If you’ve ever spent time earning CEs, singing karaoke, and wearing tie-dye, it was probably at a World Massage Festival (WMF).
The event name may sound grandiose, but this gathering is actually a family affair. The husband/wife cofounders Mike Hinkle and Cindy Michaels have worked hard to create this warm, fun-loving community. Most conference organizers are keen to pack a trade show and cater to companies in order to boost revenues, but here, the colorful carpet is rolled out for individual bodyworkers, and everyone is made to feel a part of the festival family.
One brainchild of this event is the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. In 2006, Hinkle and team started inducting individuals who’ve had a hand in building the profession. The names are a tapestry of the profession’s past and current leaders, including Massage & Bodywork contributors Erik Dalton, Til Luchau, Thomas Myers, Joseph Muscolino, Elaine Stillerman, and Ruth Werner. Attendees love to come and meet these leaders. ABMP’s Bob Benson, Les Sweeney, Anne Williams, and myself have also been inducted.
The festival marked its 10th anniversary this past summer. Some 650 attendees celebrated in Michigan City, Indiana, at the largest festival yet. And ABMP took the trophy for Association of the Year, yet again (that makes lucky 7)!
The funkiness is difficult to describe—do you know of any other gathering that has a mascot named Doobie Hippie Dog and gives a Just for Fun award to the person who had the best time the year before? They host giveaways featuring hard cash and great products every day on the show floor. In fact, they’re giving away a car—a Kia Rio—at the 2018 festival. Each year, the festival crew gives away 52 free registrations—one for each state and two international.
I have the 2019 festival marked on my calendar because I’m the keynote speaker. If it seems a little too early to schedule, you don’t know Mike and Cindy. They plan far in advance so therapists have a chance to combine a vacation with continuing education. They also do their best to find affordable venues because they know how tight dollars are for practitioners. They even have a “freedom” rate in which individuals can pay a one-time registration fee of $1,000 and gain lifetime access to any WMF.
I’ve already been asked what my topic will be in 2019. It’s fun to brainstorm what topics might be relevant then, but I’ll let the calendar flip a few more times before deciding. In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me in Atlantic City this August. We can walk the boardwalk and make a solid bet at Harrah’s that the profession’s set for an amazing 2016 and beyond!
Leslie A. Young, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
leslie@abmp.com