header
Banner

Sign in with Facebook

Recent comments

Visas
Hi, thanks for your input, the site you mention ha
Visas
Hi We help a lot of international artists who wis
"Being young and fem
enjoyed reading it so much! I just started writin
Education - the grea
RE- Education & music courses. I have just started
Elbow at O2 By comp
glad you enjoyed it!

Recent discussion

No messages to display
follow_us_twitter.png

Welcome to the community for the live music industry - sign up for free.

Everything you wanted to know about gigging but didn't know who to ask.

To receive our newsletter and get free advice from a professional roadie, SIGN UP NOWOnce signed up, click here to send in your question or click on the Ask A Roadie laminate, top rigt on every page.

Follow spot
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Super_Trouper_follow_spotThe  recent interview in the Independent with Linford Hudson follow spot operator at the London Palladium for 47 years started me thinking about the job of spot op on a show.

I hadn't really given it much consideration as on most rock shows the follow spots, if there are any, are run by the truck drivers or local crew and not specialists. While those part timers often do a reasonable job it is quite a tricky gig. I've done it a few times in the past when trucks have broken down or people not turned up and I was surprised how tricky it was to just point the thing in the right direction and not just wave it all over the place.

Additionally to pointing it at the right place you have to be able to respond to the lds instructions in your headset about where and when to shine it.

It's also interesting that in an age where nearly all lighting equipment is automated the follow spot is entirely in human hands. 

Super Trouper follow spot