I regularly mix a 5-7 piece rock band and one thing that we (me, the band and the production staff) require is a full run-through of the set list with all patch changes included, for all instruments, through all amp and effect settings.

The band doesn't get hired in again if the keyboardists or guitarists don't know how to quickly adjust volumes while going through the run-through - taking the input from the person in control of the FOH mix; primarily me or when my ears aren't working, the person orchestrating the production of the entire event.

Depending on the type of amplification you will use in your shows, you can at least cut out some of this time consuming stuff by auditioning your patches through that amplification system; and making a rough cut level adjustment to the quiet patches - bringing those up to some appropriate amount relative to the louder patches. No, you don't need that pad sound to be the same level as the lead, but at least you can give the engineer a bit of a break by trying to get them close.

Rhythm guitarists: get your overdriven and clean patches level so that they have similar level; or at least in the ballpark.

Then, when the FOH engineer tells you he/she will boost your lead when the time comes, trust them.

Plain and simple.

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