I'd certainly agree about the discomfort of seeing people live in some venues. As I get older and grouchier, I refuse to go to a live performance, purely as a member of the audience, where I can't sit in reasonable comfort and enjoy it. So I won't go to big festivals or stadium gigs or to places where I have to stand all night (sciatica knows best) and, if I get a seat in a theatre, it has - if possible - to be somewhere where all the rows in front of me can't stand up towards the end and spoil the view! Pubs and participatory sessions are different - I do what I can and live with any small inconviences - otherwise I'm very picky.

Apart from folk clubs and sessions, which are generally comfortable enough for me, some of the best venues I've sat in include the Jazz Cafe in Islington and the Dome in Brighton (upstairs though). I do enjoy live performances, but I'm choosier as I get older...