Free Hand Massages at Stalls

[AngelsMum]

Perhaps I'm being a little pedantic, but I'm trying to work out the logistics of providing hand massages to mums at an upcoming market/parent expo.

I've lined up a comfy chair which has been provided by the venue. Now I'm wondering about the reality of providing the massage. That is, I know someone suggested having a crock pot with washers for cleaning hands (before & after?) - but I'm not sure how hygenic this is. Do you have a separate washer for each person? Did you have a special solution that the washers sat in? I'm just unsure about the moisture-warmth-bacteria factor.

Or am I over-thinking this?

Perhaps I should just provide a few clean towels for their hands afterwards?

TBH, this is my first market/expo type event and I'm a little unsure.

[JessicaE]

Why would they wash their hands afterward? Just a little lotion should be fine for them to just move on for the rest of the expo.

[doula Michele]

just put hand sanitizer on before starting.

[MamaBella]

I'm doing the same thing this weekend at a Baby Fair and I was thinking I'd do hand sanitizer for me, warm cloth for her, choice of oil or lotions, 5 minutes (gotta bring a timer) and then be done...

I am wondering about if I just let the lotion sit or I offer her sanitizer or another cloth, but when I go get massages I don't feel the need to rinse after.... know what I mean?

I think it's sanitary... and I'm assuming the germo-phobe mamas will just opt out of the massage!

[AngelsMum]

*sigh* Well, I set up the table, had all the massage stuff with a sign ... and no-one asked for a massage! I even had to practice on my reluctant kids & DH yesterday because I'm not confident with massage. The feedback ... "It's alright."

I must have "I suck at massage" across my forehead.

I did make my doula partner sit down and get one ... she said it was nice.

[golden pregnancy]

I'm sorry for your disappointment. (hug)
Were there any interests generated in your services as a whole otherwise? Good discussions? Networking opertunities? Other things of value?
May I share my experience of "expos"? For me they have been my largest expense and yield zero return!!! I have had people at expos look at my gorgeous belly casts (they look like cracked open geodes) say "ewe, that's wierd" when they find out it was cast from a pregnant belly. Not one henna decal was drawn the entire weekend, other than what my daughter and I did on each other.
On the other hand, I have had great response from attending little community fairs and festivals, even though they are not baby or parent themed. Seriously, the Corn festival, the Crawdad festival, the Highland Games, farmers markets and concerts in the park. These attendees line up for the henna and others hang out to watch. We have been talked to and had pictures taken by the local newspaper covering the events and even interviewed once by a crew filming a piece for PBS.
Hope this encourages you.

[AngelsMum]

I did get to network, which is fantastic. And I think that now a lot of people have a face-to-the-name - which is also good. But not one pregnant woman came up, other than ones I already knew. Hey, I think that smiley fits.

I like your idea about festivals. It may inspire more people to be more interactive. Though I'll have to learn henna skills by the sounds of it.

I did go into it knowing that markets don't usually generate clients. But I must have been secretly hoping.

But that's Ok! New ideas take time in rural areas.

[golden pregnancy]

Or have The Massage Tent. I have been set up next to them while they charge $5 for 5 min. It pays for their space and gives them a captive audience for that amount of time for the schpiel. Same concept, only offering what you already have.