A long-throw spotlight on a yoke or stand, steered by an operator who follows a performer and controls the iris, shutter, dowser, focus and color changer by hand. Followspots sit in booths or on platforms at the back of an auditorium and use high-output discharge, LED or arc sources. Spot ops take calls over the headset for pick-ups, color changes and fade-outs.
Spot two, pick up the lead entering stage left, head and shoulders, frame 3, on my go.
Also heard as
- follow spot
- spot
Related terms
Throw
The distance from a lighting fixture to the surface or subject it lights, which sets beam size and intensity.
Strike
To start the arc in a discharge lamp; restrike is relighting it after it has gone out.
Cue
A recorded lighting state and the timed transition into it, triggered during a performance on the stage manager's call.
Gel
A sheet of colored or diffusing plastic film placed in front of a lighting fixture to change its color or quality.