good luck, its another one of those fun but expensive hobbies!
I know, I know. I rationalized the purchase as a "necessary business expense"
Really, I'm a sucker for new toys.
I would sell the kit lens new out of the box and use that money to buy a 50mm 1.8 Canon lens. You'll have to move around or crop a bit to compose, but you'll be able to open it up to 1.8 for low light and sharper images and stop it down for even sharper images.
I have the 17-55 kit lens and I use mine. It is not that bad of a lens and it is a nice focal range to have. Until you replace that focal range I wouldn't part with it. Won't do you any good at a show unless it is daylight, but its a nice wide angle > normal lens. Chances are you wouldn't get more than $50 for it on ebay anyway.
Matt
Thanks Matt, playing with it the last few days and it is not that bad for a lens, for daylight.
Think I'm gonna purchase a 50/1.8 this week. I will primarily be using this in clubs so decent low light lens is a necessity.