Put the reverb on an aux send channel with a pre-fader option.
Remember we're talking small venues here. Small venue usually means small P.A. Small P.A. means (usually) limited sends.
My mini system has an AH 16. It's got 2 pre fader and 2 assignable. These days I'm usually running 2 wedges and 2 in ears so the best I can do is send the snare to the vocal verb (from the fx bus) and try to dial in a nice patch that works for both. Problem is I prioritize vocals over instruments so the snare verb is usually sent to a med. plate, un-gated. Not a cool drum verb. If I have the "room" I'll usually insert the units but with limited fader input, it can get lost.
On the bigger system (AH 40), I have the extra channels. I return effects to a separate fader, much better control and I can drop the fx between songs with a simple group mute.
And how about those monitors? When I started playing clubs, monitors were like roadies. Only rock stars had 'em. And when there were wedges on the stage they were all but useless unless you needed a foot rest Capt. Morgan style. Nowadays half the work is getting the monitors right. I do work with one guitarist who's been around forever and he doesn't even use em.
God bless him, he keeps his volume down, never leaves his stack and never complains about anything. He's even got better vocal control than the front man, I need guys like him on every gig.
