Lishy I think the continuous controller is what I need. I have been using a Teenage Engineering TX-6 to give me 12 outputs and with TouchOSC controlling THAT, I can get hands-on mixing for whichever stage I go on. It's about as streamlined as I can get but engineers still give me a weird look. They want to simply plug me in and go.
With midi continuous controllers, I can hopefully have a remote/wireless mixer template to handoff or have next to me. (I am controlling the actual set with a iRig Blue-thingo) (technical term).
Thank you!