On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 19:29:20 -0800, "Walter Harley"
wrote:

Although, I'd like to keep as little
equipment as possible up on the stage - it tends to grow legs. The mix
position is more secure.

This only sounds silly to folks who haven't experienced it.
Churches are targets for thieves even worse than homes are,
because they trust perhaps overmuch. And don't report.
Could you armor a back"stage" location to suit?

My SR gig in a thrust-stage house has some similar balance
issues. We seat 635 but nobody is very far from the performers.
On stage, the grand piano needs to be mic'ed and monitored
if there is a backline (even just drums and electric bass).

Real singers perform here totally acoustic, but may use SR
for vocal intro's and specials. Church-ish in size.

I never mic drums; don't even own the mic's; or (electric) bass.
They're too frickin' loud already. No negative amplifiers
exist, so I'm stuck, maybe about where you are.

Outbreaks of sanity in the backline seem unlikely. Suicide
is immoral. What to do?

FWIW, I find myself much more interested in issues of monitoring
than in issues of FOH. Like Bob O. says "in front of the microphone".

Good fortune,

Chris Hornbeck
"Shi mian mai fu"