Spotlight operator
Encyclopedia
Theatrical technician
A theatrical technician, is a person who operates technical equipment and systems in the Performing arts and Entertainment industry...
, defined as a lighting technician
Lighting technician
Lighting technicians are involved with rigging and controlling electric lights for art and entertainment venues or in video, television, or film production. In a theater production, lighting technicians work under the lighting designer and master electrician...
, who operates a specialized stage lighting instrument
Stage lighting instrument
Stage lighting instruments are used in stage lighting to illuminate theatrical productions, concerts, and other performances taking place in live performance venues. They are also used to light television studios and sound stages.Many stagecraft terms vary between the United States and the United...
known as a followspot
Followspot
A followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
. A followspot is designed to move, change size, beam width, and color easily by hand. Followspotting is often seen as the apprentice role for new technicians, especially electricians
Electrician (theater)
In theatre, the term Electrician is generally applied to those that work with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions among Electricians include the Lighting Supervisor, Master Electrician, Deck Electrician, Light Board Operator, Moving Light Programmer, Followspot Operator, as well...
, and having the role is occasionally referred to by some members of the run crew
Running crew
Running crew or run crew, is a collective term used in theatre to describe the members of the technical crew who supervise and operate the various technical aspects of the production during a performance...
as being "a limey", a term derived from limelight
Limelight
Limelight is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when an oxyhydrogen flame is directed at a cylinder of quicklime , which can be heated to 2572 °C before melting. The light is produced by a combination of incandescence and...
.
Duties of a spotlight operator
A spotlight operator is expected to be familiar with the followspotFollowspot
A followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
with which he or she is working, as well as be able to read through a cue sheet and/or follow directions from the lighting designer
Lighting designer
The role of the lighting designer within theatre is to work with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create an overall 'look' for the show in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost...
, master electrician
Master electrician
The Master Electrician in a theatre is responsible for implementing the lighting design for a production drawn up by the Lighting designer. This involves overseeing the preparation, hanging, connection and focusing of stage lighting fixtures.This can be done on a show by show basis, or as a...
, light board operator
Light board operator
The light board operator is the electrician who operates the light board. Depending on the scale and type of production, the board op may be responsible for conventional or automated lighting fixtures, as well as practicals and, in some instances, controlling video as well.Sometimes, most commonly...
, stage manager, assistant stage manager, and/or any electrician
Electrician (theater)
In theatre, the term Electrician is generally applied to those that work with the various aspects of lighting. Some of the positions among Electricians include the Lighting Supervisor, Master Electrician, Deck Electrician, Light Board Operator, Moving Light Programmer, Followspot Operator, as well...
. Spotlight operator positions are usually filled by stagehands or deck electricians from the load in. In these cases, the spotlight operator may have an understanding of theater lighting principles
Lighting designer
The role of the lighting designer within theatre is to work with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create an overall 'look' for the show in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost...
and the technical aspects of lighting. In the case of smaller shows, the light board operator
Light board operator
The light board operator is the electrician who operates the light board. Depending on the scale and type of production, the board op may be responsible for conventional or automated lighting fixtures, as well as practicals and, in some instances, controlling video as well.Sometimes, most commonly...
may also have to operate the followspot
Followspot
A followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
; but this is rare, as followspot and light board operation both need attention during most parts of a show. When used in a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, followspot
Followspot
A followspot, sometimes known as a spot light, is a powerful stage lighting instrument which projects a bright beam of light onto a performance space. Followspots are controlled by a spotlight operator who follows actors around the stage...
operators are often referred to as being hired 'from the neck down'. Despite the operator's opinion of what looks good, one is to follow his cues as instructed. On most touring shows the followspots will have no rehearsal and only a brief meeting (often only a voice meeting over headsets) to discuss call numbers, home positions and what to do if a problem arises.
Follow Spot controls
- Choppers – Cuts or shutters the top and bottom part of the beam.
- Douser – Controls intensity.
- Iris – Controls beam size.
- Trombone – Controls focal length.
- Color Frames – Changes the color of the light. May also known as a boomerang and/or a color magazineColor magazineA color magazine is a fixture attached to a follow spot that places different color filters in the path of the beam. Instead of working with comparatively cumbersome gel frames, the color magazine allows the spot operator to easily slide color frames in or out of place using a series of levers.The...
. Color magazines contain the color gelColor gelA color gel or color filter , also known as lighting gel or simply gel, is a transparent colored material that is used in theatre, event production, photography, videography and cinematography to color light and for color correction...
s, which are counted from the rear of the follow spot forward.
