All in all, it sounds entirely too complicated for you to be worrying about. As hard as it is for you to stop "fixing things", you need to get a handle on what's difficult for you and let it go.

squash_blsm makes an excellent point "this is not your problem to exert energy into". Possibly you can explain it to your husband in those terms.

There's too much going on around that situation.


04/11/11: edited for typos

[Elliemare]

It is complicated. The "new" owner is not new, that is her story when questioned about the "bad reputation". She has always been the owner and she is the girlfriend of the strip club guy. They just lie and lie and lie whenever anyone questions the legitimacy of the massage establishment.

But, if you have any sort of questions surrounding that (regarding your own clients), you may want to re-visit them now.

Nah, not at all. My clients went there totally by mistake. For instance, I had two female clients go to that place as walk-in's. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. The were asked to get on a table with no linens to drap with (they had to ask for a drape and given a ratty old faded towel to cover up with) and they were given massages by young women in high-heels and mini skirts who obviously had no formal training and smelled of cigarette smoke. We all had a pretty good laugh about the whole thing!

And, two: the new owner is not the original "Gentleman's Club" owner, but someone else who is trying to somehow capitolize on the prior business (bring in clientele off the old look), but then doing some sort of bait and switch to the new "legitimate" business. Which in itself it weird.

This. Pretty much this is exactly what is going on except she IS the original owner. She just pretends not to be. These people have been in the sex industry so long, they just don't know how to go clean, so they've always employed trained MT's along side of prostitutes to keep a clean image while bringing in big bucks! That's pretty much their business in a nut shell. I think they might be finally trying to go totally clean after all these years due to the newly established licensure law but I bet they are still working off the original client base.

The place is very misleading to the poor clients, and innocent MT's who go there looking for work. They've never outright marketed themselves as a gentlemen's club, they've always tried to keep the hanky panky on the "down low". Its like they want to go legit, but hang on to that sex lure as a safety net since that's the only business they know?

There's too much going on around that situation.

You've got that right. I've done what I can do, now its my SIL's decision. She's a big girl and not my problem.

[naturalhealing]

She thinks I'm just trying to crush her hopes and dreams with my negativity.

I had to lol at this. I am always telling my daughter that I am the murderer of hope and dreams, and love since we don't let her date.
I would just say my peace, and distance myself from the situation.

[TouchofGrace]

Okay.
You have your own stuff to deal with.
As much as you possibly can, keep releasing this.
You offered advice - it was not taken.

We each have to follow our own guidance...
this is not your problem to exert energy into.

What's the universe trying to tell you?
I don't know.
But I DO know that sometimes when I try to force or MAKE things happen, rather than to trust and work WITH the universe, they do not unfold the way I like

So - take a step back, tune into your own intuition and divine guidance and see if there is a message for you.

Great advice!

[Edgar]

You have your own stuff to deal with.
As much as you possibly can, keep releasing this.
You offered advice - it was not taken.

We each have to follow our own guidance...
this is not your problem to exert energy into.

What's the universe trying to tell you?
I don't know.
But I DO know that sometimes when I try to force or MAKE things happen, rather than to trust and work WITH the universe, they do not unfold the way I like

So - take a step back, tune into your own intuition and divine guidance and see if there is a message for you.

i agree with sometime thanks for sharing such a good advises thats very good step these massage parlour are going legit but some of the sides it still illegal i visit them no bill take cash no credit card accepted but they r quite cheap.........