Interesting thought

@millercarbon when it comes up, I tell the partner in the conversation that being an audiophile doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and if you want, you don’t need any equipment. If all you want to do is go to live shows and listen carefully and appreciate the music you are an audiophile in my book. But if you want to listen to Tidal or Qobuz red book with good but inexpensive chifi IEMs, and a AQ dragonfly on your iPhone and appreciate music and music discovery, then that person is also an audiophile. Of course, if your budget allows and you want a wiz bang system for the purpose of optimizing the reproduction of your music to the best of your abilities and wallet and enjoy music discovery and appreciation, then that person is also an audiophile. There are as we know, many variations around the above and in between. Heck, one might argue that sitting outside and carefully listening to the birds sing is something an audiophile would do.
@chicagoblue1977 and @schmitty1 I am in Chicagoland too. 😀

As far as putting books under the equipment, I have never thought of it as a sign of anything worth mentioning. I am proud to report that it seems that I used to do that before other posters in this thread set foot in an audio store. I used to have a tower (x2) of phone books as my speaker stands for years. Not because of cost (they were free), but because I could not find stands I would have liked. By the way, there was no difference in sound once I installed real stands. It was only harder to dust around them.

"I am in Chicagoland too."

It seems that the place to try the idea would be Chicago. Now it makes sense that AXPONA is there.

Just invite more younger folks (family members..friends with younger kids) over to hear your system.  Play their music.  Don't push the equipment...let them ask and keep it simple.

I have played listening sessions at places like this all over the world. It’s certainly not a new nor novel idea.

Shelter, Tokyo
Bar Bridge, Tokyo
Brilliant Corners, London
Giant Steps, London
Spiritland, London
Hosoi, Stockholm
Potato Head, Hong Kong
Dynamic Range, Amsterdam
Jazz Blues Soul, Tokyo

Here’s a friend’s photo diary of some of them in Japan: https://instagram.com/jazz_kissa?igshid=1re7cyt5jesq7

At Shelter, all the people basically lied on the floor and watched a light show on the ceiling while I played trippy Jazz and ethereal music. System was JBL Everest, Accuphase, room treatments were exquisite. It’s my longtime favorite.

https://youtu.be/qe5W7zvw10I

Aside from “bars” there is the obvious one, The Loft that began in 1969 and still goes on today (RIP David Mancuso) - he used a 4 corner Klipschorn set-up with Levinson amps, Mitch Cotter B1 turntables, Fidelity Research arms snd Koetsu styli.