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Being from a small city, I don't have the advantage of listening to a really good symphony orchestra in a really good hall. And that goes for other concerts as well. In my younger days ('70s) I found concertgoing a gigantic pain due to the unruly crowds, long waits, endless trips to the restroom, lousy performances, lousy acoustics, and fear of getting busted. I'd just as soon as stay home and listen to the music the way it was recorded.

An awful lot of live music is a big let-down: lousy acoustics at the venue; horrendous overamplification in small clubs; coughing, shuffling, talking audiences; too hot; too cold; you name it. And the price of a couple of tickets is generally well more than a handful of CDs. This is not how it should be!

During the summer at outside concerts.

Live music keeps your feet on the ground. It's the absolute truth.

Where are the CDs I ordered in Jun 98? I have faxed over my supporting documents more than 2 weeks ago and I have not received a single reply from backissues@sprynet.com except from Nicking2@compuserve.com Please look into the matter!!! Christopher@mom.gov.sg BLK 109, LORONG 1, TOA PAYOH, #06-306, SINGAPORE 310109

John Cage taught me that everything I hear is music.

Stereophile awakened my latent desire to begin singing, after having taken 10 years off. I now sing with a large choir that will have nine performances with the Detroit Symphony this year, as well as several performances with other symphonies. Also, I'm fortunate to be able to hear both the Detroit Symphony and touring symphonies such as the San Francisco, St. Petersburg, Kirov, Budapest, and others. Chamber music is really taking off here as well, with half a dozen notable quartets coming to metro Detroit this year. With ticket prices from $12 to 30, there's no excuse not to go. I have a fine system, but there's nothing like the real thing!

I have a little band that gets together on weekends. We even record some for ourselves. We can get a pretty good sound with some of today's digital recording gear, but one realizes how difficult it is to get an audiophile-type recording. If you ever try recording for yourself, you come away with a much greater understanding of the problems faced by the recording professionals.

I am privileged to direct a large choir, an orchestra, play in and lead a brass quintet, big band, and two mixed vocal ensembles. I arrange and orchestrate, most of the time using a Steinway D concert grand. What a life!

There are a couple of "live" albums (CDs) that I like to whip out every once in a while, but most live recordings don't live up to their studio counterparts. I liked the "Unplugged" concept, but didn't like the "hospital zone" performances and slowed-down versions of normally up-tempo rock songs.

I'm too busy listening to my stereo.

I work third shift 6 and 7 days a week so I don't get out much anymore.

Here in Southern California, the concert season should be in the summer. I think that someone should dump the old European style of winter music seasons and summers in the countryside, now that we have air-conditioning and El Nino winters. BTW, you should have had another choice: "bimonthly."

I attend a church service every week where either a choir or a soloist is singing. It helps me to evaluate the music I listen to from jazz to gospel.

Once every month or two. It really depends on the lineup at our local concert halls.

With having to raise a family and the costs and time associated there in, I find that I can't get to as many live shows as I would like. I also find that the cost of live shows is getting more and more expensive. If it keeps up, it will price the less affluent audiophile right out of the market. Oh well, I guess that's what I spent all that money on my audio system for. So that I can have music when I want it at a price I can afford.

Almost all of the concerts I go to are amplified, and every amplified concert I've attended sounds worse than a recording. I frequently have to leave concerts early because the sound quality is so poor that it is painful to listen to. A musician friend of mine helps explain the poor sound quality by saying that musicians spend all their money on their instruments and as little as possible on their stereo equipment. If they are used to listening to garbage, how can they ever produce anything better?

I frequent jazz clubs, bars, and the symphony weekly . . . but does my Yamaha Grand DisClavier count?? If so, I hear live piano every day, and there isn't anything in the high-end hi-fi industry that even comes close . . . we have a LONG way to go!

who has time!?

I used to be "I am live music!" 20 years ago. But with all the money I saved on cocktails, I became an audiophile.

I wish I could more offten, it's just that other things get in the way. Most of the groups I do see are either local bands, or low profile bands. Too bad we couldn't just stop time while we went and did this stuff. =)

My wife and I subscribe to the Virginia Symphony series (10 Symphony and 6 Pops performances) each season. The orchestra played Carnegie Hall last season to wonderful reviews, thanks to JoAnn Falletta, Musical Director.

live music,canned music two different beasts.

where is my october edition? not off to a good start...

I play music for my self as well as listening to many bands and muscians both on the street and in concert. Music in all forms should be enjoyed often.

I work as a consert security guard here in Stockholm, so I get to hear a lot of music. But I prefer CDs. I can concentrate on the music, not on drunk people and what they might do---or stars, wondering where they might go wandering off to.

With a son working hard at his guitar, live music is in the house every day, and I make a point of actively listening to him. Living in a New York City suburb, I attend live music (subscription to the NYC Ballet & Philharmonic) with my wife at least once a month. Now my son and I attend music venues of his choosing every several weeks.

I must confess that my system has spoiled me. The hassle of going out, the tickets/cost, and what you have to put up with, all hold me back.

Including (in the last year) Pulp, various artists at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festical (UK), Covent Garden at the Royal Albert Hall ("Goetterdaemmerung"), jazz groups in informal settings, M People, and, next month, Dr. John (can't wait!).

I guess I am lucky living in upeast NYC. Every Friday there is a noon recital going on in the Caspery Hall of Rockefeller University. The quality of performances is very high. Musicians often use the noon recitals as their rehearsals for their performances at Lincoln Center. The acoustics of the Caspery Hall are excellent.