The best thing about shows at the Great Hall is they are almost never packed!
In the last 2 years, I have gone to the Great Hall for the following shows/events: X as part of NXNE, J Mascis and Luke Doucet for the Sleepwalk Guitar Festival, Martha Wainwright as part of Jazz Fest, and an Art Battle. The only one that I would call overly crowded was Art Battle (that gets crazy!). I don't think these events are poorly publicized, it's just a pretty big space and it's not in the mainstream. Fine with me!
Sometimes the venue is set up with seating at tables of four, and sometimes it's all standing. Either way, there is a balcony with seating, but the few times I've checked it out they haven't let you bring beverages up there.
Good acoustics, cool older theatre, up one flight of stairs on Queen St just east of Dovercourt. The times I have been there they've had a full bar with a good selection of domestic and imported and craft beers.