A bad monitor mix can be distracting, and can make it very difficult to perform a show. I tend to prefer to have as little as possible in my in-ear monitors to lower the chances of a possible meltdown. Depending on the size of the band, I usually make a priority list of what I need in order to function. With the help of the monitor engineer, I put the people with the best time-feel the loudest in my mix. I prefer those people to be the bassist and percussionist. That way, we can get a nice, rhythmic, low-end machine going on the stage, and then we can let everyone else push and pull on top of that foundation. Sometimes, the rhythm guitarist may have the best time-feel, so I will go with that. Other times, the lead vocalist can have the best time-feel. He or she might have a unique phrasing-style which is essential to the music, so I’ll choose to lock in with that.