Hmmmm...where should we start? First, do you have a soundman? How big is the PA system?
My band plays Classic Rock and we have a big stage. My rig is on your left:

So we have SIX 4-12" Marshall cabs on stage with three-one hundred watt heads just for guitar. You wouldn't believe how quiet our stage volume is! Everything goes through the PA so we can keep the stage volume levels down and hear everything great. We can actually yell back and forth across the stage for cues and stuff and everyone hears them clearly. The loudness and power of a pro act comes from the PA - not their amps.
Plus, you control the oveall sound of the band better. If one player is louder than everyone else the mix that the crowd hears will certainly suck.
So think about approaching live performances as a team and not as a single rock-star and not only will you sound better, you will look more professional and the club will be more likely to ask you to come back and play there again. I've been doing this for 30 years and it works every time. Turn down, nail your parts, play as a TEAM and you guys will do great.
~jemaholic

 

Hmmmm...where should we start? First, do you have a soundman? How big is the PA system?
My band plays Classic Rock and we have a big stage. My rig is on your left:

So we have SIX 4-12" Marshall cabs on stage with three-one hundred watt heads just for guitar. You wouldn't believe how quiet our stage volume is! Everything goes through the PA so we can keep the stage volume levels down and hear everything great. We can actually yell back and forth across the stage for cues and stuff and everyone hears them clearly. The loudness and power of a pro act comes from the PA - not their amps.
Plus, you control the oveall sound of the band better. If one player is louder than everyone else the mix that the crowd hears will certainly suck.
So think about approaching live performances as a team and not as a single rock-star and not only will you sound better, you will look more professional and the club will be more likely to ask you to come back and play there again. I've been doing this for 30 years and it works every time. Turn down, nail your parts, play as a TEAM and you guys will do great.
~jemaholic

Just a question, but doesn't having six cabs on stage somewhat conflict with your argument? :lol:

 

How are the big guys like Skid Row, Ratt etc.. pulling this off? Do they have loud stage volumes?

I'm guessing here, but they were probably playing bigger venues than you guys. Just a hunch.

Listen to Jemaholic, he knows his stuff. Turn down and work within the band.

As a slightly OT aside, do Ratt and Skid Row qualify as big guys these days?

 

As a slightly OT aside, do Ratt and Skid Row qualify as big guys these days?

Only when you count their weight.

 

I have opened for some big acts. Rarely are they loud on stage. If the guitar player wants to turn up. He turns his amp around or puts it back stage. I know a guy that has mixed Dream Theater. Petrucci does not play loud. If your amp has to be loud to sound good, then you need to turn it up. But dont' blast the band with it.

 

It seems like at some shows the drums are louder than everything else, and the PA guy never realizes it, that's something you never want to happen

As for what Jemaholic said, it sounds like he knows his stuff

 

Kev,

Switch to a 2x12 and put it on a slanted stand facing at you next to your monitor. That way it's blaring right at your head. I do this live and I love it.

 

i try to always keep my stage volume consistent with what i play at during practice, which is fairly quiet (about 3 on the laney gh50L, which is a pretty loud amp). i may bump it up a notch to 4, but i've never exceeded 5. we play bars and clubs and most of the places we've played have their own PA's, so honestly, you don't need to be that loud. the most important thing in that situation is that you get a good monitor mix. the monitor is your friend. many times i can't even hear my amp, all i can hear is what is coming out of the monitor, which is fine. if everyone doesn't have their own monitor (which is the ideal situation), then you should be considerate.

that being said, be prepared to play in just about any situation. i can't count how many gigs where i've been non-existent in the monitor or on stage or, just the opposite, so friggin' loud that i can barely hear the drummer, let alone the rest of the band. if everyone is well rehearsed, you should be able to play well even without hearing yourself (although that obviously sucks).