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Just to add, a few years ago I did quite a bit of remodeling on my home, some I did myself, some contracted out.
Had a four-man paint crew come in and do all the interior and exterior paint. You would have thought they were asleep. Not a sound. No radios, no talking, no jokes, no farts, no sound at all. I was in the basement working, and it seemed that I was making the only noise in the house, save for an occasional floorboard squeak as they moved around. This went on for five days.
I’d go nuts.
As far as type of music, I don’t let it play when I’m leading a crew – I keep a fast pace, and it just tends to distract. (I’ve become a type AA+++ personality). When I work alone, it’s usually in a rural area, nobody around, the amp in the truck is pumping out old C&W (yes, we play _both_ kinds, country AND western). Emmylou Harris, Merle, Willie, Waylon, Charlie Pride, you gotta love it!
ALAD
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Posted this earlier, now it's gone.
Did a remodel on my house a couple years ago. Some work I did, some was contracted out.
Had a four-man paint crew come in. For five days, there was no talking, no radios, no humming, no jokes, no farts, no sound at all, save for the occasional floorboard squeak. Perfect int/ext paint job. It was just spooky how quiet they were working.
I'd go nuts.
As far as music, I mostly lead volunteer work crews at various projects, both in the community and at Boy Scout camp, Girl Scout camp, church facility, etc. I've become a type A+++ personality, and keep a very fast-paced work site. There's no room for the distractions of a radio or CD, especially with volunteers who need a lot of instruction and guidance.
When I work alone, it is typically in a rural or remote area, and the amp in the pickup is usually pumping out old C&W (we have _both_ kinds of music, country AND western) -- Emmylou Harris, Willie, Waylon, Merle, Charlie Pride. You gotta love it!
ALAD
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I have found that screaming guitars at almost unbearable volume can make sanding sheetrock much easier.
*Personally I have a tendency to agree with pete, what the boss says goes. Years ago when I was working on a painting restoration crew, a small fire started from a heat gun and as a precation we started getting all the volita stuff out of the area. The first thing the boss did was reach down and pick up the radio which was playing loud rock at the time, and with a swift motion pulled the cord out and chucked it out of the window. Luckily he saved the radio from any fire damage, but the fall from the 2nd story window let us know what he thought of our radio. If the radio is on now, its ussually turned to a light jazz station , or public radio. I've learned its alright not to have the white noise to help concentrate, and I also learned to buy the cheapest work radio as possible, because of the abuse factor. Also most clients think its funny if a carpenter listens to classical music, it totally blows thier stereotypal image. good luck and easy listening, crawdaddy
*I was restoring an old house a while ago and we had a complete stereo set up: reciever, tape player, 5 disc cd changer and a couple of mini high powered speakers. Tons of cds and tapes too. As long as everyone gets to pop in a tape or cd that they like it all seems to work well. No need for music wars if everyone likes eachother in the first place.My favorite?Frank Zappa's Joes Garage and any other Zappa disc I can get a hold of ("John's got a sausage, Yeah, Man!").Of course, you want to turn it down if someone stumbles onto the site that might be offended by lyrics taken slightly out of context . . . (You know, "Crew Slut" etc.) Although the inspectors do seem to find it amusing...Listening to my dog drink out of the toilet as I'm typing...Dan Morrison
*It seems funny that different types of music correspond to different trades.For instance,I have noticed that most framers will listen to the current top 40 pop music,drwallers tend to be LOUD heavy metal(hence the name "rockers"?),finish carpenters seem to prefer C&W.Personnaly,I find it hard to keep a steady pace on the job without some type of "background" music.I don't play it loud,so as to disturb others,but loud enough to be able to hear it at the other end of the house.It goes off when the client comes around with questions.I can listen to anything,except for rap crap.
