Hi Don; I found that if I was using the Bose 'ideal' setup, i.e. with the stack behind the performer, it was best to have the stack slightly to one side of the perfomer and behind. Reflections from walls etc. meant that shadows weren't really noticeable with this setup; they only really come into play if the stack is not far enough behind the performer. Bose recommend at least 8 feet, as this allows enough sound to disperse before the 'cone' of sound hits the performer and reflects back. Many venues don't have this much depth to the stage area, so that's when I use the 'level with the performer and off to the side' approach. I usually use two stacks for a four-piece band with banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass and four vocals, but one stack is fine for solo, duo and trio work. I've used one for a trio in a marquee (notoriously difficult for sound) and it worked very well indeed. I have a full monitor setup that I use with my big conventional rig, but I've never needed them with the Bose. That said, I would love to try this setup the way it was intended; one stack for each performer, no mixer and each musician mixing themselves from the remote control.