I wear protective headphones when we rehearse..........NEVER for live performances. In my case we don't do a ton of live shows, so when we do I really like to be part of the whole experience on that stage. It just isn't the same with plugs, even when you get used to them.

Please wear hearing protection whenever you play. Once your hearing is gone it doesn't come back. I've been playing for 53 years (started when I was 10) My hearing is now so bad I cannot hear normal conversations without hearing aids. When I play I have to take out the hearing aids to be able to tolerate the volume of amplified sound. WhenI do this I cannot hear the normal talking of band members between songs. It makes communications a b***h. The only advantage I have is that I can shut my hearing aids off when my wife hollers at me for having so many old drums laying around.

Me too.Lost a lot working in the music biz.*When I practice I use special ear protection .The deeper I put them the less I hear the band.