Leisure Activity 0 hrs 1-3 hrs 4-6 hrs 7-9 hrs 10-12 hrs 13+ hrs Live Music Music Venues and Festivals 177 53.3% 73 21.9% 35 10.5% 33 9.9% 14 4.2% 0 0% Recorded Music On Radio, CD, Other Media 29 8.7% 63 18.9% 121 36.4% 90 27.1% 10 3% 19 5.7% Reading Books, Magazines, Not Academic Related 192 57.8% 47 14.1% 9 2.7% 13 3.9% 23 6.9% 48 14.4% Exhibits Art Galleries, Museums 242 72.8% 49 14.7% 27 8.1% 10 3% 4 1.2% 0 0% Cultural Performances Dance, Theater, Topical Lectures 259 78% 53 15.9% 11 3.3% 4 1.2% 5 1.5% 0 0% Movies and Videos U.S. and Foreign Films 17 5.1% 113 34% 86 25.9% 87 26.2% 19 5.7% 10 3% Television Not Including Sports 6 1.8% 10 3% 26 7.8% 31 9.3% 162 48.7% 97 29.2% Clubs, Bars, Coffee Houses Not Including Live Music 59 17.7% 76 22.8% 86 25.9% 65 19.5% 35 10.5% 11 3.3% Creative Writing Journals, Letters, Poetry 143 43% 93 28% 49 14.7% 47 14.1% 0 0% 1 0.3% Nonessential Shopping Not Including Groceries, Medications 5 1.5% 23 6.9% 109 32.8% 133 40% 36 10.8% 26 7.8% Computer Games and Internet 13 3.9% 50 15% 76 22.8% 37 11.1% 80 24% 76 22.8% Spectator Sports Not Involving Participation 20 6% 30 9% 101 30.4% 112 33.7% 56 16.8% 13 3.9% Hobbies (Gardening, Sewing, Golf, Fishing, Crafts, etc.) Not Work or Computer Related 14 4.2% 71 21.3% 88 26.5% 73 21.9% 36 10.8% 50 15%     Combinations Noted     Other Results Noted SURVEY RESULTS Ranking at the bottom: Survey participants invested the least time to attending cultural performances. 312 (94%) of 332 people surveyed reported dedicating 0 to 3 hours per week to dance, theater, and topical lectures. Also ranking in the bottom group, with large numbers reporting that they only dedicate 0 to 3 hours per week, include: Attending exhibits at museums and galleries (88%); Attending live music events (75%); And, practicing creative or personal writing (71%). Ranking at the top: Television viewers, computer users, shoppers and sports spectators accounted for the largest numbers of hours expended per week. 259 (78%) reported watching television 10 to 13 or more hours per week and 47 percent explored the Internet and played computer games 10 to 13 or more hours per week. 73 percent of the survey participants reported shopping 4 to 9 hours per week and 64 percent are sports spectators 4 to 9 hours per week. At just one half percent fewer than sports spectators, 63.5 percent of survey participants reported listening to recorded music on radio and home stereos from 4 to 9 hours per week. 86 percent responded that they spend 1 to 9 hours watching DVDs and videos at home or movies in the theater. In the range of 1 to 9 hours, only time spent listening to recorded music compared with watching films and videos at 82.5 percent. Both rank in the middle of the breakdown of average hours invested per week. Most surprising, 192 of the 332, nearly 58 percent, reported investing 0 hours in reading books and magazines (other than for school or academic purposes). The survey was conducted in the vicinity of a major bookstore and some completed the questionaires sitting in the bookstore coffee shop. We assumed the numbers who read for leisure would be artificially high. It is interesting to note that the average time given to live music, only 2.23 hours per week, is small compared with time spent listening to recorded music on car and home radios and stored media, 5.5 hours per week. But the gap could be much wider. 72 percent listen to recorded music more than 4 hours per week, while 53 percent reported 0 hours dedicated to live music per week. The number who reported 0 in the live music category may be higher, as people are sometimes hesitant to list 0 if they intend to be more active or supportive of their interests. See the Ranking by Average Time Invested. See the Ranking Including Type of Activity.

Houston Institute for Culture Survey of Leisure Interests 332 people were surveyed concerning the time they dedicate to their leisure interests. The survey gaged the participants' commitment of time to activity that does not involve employment, family care, shopping for groceries or pharmaceuticals, religion, exercise or physical therapy. The survey was conducted in October, 2002 near Post Oak and Westheimer streets in the shopping district northwest of the intersection, opposite the Galleria. Nearly 60 percent of the participants were women and slightly over 40 percent were men. 303 of the survey participants came from 16 zip codes found inside Loop 610 west of downtown, outside Loop 610 north and south of the Galleria area, and west along Westheimer. 29 others came from more widespread singular zip codes. None of the participants volunteered for political campaigns, social agencies or non-profit organizations more than three hours in six months prior to being surveyed.