Its actually one of my choice boards in a situaton like this becuases you an use it in either 2 scene mode or preprogrammed. Its also got some really neat features like the
express offline program: where you can create the entire show in your computer, and save it
ASCII format and pop a disk into the board. as for the Monitors, as far as i know, you can have up to 2 or 3 (correct me if im wrong, i knwo the expression can have thsoe and the
express is just a less juiced version).
If you decide that you want to start incorporating INTEL lights into your space, even for rent . . . you dont need to get another board, you can actually program the lights right from this board. you cane ven set "personalities" for different type of lights, almost like
dimmer profiles . . .jsut cooler. You can also program Effects and macros and all into a
submaster so its easy to program or use 2 scene. The patching interface is also very good for kids in the
intro . . .at least i think so . . . t allows you to see how a patch works . . .
I dont know how big your space is, but mine was huge, and the one im in i still rather large, . . .but you have the option of purchasing an Remote Focus
Unit, or
RFU (we dubbed it RUFUS) so you can sit in the
house and run through cues or focus the lights as needed . . . or even better the ONline program (almsot like the offline, but you can hool up to the board and run the board from your computer) can do the same thing trhoguh a simple RJ45 . . . i use this all the time so i can run sound and lights at the same time.
And, im a sucker for blue lights, so the "on" light really makes me happy.
Being so close to that age that you are working with, i found it very useful. I had the opportunity to program when i needed too, and do things on the fly when i needed too.
if you have any questions about it, let me know . . . e-mail me!