School Talent Show

I'm not sure if this is the right section, if not, I'm sorry.

Okay, tomorrow is the school talent show and I was wondering what settings I should use for the best results. Whether it be a preset mode, or a manual mode. It's going to be quite dark in the audience, but I should be pretty close to the front, as Seniors get to sit there. I'm using a canon power shot 3 SI IS
with a polarizer.

Thanks so much in advance!

Rebirah wrote in post #2526924
I'm not sure if this is the right section, if not, I'm sorry.

Okay, tomorrow is the school talent show and I was wondering what settings I should use for the best results. Whether it be a preset mode, or a manual mode. It's going to be quite dark in the audience, but I should be pretty close to the front, as Seniors get to sit there. I'm using a canon power shot 3 SI IS
with a polarizer.

Thanks so much in advance!

Take the polarizer off, it will cost you 2 f-stops.

You certainly should not use a polarizer. Don't be afraid to use ISO Auto or ISO800, too many people complain of dark photos because they are afraid of getting noisy pictures. You can fix a properly exposed noisey in post processing much easier than tring to rescue an image from blackness. If you are using flash turn on slow synch and hold the camera as steady as you can. This will capture the foreground nice and clearly with the flash and keep the shutter open a bit longer so the background is not too dark.
Good shooting.

This is my gallery with shots from my child's christmas concert. The lighting was probably a little better than it'd be at a talent show but my S2 performed great and did not let me down even at high ISO's. The more I use my camera, the more I don't worry about those people that tell me that the S2/S3 have bad low light capabilities.

http://lee-family.smugmug.com/gal​lery/2263827/1

mishnogram wrote in post #2528494
The more I use my camera, the more I don't worry about those people that tell me that the S2/S3 have bad low light capabilities.

Those are great shots.
If you look carefully you can see there is 'some noise' particularly in the dark areas of the curtain. The perfectionists look at this and say "told you so", meanwhile the rest of us are enjoying the photos, the wonderful children and the special occasion you have captured for all time.
Imagine saying to your grandchildren - I did not save any of the pictures of your parent because the curtain in the background was a "bit noisy".
Keep using your camera - you and it are doing a fine job!
The low light capabilities of the S3 are 3 EV better than my Sony P&S. Yes if you had a really good dSLR & fast lens you could get a further 4 EV improvement but you would probably not have been allowed to use such a system at the concert!