You just have to play in a way that sets you apart from others. If you are playing root eighth notes and standing still off to the side all night, you won't really be the most popular guy on stage.
I play an ampeg svt-350 with an orange 410 and 115. Smaller venues (which is honestly the more common set up) I just take the 410 and I'm still maybe a third of the way up. I'd say 200 minimum so you have room before your tone really gets shaged.
You can probably find a used Geddy Lee signature model (Japan make I believe, unless production of the lower cost model has since moved to Mexico) in your price range. I've had two of them and always wish I would have kept at least one.