Listening to music, while shooting?

I was just wondering how many of you (if any) shoot wedding ceremonies while listening to your iPod\iPhone?
I'm contemplating shooting my next wedding while listening to some of my own music (using black not-very-noticeable earbuds). I'm thinking about doing this, because I have a playlist of songs that "inspires" me to shoot, and I'm thinking it might be a good idea if I could somehow listen to it while I shoot.

Would this be too much of a distraction?
I would only have 1 ear-bud in (so I can still be aware of what's going on, and what to anticipate), and the volume would be close to muted (just so people won't be able to hear it). The wire and everything would be under my shirt, so it won't be noticed. Does this sound like a bad idea? Has anyone else tried this?

Never tried i, never thought of trying it. I can understand being inspired by music but I can see it potentially distracting you regardless of having one earpiece in. At least I'd check with the B&G to make sure they understand and don't mind.

Let me tell you this for free, if you were shooting my wedding and I discovered that the earpiece was an iPod and not a hearing aid I'd suggest you remove it or vamoose. Everywhere one looks, it seems, there are people with headphones or earpieces of some sort, and they all seem to be "otherwise engaged", like not really there.
Shooting a wedding is to record an extremely personal event for those involved and I'd think they would prefer you to be "in the moment!"

Lol, while you're at it, maybe you could limit the use of your cellphone to strictly texting

If you worked for me, and I found out that you were doing that at a wedding, I would fire you on the spot. Period. Listen to your inspirational music on your way there. Just my opinion.

Dude put your camera down and go back to high school, that's one of the most unprofessional ideas i've ever heard.

Wasn't expecting all the hate...
But thanks for your views on it. Now I know to stay clear of doing it (that's all I was asking).

Good god - I'd never dream of it. I'd fire the photographer on the spot if I caught them listening to music while they were shooting my wedding. If you need inspirational music to shoot well you need to practice more.

Jim G wrote in post #9866418
Good god - I'd never dream of it. I'd fire the photographer on the spot if I caught them listening to music while they were shooting my wedding. If you need inspirational music to shoot well you need to practice more.

Never said I needed it, just thought maybe it could give me an extra boost.

No need for more opinions. We've established that it's a "no-no"

You might want to get the thread locked else people will be telling you it's a bad idea for the next three days

how could you think that people would be ok with this?
I have never shot photos at a wedding but many videos and have helped shoot about 20 as a helper and it is a crazy 2 hour shoot that has traveling, kids, grandparents and a million details that have to all come together in that time and you want to listen to music on top of that.....WOW!

The only way you could pull this off is if you were THAT guy , but if you were that guy you would not be asking so no BAD idea.

I've never considered it. Let me consider it.

...

No.

While I'm shooting I sometimes have my attention drawn to something I hear while I'm looking the other way. I wouldn't want to lose part of my situational awareness by plugging my ears.

Imagine if you missed a shot:

Bride: "I'm just wondering where the shots of great grandma myrtle are"
Photographer: "Erm, sorry about that. I must have been switching playlists."

Listen to music on your own time.

I always bring an assistant. Sometimes he's very busy, sometimes he's doing nothing than standing by my bags. If HE even listened to an iPod, I'd fire him.