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[Brent Gillespie]

I also think people have gotten more aggressive about going up to FOH to complain.

Hell, in New Jersey, they start lining up before the band even starts to play.

+1 .   This past this Winter I was at a casino show that Styx was playing at.  My seat was the first one to the right of  FOH.   The show was mixed perfectly IMHO  !!  Had several friends in the wings that stated the same.  However, at least 3 different  people approached FOH  during the show to complain about something or rather.  The BE  seemed to offer a friendly response but i was just blown away by the audacity of these jackasses.  I caught his glance after a few of those  incidents because I was shaking my head in disbelief and he would just roll his eyes and laugh.   

[John Chiara]

+1 .   This past this Winter I was at a casino show that Styx was playing at.  My seat was the first one to the right of  FOH.   The show was mixed perfectly IMHO  !!  Had several friends in the wings that stated the same.  However, at least 3 different  people approached FOH  during the show to complain about something or rather.  The BE  seemed to offer a friendly response but i was just blown away by the audacity of these jackasses.  I caught his glance after a few of those  incidents because I was shaking my head in disbelief and he would just roll his eyes and laugh.

Interesting. I saw Styx with REO and 38 Special a few years ago and Styx had the best performance but by far the worse mix. Probably a different BE.

[Brad Weber]

In the smaller acoustic venues, I've found that reducing the levels actually solves the "volume wars" as the crowd is able to carry out their conversations at a lower level without competing with the music.  Of course, once the alcohol starts to really flow, all bets are off.

Somewhat the same concept involved here, http://www.meyersound.com/news/2012/constellation_libra_comal_faq/.  Control the acoustical environment such that the audience can experience the desired environment without also competing with it.

[Eric Simna]

Somewhat the same concept involved here, http://www.meyersound.com/news/2012/constellation_libra_comal_faq/.  Control the acoustical environment such that the audience can experience the desired environment without also competing with it.

Coming from the theater world, I've always mixed vocals further out front that most.  When I was out with a friends' band mixing, they came up to me afterwards making comments about vox being so far out.  It was a surprise to them and they weren't sure if they liked it, until about half a dozen people came up to them commenting on how lyrics could be understood for the first time ever.  And I don't use a whole lot of compression either. The show was quieter overall too, while keeping the rock sound. 

In acoustic environments, I've actually experimented with just turning down the PA.  It works to lower the noise floor of the room.  If the artist is good enough, the waterbags will shut up and listen.  Too many performers simply expect an audience rather than command an audience.

[Samuel Rees]

Just yesterday two people described the same mix as the worst, and then the best a club had ever sounded.

[Jim McKeveny]

I have had the "star" vocalist email the band & crew on Tuesday about cancelling Friday's show because he had no voice. We flew out Thursday anyway. At soundcheck he scribbled & mimed, and pointed to his throat often. I had the band & orchestra play at whisper levels.

 At showtime I got wisps of vocal and lots of lipsync-like behavior - except there was no backing track. If I could get the first consonant of each word I felt good. Long evening.

Some months later, when my position was "relieved" for a cheaper FOH mixer, I was accused of "fucking the act in Houston".

[Dave Barnett]

i do think that these units are probably the ones that can get the closest to that sound in real time.  i still think that both of those are just brilliant boxes...

The Waves MaxxBCL hardware box will get that sound in spades.

[Steve Hurt]

Is anyone else noticing a trend in the past few years of crowds requesting significantly increased vocal levels at shows? I've been finding this at all sorts of venues from <200 cap clubs to 4000+ tents. I personally think I have come to always mix slightly vocal heavy anyway but I'm talking, significantly higher.

People want the vocals up front?  Can you refer them to me please?  I have the opposite problem.  Everyone wants smashed to piss "lead" kick drum mixes around here.

Most of the bands seem to want:  drums compressed and cranked to 11, bass at 10 and heavily compressed,  vocals tucked under them, guitars, keys, and other instruments way down below that, often at after-thought level.  Then run the entire mix through a compressor and smash the piss out of it so you don't have to touch the faders all night.  Kick drum is WAY out front, not the vocals/leads.   

IMO, Vocals or whatever is being featured at the moment, should be on top.  Kik drum is what needs to be tucked in.

[Charlie Zureki]

People want the vocals up front?  Can you refer them to me please?  I have the opposite problem.  Everyone wants smashed to piss "lead" kick drum mixes around here.

Most of the bands seem to want:  drums compressed and cranked to 11, bass at 10 and heavily compressed,  vocals tucked under them, guitars, keys, and other instruments way down below that, often at after-thought level.  Then run the entire mix through a compressor and smash the piss out of it so you don't have to touch the faders all night.  Kick drum is WAY out front, not the vocals/leads.   

IMO, Vocals or whatever is being featured at the moment, should be on top.  Kik drum is what needs to be tucked in.

 +1

   Yeah...some of the conditions you've written about are part of the crappy sound expected by many people under the age of 50, especially from the live scene-ers. They don't know what a good mix would sound like if it danced on their heads.

    That mush-sound mix in the clubs is an epidemic. Stage levels too high, too much gig for the rig, mic'g drums that really don't need to be mic'd, guitar players with the "I've got the effects pedals, so, I'm gunna use them" attitude... to the point that their guitar sounds like a freaking cheese grater pressed against a grinder....

    Hammer 

[John Chiara]

The Waves MaxxBCL hardware box will get that sound in spades.

I bet it does, and I would request one if I got a real you for sure. Just a little pricey for weekend gigs.