Behavior
- 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 intermission. 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. Because of the lack of breaks it is common for a truss spot op to take both a full and empty water bottle with them when they go up. Truss spots may either have to climb a wire rope ladder or the entire truss will be raised and lowered.
- On larger follow spots 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 scope 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, follow spot 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 concert in front of house and over stage. A circus may have 6–8, whereas a theater may only have 1–3 in a front of house position. Concerts with more than 20 spots are not unheard of. In shows with more follow spots, 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.
Read more about this topic: Spotlight Operator
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