Body Art

[Lo Down]

Originally Posted by Nick Arrera Welcome aboard Jason .. I Say Live and Let Live .. As long as you are clean , don't need a shave which is more offensive to me then a tattoo .. show up every day on time , and do quality work .. We are good to go ..

Nick, that "on time" comment really tosses my cookies. I said Friday............... not That Friday!
................... Unlike electricians carpenters and plumbers, I do show up every day.
If I said I'll be there Tuesday, you bet your buttisimo I'll be there. ........it may be 10:30, .......but I'll be there.
....... and the customer knows that they won't see the whites of my eyes till 10:30. I make certain the customer knows I'm a "night person" (You guys know that quite well. )
Anyhow, I explain my weird working hours to every customer so that they know in advance what to expect.
An informed customer is an appreciative customer. ...... very appreciative.
I am amazed at the number of people I work for that have said the plumber, or carpenter, or painter, or electrician was supposed to show up Monday
(and it's now Tuesday), and he hasn't shown up, or even returned phone calls. ......... just leaves em guessing.

Keep the customer informed especially of any changes.......... and they will love you for it.

I too wonder about the younger set with a fixation on tattoos. I don't understand doing something so permanent at an early age because its "hip"........ then 2 or 5 years later not wanting it anymore. If you are digging ditches or falling trees every day it's one thing................. but when spending a week working at a retired WWII vets home, the "coolness" of the chosen tatto may change.
He's got a battleship he fought on, on one arm and "MOM" on the other.
................... and yours is of Homer Simpson demanding more BEER. (not a bad thing in itself. )
................ just my thoughts as a "getting older" but not yet "geezer" kinda guy.

Not pickin' on ya at all Jason................... we don't do that here.
............. except when it involves "T" .......hell, sometimes he thinks he owns the whole friggin' place.

Glad to have you on board Jason.

[TFP Admin]

Originally Posted by Lo Down Not pickin' on ya at all Jason................... we don't do that here. ............. except when it involves "T" .......hell, sometimes he thinks he owns the whole friggin' place.

Yeah, everybody keeps pickin' on me.

[Lo Down]

Originally Posted by TFP Admin Yeah, everybody keeps pickin' on me.

Why the sad face? ........CP owns that one.

[cproader]

Originally Posted by Lo Down Why the sad face? ........CP owns that one.

...............

[barrycarlton]

Originally Posted by cproader ...............

even with your cheatin' smilie posts (whoops that one slipped) I'm catchin ya on posts.

barry

[Jim Dandy]

Since I'm bored tonight; just thought I'd chime in my 2 cents.
I was never able to wear a wedding ring when working; hands always in dirty water, afraid hand would get caught on something(which it did once), or just to conscience of it being there. So I thought a tattooed ring would be a good idea.

As far as artwork on my body I would never had considered it, but because of my life altering event of late, I was kinda pondering it. Not sure what I would get but thinking I wouldn't mind so much now. With all the Drs, nurses, assistances, residents, students etc., everyone see me naked all the time so it could be a conversation starter. Ironically I just had a "planning CT Scan" pre RT therapy and guess what, you get 3 free tattooers! Just pin dots, but they use real ink and a needle.

[Nick Arrera]

I was in the Navy with a guy who had a rooster hanging from a rope on his calf .. We made more money in bars betting he had one that hung below his Knees ..

[NumbersBoy]

I subscribe to the "Lo Down Theory". You can look any way you want; but the more far-out you look, the more you BETTER be totally awsome at your job!

