Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

performance lighting techniciantofollowspot operator

A performance lighting technician already meets 80% of what the followspot operator role asks for. The move turns on 4 required skills not yet in the profile.

From performance lighting technician
80%
Overlap1
To followspot operator
21 Skills carried over
4 Required, not held
23.6 Difficulty2
Career overlap Very strong match

80%

Learning distance Short step

23.6/ 100

1 Share of the followspot operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the performance lighting technician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Why

Why this move works

A followspot operator role treats 15 of its required skills as things a performance lighting technician already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • adapt to artists' creative demands
  • de-rig electronic equipment
  • follow safety procedures when working at heights
  • operate follow spots
  • prepare personal work environment
  • prevent fire in a performance environment

What stands in the way is 4 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A followspot operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a performance lighting technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held operate follow spots working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held set up follow spots communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held de-rig electronic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held pack electronic equipment handling and moving
  • already held perform first fire intervention assisting and caring

All 21 carried skills, including the 15 the followspot operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 5 missing skills fall into 3 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier
01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required
  • required, not held assemble performance equipment required
  • required, not held use communication equipment required
02 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • required, not held communicate during show required
  • optional, not held identify technical resources for performances optional
03 assisting and caring 1 required
  • required, not held follow safety precautions in work practices required
Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a followspot operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 21 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
  • already held de-rig electronic equipment skill
  • already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
  • already held operate follow spots skill
  • already held prepare personal work environment skill
  • already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
  • already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
  • already held set up follow spots skill
  • already held store performance equipment skill
  • already held understand artistic concepts skill
  • already held use personal protection equipment skill
  • already held work ergonomically skill
  • already held work safely with machines skill
  • already held work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision skill
  • already held work with respect for own safety skill
  • already held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue skill
  • already held develop professional network skill
  • already held keep personal administration skill
  • already held manage personal professional development skill
  • already held pack electronic equipment skill
  • already held perform first fire intervention skill
1 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held identify technical resources for performances optional
44 held skills the followspot operator role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adapt artistic plan to location skill
  • not needed by the target role advise client on technical possibilities skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse the need for technical resources skill
  • not needed by the target role artificial lighting systems knowledge
  • not needed by the target role assess power needs skill
  • not needed by the target role check material resources skill
  • not needed by the target role cinematography knowledge
  • not needed by the target role consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
  • not needed by the target role design an artificial lighting system skill
  • not needed by the target role distribute control signals skill
  • not needed by the target role document your own practice skill
  • not needed by the target role draw up artistic production skill
  • not needed by the target role draw up lighting plan skill
  • not needed by the target role edit digital moving images skill
  • not needed by the target role electricity knowledge
  • not needed by the target role ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
  • not needed by the target role familiarise with personal directing styles skill
  • not needed by the target role focus lighting equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role focus stage lights skill
  • not needed by the target role keep up with trends skill
  • not needed by the target role light a show skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain automated lighting equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain dimmer equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain electrical equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain lighting equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain system layout for a production skill
  • not needed by the target role manage consumables stock skill
  • not needed by the target role manage performance light quality skill
  • not needed by the target role manage signoff of an installed system skill
  • not needed by the target role manage technical resources stock skill
  • not needed by the target role operate a lighting console skill
  • not needed by the target role operate dimmer equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role plan act lighting skill
  • not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role provide power distribution skill
  • not needed by the target role read lighting plans skill
  • not needed by the target role rig automated lights skill
  • not needed by the target role rig lights skill
  • not needed by the target role safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
  • not needed by the target role set up generators skill

4 further entries not listed here

Index
Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.