So, you're thinking about hosting a spa party. You've come to the right place. Whether you're planning a small private gathering of your closest friends or planning a large corporate event, there are basically ten steps to get you from the realm of ideas to enjoying your spa services on-site.

1. Head Count

How many of your guests will be getting massage therapy or spa treatments? Keep in mind that not all guests attending your event will want services. Likewise, some guests will want more than what might be allotted. However, the Law of Averages will probably prevail and those wanting less and those wanting more can be easily accommodated if your spa party is planned properly.

Once you have a general idea of how many people are wanting services, now is a good time to keep track of this information. It will help you later in the actual scheduling of your on-site massage event. Tip: Make a Client List

2. Event Duration

So, will your spa party be a stand alone event or will it be a part of a continuum of activities, such as a conference, a retreat, a family reunion or a wedding?  Either way, based on your head count, you will be able to determine with your massage event planning company the right amount of time to provide services. Or maybe you know in advance how much time there is. If that's the case and you know how many people are getting services, it will be relatively easy to figure out the maximum length of time for each type of service.  Tip: Don't forget to account for lunch if services are scheduled between 10 and 2.

3. Length of Treatment/Service

I think the length of treatment for an individual service can be as little as 5 minutes and up to 1 hour. In corporate and office settings, often there are significant time constraints. Yes, 5 minutes is not a lot of individual time, yet, we might all agree that its better than nothing. And, if your budget is an issue, it's a great way to have more people get something done than less people getting more done.

The one thing that I find I have to include with scheduling spa parties is the break in between clients. This not only gives the massage therapists a chance to clean up, wash hands, check the schedule and reset the area for the next client, it also builds in vital leeway for guest tardiness, immersion in the massage experience, and buffer time for any unpredictable schedule changes.

Breaks between the clients are key for any smoothly running schedule and for accurate understanding of how much time is really hands-on. Tip: 2 people receiving massages in one hour translates to 25 minutes table time with a 5 minute break in between.

4. Space Requirements

Before we go any further, it's important to think about how big the space is for holding the spa party. If necessary, its ideal for your massage event company to see the site. With SpaNomad, I have done so many massage events that I can eyeball a location in 30 seconds and can tell you how many table massages or chair massages a space can accommodate. Any mobile massage company can do the same.

Keep in mind that furniture will need to be moved, items may need to be taken out altogether, furnishing may need to be brought in to accommodate the spa party too. All these things can easily be determined in coordination with your massage event company.

Determining the space requirements sooner rather than later is helpful. You don't want to be stuck in a position where you need 5 massage tables for 10 guests and can only fit 4 massage tables in the room. Although most people can picture a massage table's dimensions, they fail to account for the massage therapist needing space to maneuver around the table as well.  TIP: get the room's dimensions (you can even photograph them)

5. Treatment Type

What massage treatments or spa services are going to wow your clients? Nowadays, there are so many more options than the common chair massage that you can get at the grocery store. Don't limit yourself to the basics.

I like to think of spa parties as a buffet. A perfect opportunity to try a multitude of things in a shorter time period than you may ever have the time or inclination to do at a spa. How about Indian head massage, foot reflexology, shiatsu, Thai massage?  All of the modalities that your massage event company provides are available to you during your spa party.

Spa services are quite portable as well; its relatively easy to do a mini-facial on-the-spot. And other spa treatments like mud wraps or herbal steam treatments are only limited by the amount of privacy in the hosted spa party space.

Tip: Ask your massage event planning company what their specialities are, you may be surprised at what you can get.

The one main determinant of what treatments you can have at your spa party (after applicable therapist training is taken into account, of course) is the space considerations. If your space is limited, try going for a seated treatment rather than one requiring massage tables: Indian head massage, chair massage, hand reflexology, paraffin wax treatments and so on would fit the bill.

Your next steps will depend on your massage event company service, but they are included with the SpaNomad event planning service.

Laurie English is the founder of SpaNomad: Traveling Spa providing mobile massage and event massage services like spa parties, office massage, corporate massage at Santa Fe events and locations. SpaNomad offers national massage training to massage therapists as well. Offering a unique experience and massage mastery, SpaNomad is a Santa Fe mobile massage favorite for locals and visitors alike. Do you have mobile massage event or spa party questions? Please email Laurie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 505-490-0591.Check out helpful mobile massage tips at www.facebook.com/spanomad or www.twitter.com/spanomad.