I have a cell phone meter and it seems like anytning over 85 dbs is excessive in a small room (living room), but htat's about what it takes to play with an acoustic drum kit played normally. I used the meter at a jazz gig in small coffee shop - they peaked at about 83 dbs which was comfortable. Haven't tried it a a cover gig, but I can say that our band runs 100% FOH and venues love that we keep out volume down. I don't know where we sit, but it is loud enough to dance to, but not so loud that people can't sit and talk (albeit somewhat loudly) over us at the bar/back of room if they want.