Behavior and Duties
- Operators should keep chatter to a minimum on headset. It is customary to be in position 15 minutes prior to show start and to be waiting on the headset if available. This allows time to check the lamp and warm up the color temperature and brightness.
- Truss spots will go up 5–10 minutes before they are needed either at preshow or at intermissionIntermissionAn intermission or interval is a recess between parts of a performance or production, such as for a theatrical play, opera, concert, or film screening....
. Often truss spots are only used for the headliner. Due to time restraints and hassles once up in the air, truss spots don't come down or take breaks until the end of show. Truss spots may either have to climb a wire rope ladder or the entire truss will be raised and lowered.
- On larger followspots there is a 10–15 minute cool-down period before shutting off the fans and covering. The re-lamping requires specialized training, as lamps can explode if improperly connected to the electrical current or if fingerprints and/or oils are left on the glass envelope.
- In theater it is customary to have a spotting scopeSpotting scopeA spotting scope is a small portable telescope with added optics to present an erect image, optimized for the observation of terrestrial objects...
or Sight to help with low light level and rapid, tight pick ups. In place of a scope, operators may align light leaks from the follow spot to marks on a board.
- Cues are typically given with a warning, a standby and then a GO. However, all three are not always used. In a series of rapid cues, followspot operators may get warnings for several actions and then GOs with no additional warning. Spot operators may be called to fade out on a cue or on a visual like an exit. There may be multiple spots with different pick up positions, fade times and color frame assignments. It is very common to have more than 10 spots on a concertConcertA concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in front of houseFront of HouseFront of house is primarily a theatrical term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venues, it typically refers to the auditorium and foyer, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas...
and over stage. A circusCircusA circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
may have 6–8, whereas a theater may only have 1–3 in a front of houseFront of HouseFront of house is primarily a theatrical term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venues, it typically refers to the auditorium and foyer, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas...
position. ConcertConcertA concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s with more than 20 spots are not unheard of. In shows with more followspots, spots will share their spot call number with another spot working in unison. The combine positions may be mirrored, such as a house right and house left spot or a front of house and truss spot.
Safety
- There is usually a designated area in the catwalkCatwalk (theater)A catwalk is an elevated service platform from which many of the technical functions of a theater, such as lighting and sound, may be manipulated.- Function :...
, control boothControl booth (theater)The control booth, control room, lighting box, technical booth, or just booth to theatre or television technicians is the area designated for the operation of technical equipment , and is sometimes the location of the deputy stage manager's station as well as the lighting controls and sound board...
, tower and/or truss where one or more followspot operators work. When working at height, spotlight operators wear harnesses for fall arrestFall arrestFall arrest is the form of fall protection which involves the safe stopping of a person already falling. It is one of several forms of fall protection, forms which also include fall guarding and fall restraint Fall arrest is the form of fall protection which involves the safe stopping of a person...
. Operators may wish to wear gloves to protect themselves from burns due to the follow spot's temperature. Truss spot operators may need to wear additional safety equipment such as goggles and flame proof jumpsuits to be protected from pyrotechnicsPyrotechnicsPyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
. Due to the increased risks, truss spots often receive an increase in pay rates. Followspots output a high ultravioletUltravioletUltraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
light and may cause damage similar to sunburns and sun exposure. Due to hazardous sound decibelDecibelThe decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
levels, spot operators may need to wear ear plugs or ear muffs to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. The wearing of protection reduces the overall level of assault on hearing. This does not interfere with the ability to hear cues, since the headset volume must be set to a level higher than the ambient noise level.
See also
- Stage lightingStage lightingModern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
- Stage lighting instrumentStage lighting instrumentStage lighting instruments are used in stage lighting to illuminate theatrical productions, concerts, and other performances taking place in live performance venues. They are also used to light television studios and sound stages.Many stagecraft terms vary between the United States and the United...
- Light board operatorLight board operatorThe light board operator is the electrician who operates the light board. Depending on the scale and type of production, the board op may be responsible for conventional or automated lighting fixtures, as well as practicals and, in some instances, controlling video as well.Sometimes, most commonly...
- Deck Electrician
- Super TrouperSuper Trouper (spotlight)Super Trouper is the registered trademark of a series of follow spotlights manufactured by Strong Entertainment Lighting of Omaha . They provided the inspiration for the hit ABBA song of the same name....