WELS: [Welstech] Sound architecture/setup for gymnasium

[Weseloh, Matt]

Friends in Christ,

I have been asked to research how to improve the amplification of sound
in our gymnasium.

The gymnasium is at Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, SD.
It's got a college size basketball court, bleachers on both sides and a
"stage area" on one end.  The "stage area" is simply a rectangular
indentation at one end.  We have a 3-foot tall raised movable stage in
the center of that space.

Here's what it looks like (I hope this comes through in plain text for
you all).
-------------------------------------------------
|             B L E A C H E R S                 |
|                                               |------------
|  ===========================================     =========|
|  ==                                       ==  S  =       =|
|  ==                                       ==  P  =       =|
|  ==         M A I N    F L O O R          ==  K  = STAGE =|
|  ==                                       ==  R  =       =| 
|  ==                                       ==  S  =       =|
|  ===========================================     =========|
|                                               |-----------|
|             B L E A C H E R S                 |
-------------------------------------------------

There are 4 large speakers for the PA system, mounted on a
raisable/lowerable rack between the stage and main floor.
Our biggest issue is that sound doesn't make it to the sides or the far
end of the gym from the speakers.  It's not so good behind the speakers
either.

We have 2 portable monitor speakers with monitor amplifier, a mixer
board and microphones (3 wireless [2 lavaliere and 1 stick] and 4
wired).

This gymnasium is an all-purpose facility.  Some of the events are:
- Sporting events - with audience in bleachers.  PA system is used for
introductions and singing national anthem.  System seems to be adequate
for this.
- Concerts (choral, band, solos, you name it) - Mostly the stage is used
with the audience in chairs on the main floor and on bleachers on the
end of the gym nearest the stage.  Sometimes the group will be on the
main floor in the middle and the audience on one side of the bleachers
(band festival or combined choral/band concerts).  The smaller the group
- the more difficult it is to hear.
- Theatrical/Drama events - The stage is used with the audience in
chairs on the main floor and on bleachers.  Very difficult to amplify
and hear what's going on.
- Banquets / presentations - tables and/or chairs are set up on the main
floor.  Depending on where in the gym they set up and in which direction
- amplification goes from pretty good to pretty bad.
- Graduation and large worship services - The stage is used for the
altar/presentation area.  Uses chairs on the main floor and bleachers.
- Delegate meetings - The stage is used as the main presentation area -
but the participants also need to be heard.  The wireless microphones
help with this - but again amplification quality varies (depending on
where you are sitting, how well the speaker uses the mike...)

My questions:
- How have others dealt with amplification and sound architecture of a
multi-purpose facility like this? 
- What works well and what doesn't work well?
- Any recommendations on people or firms that we could consult with for
a personalized solution?
- And anything else that would help us down this path.

God's blessings to you all!

Matt Weseloh | Internet Solution Developer + Musician | EDS - CAO
Information Systems | 605.884.5375| mailto:matt.weseloh at eds.com