*This could very well be the most important topic ever discussed on this site. I kind of wish that OSHA would fine employers that inflict country&western music on their poor employees.Makes me wonder how many job site accidents were really workers trying to kill themselves to escape that stuff.Have to admidt I usually work alone,and when conditions permit I listen to the offensive Howard Stern.Have never had a complaint and the customers continue to refer me to others so it can't be that offensive.(very ashamed to admit that selective use of white trash heavy metal music really helps any end of the day heavy lifting) Good Luck , Stephen
*ROCK ME BABY!I put my programable headphones on (Radio Shack about 40$, they're yellow) and turn it up louder to drown out the crews country music.Howard Stern keeps me laughing all morning! I push the buttons and keep a hard rock on all day thereafter.Occasionaly I'll go looking for something more mellow, but the urge passes quickly.Loud music on the job can be dangerous and annoying to talk over. They keep the radio off the deck and the music can be heard in the background. That seems to make a big differnce in the annoyance department.When there is a real need to communicate, all is quiet. That is usually only when we are setting trusses.My main man wears headphones too.If the crew has a question, they have to walk over to me to get my attention. Usually they figure it out themselves. That's the way it should be anyways.I'll shut down my headphones briefly for homeowners, and the superintendent. They better talk fast though!If some of our music floats over to the neighbors, I don't charge them extra. I wish they'd be kind enough to crank theirs up, and then we could shut ours down.We keep our other trash to ourselves.I'm considering a personal cd player. My nephew says he can burn some awesomecd's for me. Does anyone have any experience with a portable cd player? I'm thinking of clearing out my nail bag that holds nails to accomodate the cd player. I gotta make room for my NExtel too! This nail bag business is getting tough!Blue, cranking it up in MI
*Headphones? You gotta be kidding me...How safe could that be? Better make sure you have your steel-toed flip flops on too. Howard Stern? You better wake up and go back to sleep.
*Scott,I have had hearing protection headphones that also have FM radio...and skip the clunky flip flops and just go barefoot for comfort...it's my choice working by myself...b "Break-time"...When all good minds reach out and touch not...Jack : ()
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Wish some of you folks had the contract for framing out the subdivision that's being built next door to us. One house is 25 feet from our's and the framers have their hard rock cranked up so loudy that I can hear it in the shower. Tot hasn't napped in 3 days. Every day I ask them to turn it down and they do, but it seems to mysteriously get turned back up before long. I'm gonna have to go over there and complain to the job superintendent and I just hate to have to do that. At least if they would play jazz or classical or C-Dub or anything without profane lyrics I could deal with it.
So to those of you who expressed a concern for the neighbors, on behalf of all those neighbors who never said anything....THANK YOU!
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Hello, I am self employed with more work backed up than I need and to quite some extent I say hell with the neighbors. Work can be a drag (as we all know) at times, and this is my life and real life. If I want to listen to music, I'll play it as loud as I want. I still believe in the "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" credo, but as I approach 50 sex is getting real iffy, I had to cut drugs loose so whats left. And you'll like this--- I'm about deaf. Thanks so much.
*Lisa, you're welcome!Steve (and all the others who exhibit courtesy toward their fellow citizens)
*Lonecat,I've been reading about all the bad effects of sex,drugs,& rock & roll;so I 've decided to quit reading.
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Lonecat, actually we probably have more in common than you might suspect.
Sex - I'm in favor of it, as evidenced by our "surprise" 2 year old. (As an aside, 40 has come and gone for both my husband and myself.)
Drugs - Couldn't get by without my drug of choice: caffiene.
Rock and Roll - Also in favor of it, along with most other kinds of music. From the Eagles and Styx back in the 70's to the Grateful Dead and the Moody Blues a few years ago, to the Stones just last month, we've always especially enjoyed live rock.
Sorry to hear of your impending hearing loss - it sounds like your music is the only thing that gets your through some days at work. Have you considered a career change? Might be just what you need. I don't think Public Relations would be your strong suit, though. ;-)
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Your right LIsa, public relations aren't a strong suit of framers. Thats one of our perks, and we don't have many!
If I wanted a job with muzak floating over me in my three piece suit, I'd grab one.
Just be glad that most rockin' framers are fast and they'll be outa there in a week or so. In the meantime, shut your windows, turn up the kids music, and put your bikini on and lay out in the sun out side.
Hey where'd that come from?
I didn't write that...honest!
*Framers are required to wear full body harness's unless they have an alternate safety plan posted on site!Blue
*Steve, the obvious reason that the music is so loud is the noise that it is overcoming: generators, saws, etc.Blue
*Wearing headphones is as safe as wearing hearing protection and about as safe as hiring a deaf guy. You don't discriminate do you?Blue
*Maj, that's funny! I'm grabbing that one and adding it to my list of useless one liners!Blue"Auntie Em, Hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog. Dorothy."
