Stage/console layout preference.

I just did Ruthie foster blues act this evening and was thinking about 
how i have been laying the board out and what makes the most sense.

Tonight, i had across the front:

guitar vocal, guitar DI, headliner key vox, headliner guitar vox, 
headliner  keys DI, headliner guitar DI, bass vox and bass DI across the 
front starting with channel 1.

I kept them grouped by individuals together. The way i have been doing
it. But i had considered doing all vox first, then instruments.

How have you guys been laying out the board in PAYING gigs?

This gig was a club series gig in a 300 seat room.
and i was warned the grand Puba of the facility was going to
be a few tables from me and that i should keep the level
down. Hell, what did they think i was doing? playing a CD?
The volume crept up as the musician on stage did.
It was NO elevator music, but i did not pierce any eardrums.
I had JBL self powered traps on poles with self powered subs.
I liked the subs, but the 12/2 powered traps sounded way vocally mushy
compared to the VRX JBL's i usually use in the room. And 125 was killing
me.

I did experiment with some SM99 goose neck mikes for toms mikes on 
clamps (did not have any 98's). That worked out pretty good.
I used Beta91 for kick which was stout. i used 81's overhead and it
seemed i did not get the ****mmer i am used to (usually use KSM32/414's).

We had two simultaneous events at the hall this weekend so my mike 
supply and equipment was limited. The mix was on a GB-8 which was OK, 
but i miss the VCA's on the halls MH3. And YES, it was vocal 58's 
accross the front. As the act requested.



Bob