I have gotten about 15 deep tissue massages from a dozen different males-spas, salons, independent contractors-in the past 17 years and have never seen or experienced anything this bad. The locker room was more noisy and chaotic than the one at my gym, and I workout at peak hours in a huge gym. Had to wait 20 minutes to use a shower. I was sent back there disorientated until someone asked me if it was my first time there. It was, and a girl gave me a hurried walk around and disappeared before I could ask her one question. After the shower I was told to wait in a lounge that had creepy deer antlers on the wall and a creepy floor lamp made of deer antlers too. It made me feel disturbed and I poked my head out to the lobby and asked if I could sit in another lounge, and I did. I noticed a parade of young girls, one after another, coming to fetch customers. They would flash big fake smiles and places their hands on peoples backs as they ushered their way down the corridor. I prayed it wasn't going to happen to me. I only feel comfortable with touch in the therapeautic context. A hand-on-the-back makes me feel trapped. I know a lot of people not fond of this gesture and in the 17 years I've been in L.A. I've only witnessed one person ever do it to anyone else. I don't even want my closest female friends doing it to me. When the masseuse
came (5 minutes late) to get me, I was relieved, because I didn't think he was going to behave like those girls. I've learned it's part of some Burke William's "friendly greeting style" which I've never seen in any other salon or spa, for massage or any kind of service recieved anywhere in Los Angeles or another state
-or country. The manager explained to me that it was not meant to disturb, and she was puzzled by my reaction, but I explained that the CONTEXT of the touch was important to me. Therapeautic only, please touch me only when providing the service. I want to let people know what to expect, in case they are not comfortable.
Pros: Not much that I could see
Cons: Noisy, crowded, poorly trained staff. Be aware of customer greeting policy.
more