shirts or skins?

[frashdog]

I would answer the question "shirts" right away. For the obvious reasons professionalism and safety. Typically, we are word of mouth guys (we are experienced and insured) aiming for pruning and tech. limb removal staying away from the staple local hack chop-n-drop jobs we can't charge premium for.

Every now and then we get a job where the people really start to like us, they are impressed, watching, talking and start offering us food or drinks at a minimum. I'll stroke the ego here and let y'all know that we are rather professional, tall, handsome and built. So there comes a time usually during clean up, raking and gear organizing that the customers really start to warm up to us, my partner will shed his shirt. The reactions have started to make me feel comfortable enough to shed mine. We even had some guy ask us if we were hot with our shirts on. We got a nice tip from that job, I felt so dirty pimping myself out like that I cried on the floor of the shower for hours.

So, does anyone else ever work with their shirts off?

 

[clearance]

Typically, we are word of mouth guys (we are experienced and insured) aiming for pruning and tech. limb removal staying away from the staple local hack chop-n-drop jobs we can't charge premium for.



So, does anyone else ever work with their shirts off?

Dog, you ever cut down big trees over peoples houses or powerlines? Or is it beneath you? Or are you intimidated by big removals that have to be done quick, with no fancy rigging, throwing down blocks into the same spot from a 100' up? Why diss. removals? I have taken off my shirt to chip before. I have to wear a hi-vis shirt, h.h.,caulks and saw pants all the time now, but there is no chipping, thank Christ.

 

[frashdog]

Dog, you ever cut down big trees over peoples houses or powerlines? Or is it beneath you? Or are you intimidated by big removals that have to be done quick, with no fancy rigging, throwing down blocks into the same spot from a 100' up? Why diss. removals?

I apologize for not being so clear. The hack chop and drop jobs I'm refering to are the uninsured guys who never climb. I live in an area where lots of guys have chainsaws and trucks and are happy to cover gas and beer. It seems everyone around here has a friend who can drop a tree on a beer can. I'm just not into competeing with them.

We both have well paying full time gigs but like to climb. I traded rock for trees, my partner worked 7 years as a climber for established tree companies with multiple bucket/chip trucks and cranes. We are not doing it to make a living, it's fun, we're pretty good and luckily we can pick and chose jobs that are well worth our time. If we can walk away with $50/man hr after expenses we had a good day, and most of our days are good. You just can't get that kind of money standing st the bottom of a tree with you buddy in the truck with a rope attached to the tree. The really big jobs we may rent some equipment or simply pass it to the bucket truck guys that we have respect for.

 

[clearance]

OK Frash, now I understand, I love those one shot falling jobs, specially if it has to go a certain way, "the money shot", I call those jobs gimmes. I would love to watch people that "know it all" fall trees next to houses, with a camera of course. Everyone figures they are a faller, in thier dreams. Even falling big butt logs is a blast after you have climbed them and chunked them down a ways, nice to stop when there is just enough room to drop the buttlog. $50 an hour each after expenses is fine, good for you guys.

 

[treeseer]

I take mine off every chance I get, when there's no audience. I'm getting a little overbuilt in certain areas.:bang:

 

[SteveBullman]

i think its kinda unprofessional in a way, but at the end of the day my comfort comes first and if im overheating it comes off

 

[okietreedude1]

Absolutly NOT.

I think it is very unprofessional looking. And although sometimes I feel like we are treated like the dirty minded construction worker, at least Id like to look not as such.

 

[Tree Wizard]

David - You are correct!

About 12 - 15 years ago Randall Stutman did a national survey on what people thought of tree services. Their thoughts were, "Guys with no shirts driving big trucks." That does not say "professionalism" to me. If we want the public to recognize us as professionals, we have to not only act the part, but also dress the part.

 

[SteveBullman]

ok so what do you think looks more disgusting, a guy with his top off, or a guy with a t-shirt ringing with sweat and salt marks all over it?

