For the price:
Ideally we would stick below the 20K mark, and anywhere over the 0 mark. Even still, It is well understood by the powers that be that if we are going to be playing with the numbers of fixtures we are talking about, we will need to pay the entry price. That is why I asked the question as I did, we could probably consider something all the way to 40K (If we needed to), but it would be better if it was under 20K.
I would not expect a volunteer to be able to sit down and start doing stuff in an hour. I would expect that after a month of learning it 10~15 hours a week, they would be able to start getting something respectable. I would also hope that it could be taught to another person (At least the technical aspects, that is) over a similar 1-monthish period (Maybe a better way would be to say 40~60 hours).
90% of its life will be pre-programed, although as I indicated, it is important that it be do-able, to wing something if we needed.
Handles for the conventionals would be (potentially very) helpful, but not 100% mandatory.
Sadly, due to booth space, and our utilization of every other inch of the place, we can not do two consoles.
I agree with the possible "Goodness" of having 2 operators, but due to the restrictions in space, as well as the desire to foster the development of techs who are capable of "creating" atmospheres on the fly (no small task, I understand), I think that 1 op will have to do for the moment.
I had been looking at the Frog consoles and Avolites, but was/am kind of in doubt whether or not the Frog range really had enough tactile control, or would scale quite as well as the Avolites, but on the flip side, I didn't know what prices the Avo's went for.
Hope this gives some more ideas,
Karl P