This bothers me, as well. I can't speak to any proven efficacy, but when I find myself in such a loud venue (also some bars, obligatory parties such as before/a

This bothers me, as well. I can't speak to any proven efficacy, but when I find myself in such a loud venue (also some bars, obligatory parties such as before/at weddings, etc.), I take a "flesh colored" plain cylinder foam ear plug, cut in half, and place one half into each ear canal. My ears don't "crackle" -- the halves still seem to work pretty well -- and the smaller size is unobtrusive so I don't feel self-conscious.