Advice
for Bodywork Exchange & Networking

Meeting new people is always fun, and bodyworkers tend to be the nicest people! However, just to make sure you don't find yourself in an awkward, or even unsafe, situation we would like to offer a few tips for your utmost safety and benefit of this site.

Firstly, please be aware that we do not, and can not, validate member profiles. Although we strive to be a professional site for trained bodyworkers and massage hobbyists, there is always the possibility of someone of less than savory qualities joining. Treat your new contact in the same way as might treat someone you've just met at, say, a bodywork faire or seminar. They're probably who they say they are, but they're still a stranger. You should confirm what they say before meeting privately.

Therefore,

1. Do not disclose your e-mail address (keep all correspondence on-site)
   
   
• Corresponding through MassageExchange.com's mail system is safe. If a member becomes annoying or unwanted, you can easily block them via the button.
• In case you wish to report a member, on-site e-mails provide evidence. We cannot act on e-mail outside of our site because it is not verifiable. Knowing this, scammers always try to do is take their conversation off-site. Please - keep your correspondence on-site.



2. Don't reveal Personal Information
   Don't disclose your home phone number, home address, or other personal information, unless you've met in person many times and have established a trusting friendship.



3. Do reveal and request Professional Information
   Things you should ask of your new acquaintance:
   • Ask for their name, office address, office telephone number, and work/professional information before you meet.
   • If your locale licenses bodywork professionals, does your new acquaintance have a license number?
     • We provide a Verify License link for many states in the member profile. Use it!
     • See our Bodywork Licensing information page.
   • Where did they study bodywork? When did they graduate?
   • Is their Bodywork School legitimate? Does it even exist?
   • What are their goals? What are they looking for?
   • Is anything left blank in their profile? Ask them!
   • Verify what they say, perhaps with your phone book, bodywork directory, or via the internet, before you set a meeting date.
   
   
4. Watch out for red flags!
   Does your contact raise any red flags? Trust your gut reaction. If it sounds strange, be wary. Some things to be concerned about:
• No Bodywork Schools are listed in their profile, yet they
  • claim to be professional, or
  • claim to know a large number of modalities, or
  • list substantial hours of Formal Training.
• They claim to be proficient in an inordinately large number of modalities. This would be particularly suspect if they list few Formal Training hours.
• Your state requires bodywork licensing yet they're professional and they don't have a license.
• You've corresponded by e-mail a few times but certain information is inconsistent, such as where they live, work, their age, their occupation, what they practice, or their goals.
• Direct questions you've asked remain unanswered.
• They live far away yet are willing to meet you without getting acquainted first.
• After corresponding, you say that you don't wish to meet but they become overly insistent.

Caveat - The Bodywork Schools and License Number fields were added November 2003. A legitimate member who signed up prior to that date may not have updated their profile. PLEASE ASK THEM BEFORE DRAWING A CONCLUSION!



5. Look at their Photos
   A photo reveals much. If they've chosen not to display a photo at MassageExchange.com, ask them why not! Then ask your new friend to upload a photo or two of themselves. Photos can be very revealing about a person.



6. Declining Graciously is OK!
   Perhaps after your first or second correspondence, one of you feels there is no mutual match. Declining (graciously, of course) is OK! Don't let the other party pressure you into something you'd rather not do.



7. Stay SPAM free
   Avoid disclosing your true e-mail address to your new contact at first. You may end up on yet another SPAM list. We've designed MassageExchange.com for hassle-free and SPAM-free e-mailing. Please don't bypass this safety net.



8. Meet and chat first
   Meet at a public coffee or tea house, bookstore, etc. for a chat first. Get to know your new acquaintance before agreeing to exchange. After all, this site is about exchange and networking.



9. Exchange at a known bodywork center if possible
   It is not asking too much that your new acquaintance exchange at your place of work. If neither have employment at a bodywork center, consider renting space at one, and split the cost of course. Many bodywork centers offer massage rooms to the public with tables very inexpensively. Try a web search "massage room hourly rentals" and include your city. Make sure to check if they supply sheets and oil or if you must bring your own.
   
   If it's a male/female exchange, the woman should choose the meeting place.
   
   For either gender, beware of meeting in an out of the way or unknown location. It might be in a dangerous neighborhood and should be avoided.