[targa911S]

Sound guys at big out door venues that I have done with Rich Harper are shocked when they see just how little our footprint is. I use either my 410HLF/PF 500 or BA 115HP (like supes) Drummer uses a Gretch jazz set ( we call it the "kidz or Us" set) Rich uses a hot rodded pig nose. We take up about 100 square feet. Our stage gear is really just a monitor system for us to hear. Everything is miked or on a DI. I prefer just vocals, and a little kick and snare in my monitor. I can hear Rich's guitar in our stage volume. I usually walk around during the first few songs to find the sweet spot in the stage where I can hear everybody just right. I can usually feel me in my feet if it's a riser stage. The days of shootin' it from the stage are long gone. A mature band understands that and we all work to get a good "stage sound". We are also old and seasoned enough to listen when somebody else in the band says you are too loud. It's a group effort. Rich IS the boss and Sam & I are really just side men, but either of us could tell Rich to turn down and he would address it right away with no stink.
What they do with the front of the house is what they do with you. We usually make nice with the sound people and take good care of them, not being too demanding but in control of what you want to them to do for you. Unless you have your own sound guy that does you every time and KNOWS what you want to sound like, you are going to sound like what someone THINKS you should sound. Sound people can be as ego driven as most guitar players, so ya have to be cautious sometimes. Thanking house sound people from the stage early in your show usually will get you a better mix too. Kinda like telling them to tip the servers gets you better service in a club.

I wish I had a dollar for every time the event sound people were making more than I was in the band.