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And I'm speaking for what I've seen happen to younger musicians ..

1) Someone else always gets the money. Everyone but the musician ...the event organiser, the sound guy, the last band,the cleaning lady ...EVERYONE but the poor ol musicians

2) The sound is almost ALWAYS a problem. Why can't someone invent something so that all the instruments don't have to be wired to a another source and another  - and all these cables causing all these problems ...

3) The band practice their hearts out 7 days a week for THE BIG GIG. Guess what. On the night, one or 2 of the members (to calm their nerves of course) get mindlessly drunk and wreck the set!!!

4) You're always the band that plays last to 2 or 3 drunk guys ... and you also practiced 24/7 for a month!

It's called "Life"

"Life" is what happens when you are planning other things....

The only 100% solution to that is for the artist/s to retain a sound guy who knows what he is doing and is in tune with what the artist wants and travel with their own sound system that they know is properly maintained.

Which is expensive.

An alternative is to retain a sound guy who knows what he is doing and make arrangements so that he has plenty of time to check out the rig at the venue, patch in any special equipment that you have to have, and test everything.

Which is less expensive but still not cheap - and the venue may find such an arrangement inconvenient.

It's not a local problem either. The last few years I've been to some shows in the UK. Sound quality was variable. I think that the organisers don't always pay proper attention to this - even if they have good intentions. When we saw the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain they had poor sound. This was a fund raising gig in a church. Maybe the venue was the problem, or maybe the organisers didn't understand the need for a good sound person. The UOGB won through though with their personalities, but quite a bit of instrumental detail was lost in the mix - particularly when solos were being taken.

And I think people understimate the task. I have been impressed by exchanges on this forum with the likes of Neps and Tomcat by what good sound guys know and need to know. I think a lot of people think it's a case of buying some speakers and an amp and some cables and a desk and having somebody add some bass, cut the midrange etc etc.

Think I should be more specific ... the gigs being the typical gig run by young guys! Metal - in my experience - (a son guitarist). But I love the boom in metal SA irrespective of the chaos. Its great! Interesting to watch. Bit heavy on the ears!  

The trick is proffesionalism, as a band you set a standard at practice and home, you know your songs, you set rules for the band, In my band at the moment which has just got started, we all know there is no drinking before a show (or our first one in jan, this used to be rule in my old bands, If a guy breaks this rule then he is out, he doesnt care for the music that much.
For the venue, if you set yourself up right they have to see you the band as a money making thing. It is a business, if you want to get paid they need incentive to pay you, further more you can then based on demand dictate the terms of your playing. Therefore good PA, X3 stage moniters, a sound guy who will know whats up, or your own is even better, compressors for the overall mix (not behringer).
But to do this you have to provide the club with incentive that you are big, and pro. Thus well rehearsed, good working equipment, a crowd etc etc.....
I am afraid not to many bands do this in SA do this, and you cannot expect every band to be like this straight away. But it really is in the hands of the band.
hope that helped

Good advice - will pass it along.

I dont see the point in getting hopelessly drunk or stoned out of ones mind.  I dont drink or drug.   

i have to agree with Seventhson, ever tried having a conversation with a drunk, guy or girl. bad news man!!