Something in the world of floating have you stumped?
Show Highlights
Most float centers divide on floats offered between 60 or 90 minute floats, but some split the difference right down the middle and offer 75 minutes. Graham and Ashkahn share their thoughts on this tactic, what they see as the pros, cons, and things to consider when implementing it.
Show Resources
FTS Product – State of the Industry Report
(In this last year, 7 float centers reported offering 75 minute floats)
Listen to Just the Audio
Transcription of this episode… (in case you prefer reading)
Graham: All right.
Ashkahn: Welcome everybody.
Graham: Hello.
Ashkahn: This is Ashkahn.
Graham: And I’m Graham over here.
Ashkahn: And boy, we’ve got a big one. We’ve got a big one today.
Graham: It’s not …
Ashkahn: It’s a normal sized one. I was just trying to make them feel excited, you know? Try and pump people up.
Graham: That’s great. It’s gonna be a great episode.
Ashkahn: It’s gonna be a really good one.
Graham: And you did a great job pumping people up too, I think.
Ashkahn: Thanks. Yeah. And you did a really complimenting me just now.
Graham: Oh, thanks. Anyway, our question for today is, “What do you think about 75 minute floats?”
Ashkahn: 75 minute floats.
Graham: The old 75-er.
Ashkahn: Yeah. The old siete cinco.
Graham: Yeah, I think they’re good.
Ashkahn: I kind of like them. So here’s the deal.
Graham: Your deal. Not the deal.
Ashkahn: Here’s my deal.
Graham: Yeah.
Ashkahn: I think it has to do with how many float tanks you have and how many tanks you’re trying to turn over in a transition. ‘Cause there’s definitely situations like what we’re in, where we’re doing 90 minute floats and we put 30 minutes of time in addition to that to turn all the rooms over and get the next people in. And we have six float tanks. And that’s kind of intense. It’s intense to turn over six rooms in 30 minutes.
Graham: Well, and we also do all of our floats at the exact same time.
Ashkahn: Yes.
Graham: So they don’t stagger at all. It’s not, like, three on one hour and three on another hour or so. Every two hours there’s six people getting out and six people getting in.
Ashkahn: Yeah. And we’ve thought about changing our transition times to something like 35 or 40 minutes, but then everything just gets on this, like, really weird time of day, you know? Your appointments start at like 6:25, and then the next one’s, like, 7:40, and …
Graham: Yup.
Ashkahn: So there’s just something that’s been slightly unappealing about that.
Graham: But-
Ashkahn: But if you were to want that kind of cushy transition time, a 75 minute float is a nice-
Graham: With a 45 minute transition because it keeps things on the hour.
Ashkahn: Yeah.
Graham: So it would be every other hour there would be a float. And you’d have a little nicer transition then. I actually know some centers that have been transitioning, huh. I didn’t actually mean to say that. But they themselves have been transitioning their transition time length to be longer.
Ashkahn: To be longer. Right.
Graham: I know one that went up to 60 minutes in between floats.
Ashkahn: Wow.
Graham: But they’re a single person running their center and they just wanted to actually have time to sit down with clients afterwards and get back to that homey kind of feel, you know?
Ashkahn: Right. Sure.
Graham: But yeah, I know more than one that’s also switched to 45 minute transitions.
Ashkahn: Yeah. And I know somebody else who does 60 minutes too. So yeah, it’s definitely, like-
Graham: I wonder if it’s the same person.
Ashkahn: We can talk about it after this.
Graham: Yeah, yeah. Thanks for that. So I was gonna say, the thing that I don’t like about 75 minute floats is related to the exact same thing, which is if you’re doing 75 minute floats to try and fit more in a day, all of a sudden you can’t actually start on the same times. Like uneven times. So if you’re running a 75 minute float but want a half an hour transition, now your whole time slots are getting into 15 minutes.
Ashkahn: It’s getting all crazy.
Graham: You can’t just say it’s every other hour. You lose a little bit of simplicity in it.
Ashkahn: Yeah. I do feel like 75 is, in my mind, a decent improvement over 60. I feel like 75 is starting at the range where I feel like I’d feel comfortable with someone going in there and getting a nice … And we’re big fans of 90 minute floats.
Graham: Yes, full disclaimer here.
Ashkahn: That’s my kind of hard-core opinion here, so I always think, you know, a 60 minute first time experience is not as ideal and that people will kind of sink into it and get that deeper experience with 90 minutes. But I feel like 75 is something that can get people a nice experience too.
Graham: Yeah, and it’s also the level where you’d stop worrying as much about 5 minutes here and there, which is really nice, you know?
Ashkahn: Yeah.
Graham: Like, the thing about 60 minute floats is if someone gets in and you didn’t quite get them in on time, it just impinges so much, it’s such a high percentage of their overall float time. So I like 90 minutes, and even two and a half hour late night floats are better, you know? Like, you get one of our two and a half hour floaters in 10 minutes late because you’re the only one there and people were coming out slow and they’re like, “Whatever. I’ll chill and have tea.” You know? “Still got two hours and 20 minutes to hop in the float tank.” So I like that 75 minutes is edging on there. If you do get someone in five minutes late, it’s not as big a deal as with the 60 minute float.
Ashkahn: Yeah. I almost like 80 minutes. Like, and 80 minute float with a 40 minute transition.
Graham: Like 77?
Ashkahn: 77 and a half minutes.
Graham: Just in between.
Ashkahn: Just that nice time, you know?
Graham: It feels nice.
Ashkahn: So that would be my recommendation.