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As a crew of journeyman drywall hangers we play rock and roll at a volume just below where we have to lip read.Supers who don't allow radios have always made an exception for us.
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Lisa,
Beautiful, simple, and polite response...
Not so easy for the "spear chuckers" of the species.
Hunter, gatherer,
Jack : )
*ROCK ON RF!!!
*Oh hey! I nearly forgot to mention. Weekdays, from noom to 3pm, the radio stays at the Rush Limbaugh show. Now that ought to ruffle a few feathers here.Politically correct,Pete Draganic
*I heard his message once 5 years ago. I listened in this year, same message!Blue
*..seems like this thread is going to get some varied responses. Amen to Lisa. Drywall hangers must be the same the world over. You can tell a drywaller ( but you can't tell him much ) by their music and the empty Coke bottles strewn over the job.On commercial sites here down under radios are usually banned as a safety issue. Residential construction is different and there is usually one on site. I'll tolerate them as long as I can hear my phone ring and my boys calling measurements, anything outside of that and the radio goes.P.S. One for you Blue."As busy as a one armed paper hanger "
*The protocol here is first one on the job gets to pick the station. If the rest of us don't like it, we kill him and throw him quietly into the neighbor's yard. This is the real reason why tradesmen are dissappearing. Finnish carpenters don't listen to C&W, they like Xmas reindeer songs. Or Rush (and I don't mean Limbaugh, it's weird, but we all like our OWN opinions).
*Hi Lisa, Actually I,ve already had a career change, retirement is what I dream about now. I once had a job in polite society making lots of money,but it was too hard. Building restoration and remodeling is much easier. And I am far too honest for any type of public relations gig. My dirty secret is that I seldom even listen to the radio, I usually hate what comes out of it so I have to make do with listening to me talking to myself all day long. Long live the STONES.
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I can't do without my tunes! I definitely need 'em when I'm doing the nasties like concrete or insulation. My personal choice is my Sony AM/FM stereo w/6 cd changer, mega bass, dolby surround and remote to boot.
I usually can't stand the local d.j.'s yakking, so I stock up on cd's. As for Howard Stern, Thank God we don't get him here! As for volume, when I'm working outdoors, I tend to try not to annoy the neighbors (they may have a friend looking for a spec house?), but once inside, crank it up!
The only talking permitted on my system is SPORTS.
Take the shock jocks out and bury 'em in the back fill. Thanks for askin'!
Livin' good on the right (west) coast....
*radio...what radio......who needs a radio...my crew and i sing to each other....we vary from marty robins (big iron) to pink floyd (another brick in the wall)....appropriate when the brick layer is workin.....we have learned to even sing measurements to each other.....((the notches on his tape measured 15 and 5/16ths........15 and 5/16ths....).........one time we did turn the tape player on and had a david allan coe tape on....just as the homeowner came outside the tune take this job and shove it was playin......luckily she liked to joke too......
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Hello: This is really bringing out the "spear-chucker" in me, and I think I have figured out what my next shop project will be. I still have a 1400 watt Carver power amp and a bunch of 15 inch speakers and horns left over from my last bar band. I'm going to make myself the biggest boom box in my state. Like they used to do in Jamaica, Mon. I'm going to have to go to Graingers to get wheels for it. What do you want to hear Jack?
*lonecat,Are we that close?...Crank it up and pass me abig one!Doin heavy metal onthe tennis courts,Jack : ) )(
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I cant get a jobsite radio to last more than six months or a couple of rain storms. I was wodering who would make one first. If this is for real i'll be sold on dewalt forever. Alternative and modern keep our framing up to speed
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Lonecat, You hiring?
*Okay,.. okay, y'all got the truth out of me. I actually play the radio to cover up the fact that I think(as do some of my costumers), that I have turets syndrome. I think I just spelled that wrong, #$%&!!!!!,$#@*&?!
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Many fine homes are built to the sounds of music. Dewalt is coming out with a radio/charger that according to Tool Crib is going to be wildly popular.
The question is what type of tuneage gets your site rockin? How loud? AM,FM,CD or tape? Frame to Black Sabbath and trim to Chaikovsky?
