Playing live in a gym...HELP

[acctd4]

Hi, I have a gig comming up soon however the venue is in a church gym. I am not sure if I will have drum mics available to me...hopefully i'll have at least a bass drum mic. However any suggestions concerning set up and what would give the best all around sound to the audience and to the rest of gym? I will most likely be position in the second "tier" of stage somewhat in the back (If that makes any sense). So if anyone has experience playing in a gym or anyone has any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated!

[acctd4]

Oh yes Im playing mostly alternative rock nothing TOO TOO TOO heavy...

[Garvin]

I'm sorry for you.... The best hope is that there are enough people to absorb the echo. Gyms notoriously sound horrible. It will be hard for everyone. Hopefully you will all have PA's, then there may be some hope for you. I freakin' hate playing in gyms and dance studios for that reason. I don't really have any tips other than to be mentally prepared for a tough gig. Sorry...

[bighaibigdrums]

If there are enough people in the room it should absorb the echos.

[IDDrummer]

The good news is that drums often sound big and full in gyms. The bad news is that echoes can make it very hard to stay tight with the band, especially if you are physically spread out. If you have monitors, that can help a lot. Try to make sure everyone has bass drum (if nothing else, drum-wise) in the monitor ! Worked wonders for us in big, echoing halls.

[maddrummr]

If there are enough people in the room it should absorb the echos.

Still in gyms there is just a bunch of room and the walls are bare letting sound bounce even more.

I would try and dampen your heads a little bit. Behind the kit it might sound dull but that sound will carry out to be a little more fair to the audience.

[acctd4]

my band and i are pretty close together in the set up as i just had a practice tonight in the gym...definately echo-ey...it sounded kinda cool...though really not sure how it would sound to the audience...maybe on the day over i'll use those muffle rings? over my drums?...but it does really sound kinda "thudish" when sitting behind the drums. yah i'll definately try to have bass drum through monitors hopefully i can get it for the night of!...is echo sounds bad for the audience?

[maddrummr]

Things just sound mushed together and not well defined.