How to Spot the Stage With Follow Lights

Follow spots come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have a wide selection of special features.

Being a follow spot operator can be a thankless job, as the best follow spot operators are able to fade into the background of a production, drawing attention to the performance and not themselves. But make no mistake, a talented follow spot operator is essential to the success of a production, allowing the director to focus the audience's attention and allowing the stars of the show to truly shine. That's probably why a popular rule of thumb among stage actors is to become friends with the follow spot operator.

Things You'll Need

• Follow spot
• Headset
• Script
• Pencil

Instructions

Stage Spotting Preparations

1. Familiarize yourself with the follow spot you will be using. Learn how to turn the follow spot on, change colors or gels, adjust the intensity, fade the light and adjust the aperture or size of the light opening.

2. Practice moving the follow spot across the stage in smooth movements. Practice following someone across the stage smoothly and slowly fading out as he exits the stage or the lights go down. Make sure to keep his body, and particularly his face, in the light at all times.

3. Learn the names of the actors and be able to match the name to both the face and character. Learn the names and follow spot numbers of your fellow follow spot operators.

Follow Spots in Practice

1. Follow the directions of the production's lighting technician and lead follow spot operator as closely as possible. Their directions and lighting plan, in addition to the director, will tell you which actor you will follow and how to follow them. In smaller productions, you may be asked to develop your own plan during rehearsals.

2. Listen carefully to the cue manager in your headset if the theater you are working in uses headsets and cue managers. You will be assigned a spot number and the cue manager will follow a master cue script, telling each operator his important lighting cues.

3. Mark your copy of the script with notes and abbreviations that will be easy for you to follow in subsequent performances. Highlight the characters you are supposed to follow and use arrows to give yourself an idea of where characters will be moving. Use a pencil, as the director can change things at any time.

4. Work with the director and lighting designer closely during the rehearsal process, particularly if there are many actors onstage or you have only one follow spot. You may need to use larger apertures or group actors closer together in order to fit them into the spot.

5. Pay special attention to the technical rehearsal, which is a rehearsal of the show intended to focus on the technical aspects, like lighting and props. If you have questions or concerns, the technical rehearsal is the time.

6. Spotting the actor's face is of prime importance and is the main focus of follow spots, but different types of shows require different spotting techniques. Musicals will require more full-body spots to bring focus to the dance movements, with the aperture open very wide to account for fast movements. Flashy shows may require follow spots to be moved quickly around the theater. Speeches will require very static follow spots on the central speaker.

Tips & Warnings

• Every theater and every production is different. Adapt to the changes and resources that are a part of any venue.

• Learn the headset etiquette of the theater you are working. Occasional jokes or comments may be OK, but refrain from saying anything other than what is necessary until you have the feel of the technical culture at the theater.

• Refrain from quickly moving the light from one actor to another or making sudden aperture opening changes unless it is a specific choice by the director or lighting technician.

References

• A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting: Follow Spots
• Stage Lighting Guide