This is a change of pace.

Last nights gig was in a local bar that was VERY long, and we were at the BACK of it. Seemed like half a block away, maybe a third, really. The front was the rectangle bar,(packed), the middle was darts and tables, and then a downsized dance floor and then US.
We got this message somewhere in the 2nd set.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm81/dezmoduo/louder.jpg
So we brought the music up, vocals were good, but we don't mix the whole band through the PA, we play off the stage with our amps. At this point we were WAY louder than our usual stage volume and it was awful. What little finesse and subtlety we have went out the window. Our vocal monitors were hanging in so at least we weren't over singing/pushing.
A lot of acknowledgment about the band and material. If we get another gig there, I think we have to press for a better band location.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CudGbXbfHUM/SUktprh_hNI/AAAAAAAAAxs/oCqiCq4X5Io/s400/master_po

Ahh yes, how much better it is to be asked to turn it up than to told to turn it down!

I was playing a gig the other day in a fairground pavillion. The monitors were really loud and it was distracting. I turned myself down and everything seemed to fall into place.

Every room is different and you have to do what you need to do to make it work. One thing I've noticed, if no one is right in front of the stage in an arc about 20 feet back, it's probably too loud. I like to have the audience up close and personal.