The sketchy conditions of listening booths in record stores get you ready for the skanky conditions you encounter when actually playing out.
I won't name names, to protect the guilty, but one club I was in had the usual half-falling-out-of-the-shell cartridge, and the floor was littered with trash and what looked like mouse droppings. So be thankful when you at least get two stereo channels in the store headphones :) -- fred
