I've seen lots of acts live, Prince, GNR, Michael Jackson, Tori Amos, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Janet Jackson, Charlotte Gainsbourg... I don't know if I've had a particular run of bad luck, but most concerts I've been to have been a fairly underwhelming experience. The only show which I've seen that had an electric atmosphere was Michael Jackson at Wembley Stadium in 97.

Maybe I'm becoming an old fart, but I prefer just enjoying the music at home and watching live DVDs than going through the headache, discomfort and expense of travelling to see a show which very rarely is worth the effort.

Anyone else feel this way??

[Edited 10/5/11 3:37am]

I'm pretty jaded about the live concert experience. Often I just don't feel like the price of the ticket buys me the amount of enjoyment I am expecting. Between actually getting decent tickets and fighting your way into and out of the venue it can be an awfully big hassle and if the performer does not deliver it's easy to feel disappointed with your experience.

My biggest gripe is that tickets are just getting ridiculously expensive. It feels like there are too many hands reaching into my wallet.

I've been to a lot too , and I'm the kind of person who chases a rush. Janet concerts gave it to me the most, and Beyonce sorta though that was just a short lived phase. The most manic I have gotten is over MJ on my tapes and I was sooo excited about the o2, felt I would get the biggest rush of my life from it. Though I went to shows since and before, though they were nice, I felt sooooo tired like I wanted to leave, though Janet kept me on my feet the whole time, though it was different from before. I think Prince will be the only one who gets me energized if he tours again, I have to go. Gaga is cute, but I fell asleep at her show.

[Edited 10/5/11 4:29am]

I think it has a lot to do with how many concerts you've seen, how often you've seen the particular performer, and how close you are to the stage.

Some of the best times of my life have been at concerts. A couple years ago I had front row seats for Lenny in a small venue, just 5 feet from the stage. It was an incredible experience, made even more so when he came off stage during Let Love Rule and hugged me. Something like that you can't get from a DVD or CD.

In the past year I've seen Prince (front row), Kid Rock and Bon Jovi (twice). The only one I didn't really get into was Bon Jovi, not because of the music which was great but because it was in a large stadium and even though we had relatively good seats we were still far enough away that we couldn't see what was happening on the stage without looking at the video panels. That's the biggest factor as to whether or not I enjoy a concert, if I'm so far away that I find myself looking at the video panels all the time then it's not worth being there - it's like watching a DVD, which I could do at home for a lot less money.

Next month I'll be seeing GNR twice within six days, I'm really looking forward to it. The first will be in a small venue, the second in a large one. It will be interesting to see if I enjoy the second one any less than the first one.

Since the age of 15/16 I have attended a large number of shows. Despite a few dud's and cancellations, the vast majority of those gigs have been amazing. Very very good at the least.

I don't like being front row at gigs. Close to the front or in the middle is fine for floor shows. If there is a balcony, then that is where I try to be, right in the front, as close to the centre as possible.

Open air gigs (imo) tend to be not as enjoyable, if it's windy then the sound is shit, and the daylight is a put off too. I like my gigs small to midsize and dark.

For me since I show up to the vast majority of concerts I go to a bit tipsy or stoned I always have a great experience. For me it's all about letting go, the few concerts Ive gone to where I didn't dance or scream after every song, those are the concerts I didn't have fun at.

I only have tea and occasionally coffee to "get high" and I was CRAZY when I saw the multiple Janet tours I went to, and when I got VIP at one of them and met her, it was a few months before mj's death, and after that experience,I felt closer to my dream of seeing him happening someday and getting soooo pumped at how awesome janet's show was. I loved the chair routine of rock witchu, the songs from the first two albums being sung, and how good she sounded during black cat

For me,it depends on several factors:

*the artist and what type of show it is

*the location of my seats

*type of venue (outdoor or indoor)

and lastly....how much I have to drink before the show

but for the most part,I enjoy the concerts I go to.

I find that I have the most fun at multi-artist shows,where there are several artists on the bill together.Each act has a limited amount of time,so they don't mess around.They stick with the songs that you really wanna hear....no filler.These type of shows are very energetic,which I like.

I feel the exact opposite. Nothing like live music. Maybe I'm lucky and choose good concerts, I don't know.

As far as ticket costs, parking, getting in and out of the venue, etc., sure that can all be a pain in the ass. But, to me that's not really the concert experience. The concert is when I'm in my seat enjoying the music and show.