model behavior

I was hired to do a photoshoot by a colleague of Meagan's.

I am always happy when someone hires me for a photoshoot.

We did the shoot a couple of weeks ago. It was a two part photoshoot.

 The first part, we did in front of an abandoned building. I was modelling urban street wear, or hip hop wear.

The second part was a bit more challenging. I had to interact with another model.

The theme of this shoot was "sweet innocent girl falls for a bad boy". I played the role of the street tough dude that this nice girl falls for.

It was challenging, but it was fun. The girl that I worked with was super cool. I give her credit for making the shoot go smoothly.

Massaging, hot tubbing and almost throwing punches

Would you believe some of the things that I have done to please my clients?

Like hot tubbing.

Yesterday, I hot tubbed with one -- actually two -- of my clients. 

The clients were husband and wife.

 These clients have a beautiful landscaped yard. They were very proud of their yard. They allowed me to be photographed in it.

About the hot tub matter ...

The wife wanted to be massaged before getting into the hot tub but the husband wanted to get his massage after hot tubbing.

The husband could have used the hot tub while I was working on his wife. But no, he wanted to watch first and then have his wife join him in the hot tub after her massage. And after that, that was when he wanted his massage.

I go with the philosophy that the client is always right. If that is what the client wants, the client will get it.

But there was a twist. The couple wanted me to join them in the hot tub. I didn't want to. That just wasn't part of my job.

They told me that they didn't want me to be moping around being bored while they were in the hot tub. That was why they wanted me to join them.

I politely told them that I would take a pass. But they were persistent. And they did it in a good natured way.

So I ultimately said yes. 

Don't stare

But there was one more twist. The couple hot tubbed in the buff, which I couldn't care less about. But they encouraged me to do the same. I didn't want to do that. You shouldn't cross the line of professionalism with your clients.

Again, I ultimately did obliged them. I didn't want to upset the clients. And I didn't want to make it seem like it was a big deal. Just wanted to get it over with. 

It was really awkward being in the hot tub naked with them. I managed to get through it. At least, the couple was easygoing. We had an awkward but sort of interesting chat in the hot tub. It was surreal.

 She is their children's nanny. She is the one who took that naughty picture of me. She's cool. I have had good interactions with her in my past visits to the house.

By the way ...

We met up later that night. She called me and told me that I left some items at the house. She called me in the middle of my workout. I went to pick it up. When I got there, I got my stuff and she told me that she needed a ride, so I gave her one.

I didn't feel comfortable just dropping her off in that part of town. So I walked her the rest of the way. I almost got into a fight because some a-hole was harassing her. 

It was a long day.

Colorful Venice

 I love going to Venice, even if it is for business. 

I have some clients who live in Venice. These clients just happen to be the laid back types, which happen to be my favorite type. I don't know if there is something in the air or water in Venice that makes them so easygoing. Venice is a cool kind of place.

 I usually wear something colorful and goofy when I visit these clients, to blend in.

 I want to appear cheerful when they see me at their front door, even when they are already in a good mood. These are the kind of people who appreciate whimsy.

I always leave myself an hour or two of free time, if I can manage it, after my massage session with these clients, so I can just hang out at the Venice beach promenade.

Sometimes I even go for a massage at one of those massage parlors on the promenade. Even a massage therapist need a massage every so often.

This dude works at one of the parlors on the promenade. I got acquainted with him while he was giving me a full body massage, a while back. We shared stories about all the crazy experiences we have had with customers and clients. Strangely enough, we have become friends.

I have worked at massage parlors before. There are differences in working as a therapist compared to working at a massage parlor. The licensing requirements and training are vastly different. And often times, clients or customers have different expectations for what a massage therapist does and what a masseuse or masseur does.