I wondered what everyone’s opinion is on wearing earbuds while being approached by a client or potential new client. I only wear one so as it is, but i always remove it when someone approaches me out of respect. What do other do? is it the new norm that people wear them and they ignore it? what’s your thoughts?
I only wear them on jobs where the customer is absent, or commercial work. Otherwise, I keep them out. You never know when the client - or someone else - might be trying to get your attention.
That, and I’ve worked with contractors at my house who use earbuds. It’s really annoying wondering if they’re actually talking to you or if they’re on the phone with someone - even if they’re looking right at you.
I also used to work on a crew where one of our guys wore earbuds all the time. Had to yell at him multiple times before he even knew you were trying to get his attention. Even then, most of the time we had to physically pull on his shirt to get him to listen. Doesn’t look good to a client, imho.
Edit: as to wearing only one, I think that’s different - as you’re still aware of noise around you. I think that is different than having both ears occupied.
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I don’t wear them because I don’t like the distraction of listening to something
while I work. I don’t let employees wear them because I have found it can interfere with my
getting their attention. If I did wear them I would certainly take them out if it looked like someone wanted to talk to me.
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Airpods all the way.
I can’t not listen to music while I clean.
I keep it low enough where I can listen to music and be aware of my surroundings.
I had one of my friends help out on a job in the Spring and when I got to the house I saw he had a big headset and was blasting music…
no no lol
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Thanks for the great responses. I don’t wear both so that I can hear around me. I was more wondering if you only wear one if you remove it or leave it in when talking to clients. Thanks
Leaving it in would be like talking on the phone and not hanging up when someone needs to talk to you.
It tells the person that is approaching you that you’re not willing to give them your full attention.
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taking them out gives them the cue that they have your full attention and you are carefully listening to them
if its casual quick one line banter stuff as they walk by its usually low enough to hear and reply back and they arent expecting full attention
music does help keep the pace consistent, talking/podcasts etc i find i go a tad slower lol
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Until you lose 3 of them 
. I’m down to one . Funny I just found a charger with one air pod in it, I couldn’t do it with the ear piece but I kept the charger. 
They’re the best for talking on the phone but not the greatest for music though.
I wear powerboats pro. Just one in my ear. I use a tip that doesn’t block off my entire ear canal and listen to music very low, just to get through the day more easily. It’s low enough that I can easily hear a person speaking. I can’t imagine anyone would be upset by it, as they don’t know if you’re listening to anything, or just using it to receive calls. Half the time I have a beanie over my ears anyway lol.
Yah, I wear mine and just keep it low volume. If I need to talk to a client I will just take them out if my hands are free.
I wear them all the time unless a customer is around. Even then if I’m in another part of the building I will use only one so I can hear if they come in, and then I remove the one. I don’t need both buds since I listen to info wars. If its music, then both are required
On commercial work when nobody is there or vacant residential properties. You never know when the homeowner has a question, the neighbor is yelling across the street, a car is honking asking for a business card. How many jobs do you get to work where you have earbuds in just because you’re self-employed doesn’t mean you should ignore customers or prospects.
Here its a safety issue, if you are working around the public or on a worksite then you are only allowed to have 1 ear covered, you must have 1 ear free
If I was doing residential interiors I’d still use them but take them out when being spoken to, which shows respect.
I listen almost all day. Gotta keep up with your book reading schedule even in busy season! 
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I’d take it out. It shows that your listening to the customer. Which might be the most important thing.
i believe the customer (and their job) deserves my full attention so i do not listen to music while working. i also find it difficult to get my staffs attention if they are listening-even if they hear me first time they always have to say “what”.
I encourage my staff to wear earbuds. Make the day enjoyable or get some education with audiobooks. But yes take earbuds out if the customer is nearby
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I wear one and I take it out when someone is talking to me. I agree with the others, it’s a sign of respect and let’s them know that they have my full attention. In the past I’ve worn two and I constantly found myself having to check to see if someone was trying to get my attention when I heard stuff going on around me. Not good. So, one it is, with volume low, and yes, I take it out to talk.
I wear 1 and remove when I’m spoken to. Respect thing.
I wear them on weekend commercial jobs and that’s it. The rest of the week one of my helpers has a little speaker in his bag that we listen to while outside. It’s a Spanish podcast that I do not understand at all 
I need to learn Spanish.
