Living the dream. I've wanted this for decades.
I rarely have played any shows with a dedicated FoH critter and can not bring my own reliable critter on a show by show basis. For us, usually the venue's definition of sound person is the person who points us to where to set up to make sound. I never or rarely have any way to judge or listen what is happening F0H during the show so this never happens and I continue to drag around my amp and cabs. And PA.
To do it right, it appears that one has to have another person not in the band with good ears. I think y'all have more friends with ok ears than we do. Also, it really does seem that everybody in the band needs to commit to IEM or it will not work. These things would rarely happen for the gigs we see and book (yes, we are small potatoes).
Still dreaming of the day. I know it exists. I've seen the pictures. Even been to some shows. Getting the PA setup and the room pinked can be challenging enough for me (pick one) in many of these venues. It's simply a gigging lifestyle that I haven't been personally able to see coming over the horizon, yet.
<sigh> Someday, perhaps.