 

[Trinity Honoria]

ok so what do you think looks more disgusting, a guy with his top off, or a guy with a t-shirt ringing with sweat and salt marks all over it?

depends on the body you're referring to... middle aged, giggly paunch lapping over the belt-- not pretty... a buff, tan hunk-- depends on the viewer but add butt cleavage, and it isn't good, regardless of the upperwear :biggrinbounce2:

bottom line for me, a simple homeowner: did the people know trees, do my trees justice, show up in a timely manner and charge me fairly??? rather have someone a tad scruffy who is knowledgeable and skilled then all slick and a hack...

 

[SteveBullman]

one company i sub to has a groundsman who possibly has the worlds most blatant builders bum. its bad enough on the ground but i got an aeriel view from about 50ft up just as he bent over the other day, not nice!!

 

[beowulf343]

I have always worked with a shirt on. Besides, here in Western Ny, we only have a couple months out of the year that it would even be warm enough to work without a shirt. Heck, it was still cold enough last week that I was wearing my sweatshirt while climbing!

 

[frashdog]

I have always worked with a shirt on. Besides, here in Western Ny, we only have a couple months out of the year that it would even be warm enough to work without a shirt. Heck, it was still cold enough last week that I was wearing my sweatshirt while climbing!

true, though the summers gets so muggy where I'm at.

 

[frashdog]

depends on the body you're referring to... middle aged, giggly paunch lapping over the belt-- not pretty... a buff, tan hunk-- depends on the viewer but add butt cleavage, and it isn't good, regardless of the upperwear

bottom line for me, a simple homeowner: did the people know trees, do my trees justice, show up in a timely manner and charge me fairly??? rather have someone a tad scruffy who is knowledgeable and skilled then all slick and a hack...

well said, holds true for both sexes.

It's only the homeowners that we feel comfortable with that we'll flex for. Did I mention we give single ladies discounts. For me it's the heat I have a problem with, my partner say's all the tree companies he worked for he was never allowed to remove his shirt so now he does when he can. The high profile jobs infront of a buisness or a main road we try to look like pros.

 

[maxburton]

Shirts! My business plan reflects the fact that some days are just too friggin' hot to work during. We take the day off if it gets over 93 or under 18. With days off for rain, and the fact that it's still hard for me to sell work all through the winter (even after 2 plus long years in business!) that gives me 170 days a year to make the money I need to make. So far, it worked for me, and I don't have to risk looking unprofessional. I'm sure a lot of people don't care, but I think of it as a "margin of safety," just like my ropes!

 

[Jumper]

Shirts....and if it gets dirty sweaty torn whatever, I carry at least one spare clean one in my bag. New T shirts are available for about $3 in qty, so why look like a low life slob if you do not have to. Not to mention sun screen value in these days of depleted ozone.

 

[Koa Man]

It depends on the job. Commercial work, never w/o a shirt. Certain homeowners, yes, others no. I've done lots of work where the homeowner is wearing shorts only and so is his neighbors, but I live on a Pacific island where going shirtless is much more accepted than I'm sure a lot of other places. Here you see a lot of homeowners shirtless. So are a lot of joggers, walkers, guys driving around with surfboards, bicyclists and just guys working in their yards or lounging around at home. Some can be rather disgusting to look at.

Best one I came across was two beautiful and built females in their twenties who spent about 4 hours lounging around their pool wearing only a skimpy thong bottom while we were working in their neighbor's backyard. Needless to say, a 2 hour job ended up taking 5 hours to complete.

Bottom line is going shirtless, I am all for it, male or female, if the body is at least average or better.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

When its hot out you just gotta take that shirt off, who really wants to end up with a farmers tan anyway???

I always get more sh!t for the ink rather than the skin.

 

[treeseer]

WEnt shirtless 3 hrs today; estate job with just the owners there. worked through a short shower then glorious sunshine; comon summer I'm ready!

 

[GlennG]

If my shirt gets covered in saw dust I`ll discreetly walk behind the truck to take it off, snap it a few times to shed the sawdust and put it back on. I keep a clean shirt in the truck to change into at the end of the day. "shirtless" is too "trailer park" for the properties I work on. Plus most of the properties I work at I`m either dealing with the gardener or the 60+ year old house wife. Professional tree services usually have rules forbiding going shirtless and for good reason. As for impressing the ladies I`m sure they have a good idea whats " under the hood " with the shirt still on. Shirtless looks trashy anytime its below 95 degrees F.

Glenn