Is there a "rule of thumb" for how many watts you have to consider for each person in a hall? ie: 1 Watt for each person in a crowd of 250 people means you'll need a system to push 250 watts?
If memory serves, the general rule of thumb is two watts RMS per person.
It depends mainly on what you need your FOH to do.![]()
Watts!
Smallest gig getting a conventional system get's at least 3000 watts 500 per side for the tops and 2000 for the sub (you can always turn it down)!
I'm playing at a restaurant for a wedding. They're expecting 120 people tops and that will pack the place. I don't have much room to set up, so I'm thinking of taking my Yorkville Stagepas 500, with 500 watts total. Classic rock and oldies. Not much dance or urban. Perhaps a couple of current top hits.

Silver Fox, I know it's been hot there the last week, but have you been into your mason jars, again...
http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/products/pa_systems/stagepas500/index.html
You didn't answer my question above?
I'm playing at a restaurant for a wedding. They're expecting 120 people tops and that will pack the place. I don't have much room to set up, so I'm thinking of taking my Yorkville Stagepas 500, with 500 watts total. Classic rock and oldies. Not much dance or urban. Perhaps a couple of current top hits.
I find the equation to be flawed but I have used 5 watts per person for tops. so 150 people would be 375 per side. Sub require more power so 7.5 watts per person.
I run 600 watts to each of my tops and 1250 watts to each of my subs. I get uncomfortable at the 150 person mark. I feel at that point I could use more power.
Two Mackie 350s = comfortable for a 200 person wedding
Okay Yamaha then. LOL I might have changed labels.
http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/products/pa_systems/stagepas500/index.html
You didn't answer my question above?

But, Silver Fox you still didn't answer my question? LOL

