Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: What inspired you to start Table to Table? Sandy Greene: I went to LAcadamie de Cuisine in 1994, and had been cooking for awhile, but always loved massages so I went to The Baltimore School of Massage at night while I was working at Le Bon Cafe during the day. The idea to combine the two was actually from a friend.

SFP Editor: How have you grown the business over the past 7 years?

Sandy Greene: Luckily, I'm kind of a one man show, I don't have a lot of competition, so my business has grown through word of mouth.

SFP Editor:What is a typical table to table visit?

Sandy Greene: A typical Table to Table visit is me arriving at your home with my massage table, music, sheets, and food. Both partners get a 40 minute massage, and then I begin preparing the meal. I do some things in my home ( I bake my own bread and that would take too long to do in someone's home). Then I serve the meal. Sometimes people just roll off the table and put a robe on. You're in your home so you don't have to worry about what to wear! I pack up my massage table while the clients are eating, and usually duck out as they're eating dessert. The whole evening is about 3 hours.

SFP Editor: What aspects of the culinary arts do you apply to your business?

Sandy Greene: I let the clients pick their menu, but I always try to serve what is seasonal.

SFP Editor: How long did it take you to earn massage certification and what was the process?

Sandy Greene: I went to the Baltimore School of Massage part time so it took me about a year and a half. The program at that time was about 510 hours.

SFP Editor: What about Washington dc makes this type of business a good fit?

Sandy Greene: Well, everyone in DC seems a bit stressed, whether it's real or self-induced! Table to Table is nice because you can pamper yourself, and not have to leave your house, so no worries about parking etc.

SFP Editor: What brought you to DC?

Sandy Greene: I grew up in Greenbelt, MD, so I've always been close to DC.

SFP Editor: What are the challenges in running a small business?

Sandy Greene: I'd say one of the biggest challenges is managing your cash flow. Since you work for yourself, there is no sick pay or vacation time, so you definately have to plan for rainy days.

SFP Editor: What advice do you have for folks interested in running a small business?

Sandy Greene: Definately get a good financial advisor and accountant that will make it as easy as possible to manage your money. Also, don't be timid about your prices. Ask for what you deserve and have earned. Someone told me if everyone says 'yes', you're too cheap.

SFP Editor: What do you hope to do with your business during the next decade?

Sandy Greene: I hope to keep doing Table to Table (and massage) for as long as I can! It is a physical job, so once it gets too hard to lug my table around, I will probably rent a space and have people come to me for massage.