When I started out on my knees in 1977, it was considerd a "Badge of Honor" to be able to work at some of the better shops (We worked for Sunn Carpet, St. Louis, MO) and still have Long Hair or Excessive Facial Hair. It meant "I'm so freakin' good at what I do, that I don't have to follow the same rules as you!"
We still had to..
- show up on time, clean, & sober.
- wear nice jeans or whites. (& plain shirts; not even "gimmie" shirts were allowed!)
- drive a clean, un-rusted-not-too-beat-up van. & keep the back of your van clean & orderly (Famous Allen Greenberg line; "You're NOT putting MY carpet in THAT piece of s***!")
- smoke outside the house, even if it was a "smoking house" or new construction. (can't blame the floor guys for that burn hole, or that house that burned down )
- use common sense about tatoos. If you had the Grim Reaper, w/ "Kill 'em All" & a "Death from Above" banner (like my friend & ex-Marine, Big Bobby Knuckles), you were expected to keep them covered.
- Watch your mouth. Not just your language, but EVERYTHING you said that a customer could possibly hear.

And I am PROUD to say that by 1982, I had hair 8" below my collar, & a 6" beard. And for 10 years after that, I had All The Work I Wanted To Do, at GOOD rates*, despite the Hair. But still following the Rules I was taught when I started out. (Got into Sales about then. Now I'm an Estimator.)

*(By the way, found an old Rate Sheet in the desk last year. In 1986(?), Sunn was paying me $3.65/sy for stretch-in over wood. And extra for EVERYTHING. WTF happened to our Trade?
I now work for a Union Shop.)

NumbersBoy

[Lo Down]

Originally Posted by NumbersBoy I subscribe to the "Lo Down Theory". You can look any way you want; but the more far-out you look, the more you BETTER be totally awsome at your job! When I started out on my knees in 1977, it was considerd a "Badge of Honor" to be able to work at some of the better shops (We worked for Sunn Carpet, St. Louis, MO) and still have Long Hair or Excessive Facial Hair. It meant "I'm so freakin' good at what I do, that I don't have to follow the same rules as you!" We still had to.. - show up on time, clean, & sober. - wear nice jeans or whites. (& plain shirts; not even "gimmie" shirts were allowed!) - drive a clean, un-rusted-not-too-beat-up van. & keep the back of your van clean & orderly (Famous Allen Greenberg line; "You're NOT putting MY carpet in THAT piece of s***!") - smoke outside the house, even if it was a "smoking house" or new construction. (can't blame the floor guys for that burn hole, or that house that burned down ) - use common sense about tatoos. If you had the Grim Reaper, w/ "Kill 'em All" & a "Death from Above" banner (like my friend & ex-Marine, Big Bobby Knuckles), you were expected to keep them covered. - Watch your mouth. Not just your language, but EVERYTHING you said that a customer could possibly hear. And I am PROUD to say that by 1982, I had hair 8" below my collar, & a 6" beard. And for 10 years after that, I had All The Work I Wanted To Do, at GOOD rates*, despite the Hair. But still following the Rules I was taught when I started out. (Got into Sales about then. Now I'm an Estimator.) *(By the way, found an old Rate Sheet in the desk last year. In 1986(?), Sunn was paying me $3.65/sy for stretch-in over wood. And extra for EVERYTHING. WTF happened to our Trade? I now work for a Union Shop.) NumbersBoy

Hey you long haired late starter. hee hee ...I'm starving fer words here.
Don'cha know that customers demand a clean cut man in a uniform with is name neatly embroidered on his shirt pocket? Embroidery makes the man.
If he shows up by 8:05 and does crappy work, it's far better than a guy that pops in at 10:00am with long hair and a bit of excess chin fuzz and performs true artwork.
Rule of thumb is gitter done.
Quality isn't the industries driving force these days......................... just gitt'er done. Funny but sad.

[Floorguy]

I have gone from one extreme to the other. Working for someone else, it really didn't matter what I looked like to do new construction or apartments, Long hair, scruffy, Holey jeans during the winters and barely clothed during the summers(Just shorts, no shirt, once in the new home or apartment working, during the summers. The lady leasing agents or new home, sales ladies would always make an appearence if I was there!!)



Once I made the break from the retailer selling my worth. I quickly learned, first impressions can make or break the deal. I had to clean up my act and at least look professional, and not just a commodity labor supply.