I have two different drummers that use different set ups. One uses a tiny jazz set with an 18" bass drum fits in some very tight spaces the other uses this http://store.drumbum.com/traps-drums-shell-less-drumset.htm

You can't believe how good this set up sounds andtakers almost no space.

+1 on the Traps.
This is a demo shot with just the onboard mic on my Sony VX2000 in my buddy's drum shop.
This was a couple years ago, when he first got them in.

http://www.footestompindrums.com/trapsdemo.html

He has since hot-rodded his with a custom hoop on the bass.
The kick and snare are very decent, the toms have more of a roto-tom tone.

Some of my church clients use them as an alternative to electronics.

I've tried the the acoustic/midi hybrid setup in both small and warehouse venues and while the larger venue was not-bad the clash between the acoustic and midi in the small venue was more pronounced and just sounded very unnatural. The setup was a Roland TD-20 with acoustic HH, Snare, and cymbals. overheads were miced XY with small condenser pair.

That trap set looks sweet.

-Chris

Sonor Jungle Kit or the Yamaha Hip Gig Kit are my favorite small club kits.

Haven't played the new Jungle kits, but my original's are super sweet, and the 16" kick is every bit as capable in a small club as my 24" Vistalite in a big room.

Throw a Powerstroke II on there and wooof... meaty, beefy and thump in the rump when ya' really get into it good.

Otherwise, excellent for jazz, gospel, fusion, country and every other style of music played in small venues.

Only played a hip gig kit a coupla' times, but they're also in the same league.

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[edit] Correctly ID'd the kick as a 16" kick on the jungle kit... dunno why I wrote 18"...

My ROCK band played my daughters wedding reception a couple of years ago....We only brought a minimum of gear and since it was held in a venue with house sound and stage, the groom supplied the kit. An old Gretsch cocktail kit....18" kick,12 and 14 toms and we brought the snare. Looked kind weird with the copper floating rim snare and all the rocking hardware and this tiny little kit. Mic'd to the hilt it KILLED completely.

My drummer, The Hurricane, says if they ever sell that thing its his.....goes well with the ginormas Gretsch we already have.

I knew a very talented jazz drummer who swore by a very simple kit: snare, hi hat, ride, and a 18 inch floor tom on its side for a kick (I think he mounted bass drums spikes on it for stability). It sounded great, and how big it sounded depended on how he played it, not the size of the gear.

Along those lines.... I'm no drummer, but I did a job with a guy who used this kit.

It's a Manhattan kit (or stand-up kit). It might be an option if your drummer is cool with playing standing up. It would be like using a wah-wah pedal all night for us guitar players, you would be supporting your weight with one leg all night long - while your other foot was on the pedal.

I suppose you could use a high stool, but it kinda takes away from the vibe of the stand-up kit.

As you can see in the photos, the upstroke kick pedal / beater head is on the bottom of an extra deep floor tom and the snare is mounted to the top of the bass/tom with one small rack tom. Hi-Hat is normally closed, because you'll need one foot for bass pedal and the other to keep from falling down. It's used with a crash/ride and splash.