Band Issues

Ok, so many of you don't know that I am a guitarist for my church's praise team. If you are reading this as a friend from then you might want to skip this blog, it's about church and stuff. I have been having the issue since we got into our new building of being able to hear myself play. Well, let me start by say that for the size of the church, we have a HUGE band. We average about 50 to 100 people a week, and a have a praise team of 10 to 15 people, if everyone is there. I play the acoustic guitar, and think that I am ok at it. I am still trying to get better at it though. There are 2 other guitars, one being a 12 string, and the other an electric. Well, the main issue is that the building is smaller than the team. It is so small in fact that I am squished into a side aisle in front of the house speakers. This brings about a really bad situtation. All I hear is whomever is coming out of that side of the speakers. The really bad thing about it is that it is all of the musicians. I think I would say that I start about 50 to 75% of our songs, and play in close to 100% of them all the time. Well, common sense would be that if someone is the lead guitar, you put them in the front, and make sure that they can hear themself. Well, that is not the case here. I very rarely can hear myself because the 12-string guitar is up so loud. Everytime we come in, that guitar gets turned up louder. Oh, and he is the only guitar that I can hear, or at least was till this week, when I could hear the electric really well too. Sad issue is that everyone thinks I am going deaf, and have on more than one occasion said so to my wife. The worse part is that no one will stand where I stand and listen. Oh did I mention that I stand on the same side as the drummer, and bass player? Yup, that's right all musicians on one side of the church, and all the singers on the other, and that includes in the speakers as well. So now you have the issue of the lead guitar not being able to hear where the lead singer is going! Oh this is great!!! And what do I get told? Pretty much to suck it up and deal with it. Well, maybe I got through to the leader, and things will change. If push really comes to shove, I might just sit back, and watch them implode without me there. I'm always getting the leader upset since I've been taking off a lot recently. We will see