How to Call Followspots On Tour

How to Call FollowSpots on Tour

Learn the fundamentals of traditional and automated followspots: from advancing and designing cues to communicating with your operators. Gain the knowledge to be confident you're going to call a great followspot show.

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Course Format

Video Lessons

I'll take you through each of the topics. Watch these lessons at your own pace.
Quizzes

The quizzes are there as a review. No pressure.

About this course

While talking with lighting directors and programmers, a lot have told me that they never really learned how best to work with followspots, and this was something they'd like to get better at.

Using followspots thoughtfully and calling a great spot show can make all the difference when you're the touring lighting director.

There's a lot more to working with followspots than just your calls. This course will ensure you're familiar with how all of the styles of followspots work (from traditional to automated) because you will encounter all of them as you move between tours, festivals, one-offs, corporate shows and broadcast events.

Every lesson is built on real world scenarios and fundamentals. If you've never worked with followspots, or if your experience has been limited - I've designed this course to teach you all of the practicalities of using and calling followspots successfully.

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This course is available on demand. Start today.

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Meet your Instructor

Since my first job programming lighting at a small Vegas club back in 2000, I knew that pushing buttons was the gig for me. I've been lucky enough in my career to travel the world, programming shows of all sizes. Some of the acts I've programmed for include: Danny Elfman, NKOTB, Metallica, Christina Aguilera, J. Cole, Lorde, Ok Go, Eric Church, Melanie Martinez and more. In 2007, I started consoletrainer.com as a resource of training videos, tutorials and quick start guides for lighting programmers of all skill levels.

Cat West

Lead Instructor

Topics Covered

Hardware and Operation

You can't call instructions to your operators unless you have a basic understanding of how both traditional and automated followspots work.
Advancing

Traveling with spots or using house spots? I've got tips on what to be thinking about in either scenario.
Programming Automated Followspots

Automated Spot control options and best practices that I recommend for any console that you like to use.
Followspot Placement and Numbering

Front spots, back spots, truss spots, Robospots - we'll also talk grouping and backups.
Designing Spot Cues

Everything you want to consider to setup your Spot Cuesheet.
Intensity and Colors for Camera

Show level intensities and color correction.
Preshow Talks with Operators

In-person and On-com: everything you should go over with your spot operators.
Calling Spots During the Show

Three main types of calls and best practices for calling clearly and effectively.
Unique Challenges

Stages in the round, moving stages, spot ops who don't speak your native language and more.

Course curriculum

1. Welcome
2. Types of Followspots
3. Traveling with Followspots or Sourcing Locally
1. Hardware - Douser and Chopper
2. Hardware - Focus and Zoom
3. Hardware: Iris and Typical Iris sizes
4. Hardware: Boomerang and Spot Colors
5. Review Quiz
1. Base Station Controlled Automated FollowSpots
  FREE PREVIEW
2. Automated Tracker Spots Using a Mouse Style Control
3. Useful tips for Automated Followspots
4. How Much Control Do You Want to Give Your Automated Spot Operators
5. Basic Programming Styles for Automated Followspots
6. Review Quiz
1. How Many Spots Do You Need and How Do You Want to Number Them
2. Assigning Followspot Targets
3. Designing your Spot Cues
4. Setlist Spot Cue Sheet
5. Spot Intensity Levels and Metering
6. Review Quiz
1. Spot Prep during the Day
2. Pre Show Talk with Ops: In Person
3. Pre Show Talk with Ops: On Com
4. Calling Spot Cues During the Show
5. Ops That Speak a Language Other Than Your Own
6. How to Work With an Operator Who Isn't Following Instruction
7. Unique Stage Challenges
8. Review Quiz
1. Using a Dedicated Spot Caller
2. FollowSpot Systems with No Human Operators Needed
3. Your Last Review Quiz

About this course

$49.99
31 lessons
1.5 hours of video content

Course Reviews

“Even though I don't have hands on experience with follow spots so far, I really enjoyed that course a lot. It gave me not only a sound understanding of the various technical options, but also a very good overview about the thinking, planning and e...”

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“Info covers the subject completely and is delivered in a way that is easy to retain. ”

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FAQ

Do I need to have been a followspot operator to take this course?

Nope! It's ok if you've never operated any type of followspot, but I would recommend you try to do this at least once or twice if the opportunity comes up. It will make you a better spot caller.
Are there subtitles?

Yes. English subtitles are available on the videos.
Is there a money back guarantee?

Yes. If you find that the course is not for you, you can contact me within 7 days for a refund. No questions asked.
Will this course be helpful if I'm working in other live events?

Yes. This course is not just for touring lighting directors, though it is primarily taught from the perspective of being on a concert tour. The information will still be useful if you are using followspots for television, corporate events, theatre, or any live event.
I'm a Lighting Director using a console outside of MA - will this course still be helpful?

Absolutely. In the course, I show programming examples for automated followspots using grandMA - but this information will translate to any console you are using. Its the fundamentals that are important, not the syntax. Programming is just one aspect of working with followspots and this course covers this topic and so much more.

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