A lot of bands debate on whether or not to hire a sound guy or do the setup themselves. There are a few things to think about when making your decision.

First and foremost, consider the venue size. If you are performing in a small 100 seat bar and the PA needed is not huge, you can do it yourself. It's better to have the mixer on the right side of the stage. If a guitarist or bassist is right handed it is easier to do it on the right side as the neck of the instrument will point away from the mixer and it easier to remove your right hand than your left in mid song if something goes wrong.

If, however, you are jamming at some large venue (500 people up) or outdoors it is probably best to hire a professional who can supply the gear and operate the additional equipment you will need.

Another factor is the mixing ability of the band members. You should factor in knowledge associated with amplifier wattage, speaker impedance, graphic and parametric equalization, compression, effects, and locating troublesome frequencies that will create feedback (squeal or hum). Don't forget to consider basic knowledge of dynamic levels, microphone polar patterns, and overall mixing of the sound levels. If you can't do any of this or know any of this, consider hiring a pro.

Moreover, what is the size your band. If your band is larger than five people all playing a variety of instruments then it's better to hire a professional. Moreover, your band would require too much equipment for you to hand alone.

Finally, what is your budget? You need to decide whether to invest in a sound system of your own or continue to hire and pay out 'dead money' in hire fees. You can virtually buy a good basic PA system for the costs of hiring for year or so if you are playing a few nights per week every week and earning some money. Remember you have to buy many accessories in PA systems but if you are mostly doing small venues and you have someone who can setup and mix your band, you will save a bundle by doing it yourself.

Prior to hiring your professional, make sure to listen to him at another venue. Quite a few PA/sound guys are horrible at mixing and don't know what they are doing. That is why it is important to her them before you hire them. Don't be fooled by techno babble and smooth talk.

There are many factors to think about before you hire a sound guy. You'll need to discuss with your band if you think it is right for you. Discuss all the factors involved and see if hiring someone is better than doing it yourself. If you play a large number of big venues and have a lot of equipment, hiring someone will probably be beneficial for your band.