Hi Rachael,

I have been gigging for many years and I think the answer is one you touched on, you need to get louder or be lost! I don't use monitors but I always have a good line of sight (or ears) to my PA. I don't intentionally play loud but if it gets noisy, so do I. I like to stay on top. Alternatively you could always scream at them to be quiet ! (Just kidding ;o)

Good Luck,

Regards,

Dave.