*I think you don't want to hear a pro/con discussion on this. I will therefore be mum on this subject.OST: Loud music at the site is like muddy boots across the carpet. I'm tired of the guys getting into "music wars", fighting over who listens to what. If you want to keep it to a volume that won't shake the windows, or make the dog down the street howl, fine with me. If you can't comply, I'll ask you once, then I'll yank the cord.Incidently, it is Tchaikovsky--with a "T".
*On commercial sites we don't generally allow music other than the odd guy singing to himself.There's enough noise and distraction to interfere with communications.Residential sites are a different kettle of fish, but the accident ratio is also much higher.
*Tring to compare commerical work to residental work is really a differant kettle of fish. As a small guy who does both it's a job sometimes to keep all of this straght. I'm still waiting for framers(hear that blue) and roofers to have to wear full body harness with soft stops. We won't start on shoes,shorts and shirts. As far a radio's on the job when they are allowed I've found that a oldies station will stop the fussing and "radio Wars". If this doesn't work then out go's the radio. Mostly we stay to busy for radio's and just wait for the ride home to check out the lastest comedy tape. Helps back the miles go by easier or the slow craw of bumper to bumper
*Actually, this is one of the reasons I like working alone. I don't have to listen to someone else's music, and I don't have to listen to someone else complain about mine.I take a portable CD player with me, and CD's. There is no such thing as a good radio station.Listening to Keb' Mo' as I type.Rich Beckman
*have to disagree on the subject of radio stations, Rich. in the Canuckian wilderness we have the eclectic and soothing sounds of the Canadian Broadcasting corporation to educate, elucidate, and entertain, when they can be heard over the sounds of machines. i once worked in a millwork shop where most of the folk were musicians or techies or some such, connected to music somehow, and one morning we stopped work to listen to our shopmate Jody's band, the Toasted Westerns, playing on the CBC (the song was "Honky Tradeswoman"). As a shop guy, i would be LOST without my radio (it goes off when i have to get serious though). Off topic, of course, unless you can count shops as job sites.
*Plain and simple. I am the boss and you'll listen to what I say you will. I understand that it is nice to have a little background music at times on the job. It Can help the boys move along throughout the day. however, I will not allow loud music or offensive stuff like Howard Stern or explicit lyric type music (ie rap, heavy metal etc..) If thats what one likes, then he/she can listen to it on their time, not mine and my customer's time.Pete Draganic
*Adrian,Unfortunately, I do not have access to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts. I will admit to listening to American public radio, even on the job sometimes. But aside from the classical programming there isn't much music to be found there.Listening to Mellencamp as I type (a bit of a fluke though),Rich Beckman
*I love music. The radio is always on in my truck, and generally in my shop. However, if you ride with me or visit my shop, the radio goes OFF. I have no desire to inflict my music tastes on others.On the job site, we work without radios. Our remodeling clients welcome the policy, and the subs respect it.I once saw two guys get into a fistfight over which radio station to listen to. Really.Loud music at job sites can reach neighboring residents. No one would play music so loud at home that neighbors might hear, so why behave differently at work?Our saws, compressors, generators, etc. are noisy enough, but neighbors generally accept the racket as necessary to get the job done. I view musical noise polluters with the same disdain I have for construction personnel who scatter their McDonalds wrappers throughout the neighborhood as they come and go from the job site. These folks give our profession a bad name, if only for the music they choose and the food they eat.Quietly, Steve
*Just to add, a few years ago I did quite a bit of remodeling on my home, some I did myself, some contracted out.Had a four-man paint crew come in and do all the interior and exterior paint. You would have thought they were asleep. Not a sound. No radios, no talking, no jokes, no farts, no sound at all. I was in the basement working, and it seemed that I was making the only noise in the house, save for an occasional floorboard squeak as they moved around. This went on for five days.I'd go nuts.As far as type of music, I don't let it play when I'm leading a crew - I keep a fast pace, and it just tends to distract. (I've become a type AA+++ personality). When I work alone, it's usually in a rural area, nobody around, the amp in the truck is pumping out old C&W (yes, we play _both_ kinds, country AND western). Emmylou Harris, Merle, Willie, Waylon, Charlie Pride, you gotta love it!ALAD