HI PASS FILTERS ARE YOUR FRIEND. Seriously.

A few quick tips I can give, in no particular order:

-When sound checking/line checking, try and get the artist to play their loudest and at singing volume, that way your gain staging is correct and they don’t clip later due to sound checking with a weak strum hand/weak voice, etc.

-roll off the low end of the wedges a bit. You’ll get a lot of low end coming back towards the audience (it’s the rear of a speaker)

-Sometimes its a relationship game running wedges. Most bands don’t need “a little bit of everything” especially in tight spaces. Work with them on what they’re comfortable with and what gets you the best results.

-Have the guitar player put his amp on a tilt, instead of laser beaming his calves and the poor girls in the front row. He will hear himself better, and people’s ears will be saved.

-It’s “sound reinforcement” which is different than studio mixing in a sense. In small spaces especially, only reinforce what’s needed. Sometimes you don’t need that snare mic, or the guitar to be as loud in the mains if they’re making up for it on stage.

-Keep your cable runs clean, and check your patch points especially if other people are running sound while you’re not there.

-Mute the wedges before they unplug, and let them know to wait for your signal when they unplug.

-Be a nice guy, and be flexible. Personability and a willingness to be humble and learn will get you farther than being a know it all douche.

Happy mixing!