Sorry.  Clinton.  My bad.  I shouldn't have shortened your name.  People routinely shorten my screen name to “magic” so since this is a message board, I didn’t think it a problem.  I won’t do it again, though.

Note that I said, "there's plenty of good used equipment out there that can be had for much less than full price.”

That was kind of the point of that sentence preceding all the other ones.  It sets up what can be purchased – USED – for a good price, thereby allowing the buyer to do so for quite a bit less than the 5 grand you suggested.  Since most good equipment typically sells used for 50% to 60% of new, 3 grand was a reasonable estimate based on your 5 grand figure.  Note also that I encouraged her to find someone she trusts to help her find it, that is knowledgeable about these items.

Perhaps my suggestion of finding equipment at Sweetwater was misunderstood.  I meant it in terms of a good place to search for what one might want, then have a tech person help them find it used, locally.

A Bose stick for a theater?  I understand why a single acoustic folk singer or duo might do well with such a system, or perhaps a traveling improve troupe of three players where set and scenery are non-existent, but beyond that, a Bose stick isn’t terribly useful for a theatrical sound person trying to run sound effects that requires even simple things like panning hard left or right, or for a system that may require expansion in the future.  They have few inputs, and as such, would be woefully inadequate for theatrical needs.  I would surmise that’s why Bose markets them to musicians, instead of theaters.  Besides, where would you place it if you had a backdrop?  A set with plywood flats that stretches across the stage?  Not terribly useful, I don't think.