Graham: Then you have to have 27 and a half minute transitions.
Ashkahn: Uh-huh. And that extra half minute, I think is really what adds comfort to the entire thing.
Graham: Yeah, so in general I like them. I mean, I’ve floated for as short as only being in the tank for half an hour and as long as being in there for 12 hours. So as far as length of float and being able to have a good experience, I think it’s possible at any length that you’re doing it, long or short. So kind of what you were saying about first time experience too is interesting. Like, if someone is only offering 75 minute floats versus offering 75 minute and 90, or 75 minute and 60 is also kind of an interesting question.
Ashkahn: Yeah. It feels too close together. I feel like it’d be-
Graham: Weird to do.
Ashkahn: Not worth it to offer 75 and 90 or 60. Like, just 75 and
Graham: Three hours.
Ashkahn: Yeah. Something much more significant.
Graham: Yeah.
Ashkahn: And there’s some centers out there doing, we put out this industry report every year. Float Tank Solutions. And there’s a stat in there about what length of service people offer, so you can check it out. We’ll put it in the show notes of how many people out there offer 75 minute floats.
Graham: Yeah, and you can see the bulk of people really are just 60 and 90 minutes, and that’s …
Ashkahn: Yeah, it’s just like three weirdos out there. You know who you are.
Graham: Awesome. Anything else about 75 minute floats?
Ashkahn: You three weirdos. Get in touch with … I’m kind of interested to hear what peoples’ experiences are. I guess I want to see if there’s a center that only offers 75 minutes.
Graham: We answer questions, Ashkahn. We don’t ask them.
Ashkahn: Oh, okay. Well, nevermind. I guess this will just remain a mystery forever. No, I’m good then.
Graham: All right. If you are one of those centers though, reach out. And you can reach out if you have a question or anything you want to send us at floattanksolutions.com/podcast.
Ashkahn: That’s right. And we’ll talk to you later.
Graham: Bye.
Recent Podcast Episodes
Pairing Psychotherapy and Floats – DSP 154
It’s easy to look at some of the research that comes from floating or look at special programs for veterans with PTSD and think about how float tanks should be paired with psychotherapy.
Graham and Ashkahn have met several therapists who use float tanks in conjunction with their sessions, sometimes exclusively. They also know that it’s important to recognize that they are trained professionals who are providing a treatment for difficult to treat psychological issues in some cases. Knowing when to leave the work to the experts is a valuable part of providing a service like this one with so many broad uses.
What is too small for a 4-tank float center? – DSP 153
Real estate costs from building out a float center, especially in an urban area, can get costly really quick. Sometimes compromises need to be made. But how much of a compromise is too compromised?
As with the best float center mistakes, Graham and Ashkahn can speak to their personal experience on this issue. They talk about opening a four tank center with less than 1,000 square feet and how much of a mistake it is. They also provide helpful planning tips so you can find out how much space you need at an absolute minimum for your float center.
How Do You Find Time for Hobbies? (Rise) – DSP 152
This is the last episode we recorded at Rise and it seemed fitting to close out the recordings with the organizers again, Jake and Kevin. In this episode they talk with Graham and Ashkahn to answer a question from Greg Griffin about how to manage your time after opening a float center to dedicate to hobbies.
While the episode starts a little heavy, the conversation turns and begins discussing the value of work and how rewarding it is to be in this industry.
Thank you to everyone who came and talked to us at Rise and shared your experiences. If we don’t see you at the Float Conference, hopefully we’ll see you next year. As always, float on.
What’s the Weirdest Post Float Experience You’ve Seen (Rise) – DSP 151
Another conversation that was captured at Rise was this little sit down between Graham and Ashkahn and a float center owner by the name of Jeremy out in San Antonio. They talk about a subject that I think comes up whenever float people get together. “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen after someone got out of a float?”
Sometimes people have a hard time coming back to Earth after a really good session in the tank and seeing how they interact with the rest of the world afterwards can be heartwarming and enlightening. It’s part of the reason we do what we do.
Should Float Centers Tone Down Their Personality in Rural Areas? (Rise) – DSP 150
Another great conversation that came out of Rise. Graham and Ashkahn sat down with Russ, a local float center owner who is just about to open his doors. He wanted to talk to the guys about how best to present floating to a more rural and conservative area. Graham and Ashkahn have seen float centers from across the world in rural and metropolitan areas alike and share their take on how best to present floating to people who aren’t as exposed to other alternative wellness practices.
Latest Blog Posts
Thou Shall Not Program
Floating is on the rise, and this means there are lots of new faces trying floating out for the first time. When someone comes to you for their first time, what should you say to explain floating? Just as importantly, is there anything you should avoid saying? Or...
How to Clean and Maintain Your Float Tank – An Owner’s Guide
This post is kept around for historical purposes, but doesn't reflect our current knowledge of float tank sanitation. Please see The Basics of Float Tank Sanitation and Testing and Maintaining Float Tank Water Quality instead. Ashkahn and I just got back from...
Meditations on Mediation
I just had to mediate a discussion between two of my employees, and I couldn’t be happier. Neither of them is going to lose their job: we’ve never fired an employee. Neither of them is going to be paid more or less than the other: we pay all of our employees the same....
From ‘I’m never doing this’ to ‘when can I sign up?’ in 30 seconds
When you show people the float tanks, inevitably some of your potential customers will be freaked out. That's fine, it's normal, it's how people reacted to Rock n' Roll. Now, you need to know upfront that there's a small group of people who will, in fact, never be...
