Taking it Digital

I just submitted my application to be a presenter at the two 2011 World Massage Conferences, all of it online.

Eeep!

It's part of (1) starting to promote my business workshops (I proposed doing an hour on "starter" business plans) and (2) getting my name out beyond the DC massage community. Plus, it gives me a chance to start practicing with putting stuff out there through the 'net.

I am a print kinda gal. Degree in journalism. 20 years writing user guides. I still prefer my books on paper in my hand and newspaper websites make me nuts.

BUT my target audience is getting younger and younger as the masssage community gets younger and they tend to go electronic first. So, I gotta learn how to do this too.

Truth be told, I also want to be one of the voices "out there" talking about what is possible as a massage therapist. A lot of the advice and direction new MTs are getting is all about "go to work for someone else". Nothing wrong with that but it's not necessarily the only option either. Some times it feels like the schools are turning out the equivalent of massage cannon fodder -- cheap labor for the larger entities that are gaining strength in our industry.

Somebody needs to be telling new MTs that there is another option and how to get there. And how to stand up for themselves and how to take themselves seriously as business owners and....OK, if you've ever taken one of my classes, you know where I'm going with this. ;)

Gotta put it out there if you want people to find it.