Spotlight operator

Generally a followspot will be a dedicated, large lighting instrument designed to pan and change size, beam width, and color easily by hand.

There are some minor differences in terminology between the theatre and live music world's, but the equipment and role played by the spotlight operator are the same.

This tool device helps the operator to align the follow spot, before any light leaves the follow spot (with the dowser closed in a pre-cue position) or for location reference during stage shots where the spotlight might become hard to see due to overall illumination of the stage, or when two spotlights are overlapping their respective assigned subjects.

Another earlier method and still in use is to use a dry erase board, Sheets of paper placed on the wall, colored or white electrical (or gaffer's) tape , that are then have the light leak shape drawn upon them with a label.

During normal operation these small amounts of light that escape the follow spot housing, moving as the rear's position changes in reference to the front lenses, which the audience does not see, nor are distracted by them.