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

prop master/prop mistresstofollowspot operator

A prop master/prop mistress already meets 67% of what the followspot operator role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.

From prop master/prop mistress
67%
Overlap1
To followspot operator
17 Skills carried over
6 Required, not held
36.4 Difficulty2
Career overlap Strong match

67%

Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

36.4/ 100

1 Share of the followspot operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the prop master/prop mistress 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 13 of its required skills as things a prop master/prop mistress already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • adapt to artists' creative demands
  • assemble performance equipment
  • follow safety procedures when working at heights
  • prepare personal work environment
  • prevent fire in a performance environment
  • set up equipment in a timely manner

What stands in the way is 6 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 17 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 prop master/prop mistress background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held assemble performance equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held perform first fire intervention assisting and caring
  • already held set up equipment in a timely manner handling and moving
  • already held store performance equipment handling and moving
  • already held prepare personal work environment management skills
  • already held understand artistic concepts communication, collaboration and creativity

All 17 carried skills, including the 13 the followspot operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 9 missing skills fall into 4 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 3 required
  • required, not held operate follow spots required
  • required, not held use communication equipment required
  • required, not held de-rig electronic equipment required
02 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required, 2 supplementary
  • required, not held communicate during show required
  • required, not held set up follow spots required
  • optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
  • 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
04 handling and moving 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
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 17 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
  • already held assemble performance equipment skill
  • already held follow safety procedures when working at heights 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 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 develop professional network skill
  • already held keep personal administration skill
  • already held manage personal professional development skill
  • already held perform first fire intervention skill
3 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue optional
  • optional, not held identify technical resources for performances optional
  • optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
44 held skills the followspot operator role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adapt props skill
  • not needed by the target role advise client on technical possibilities skill
  • not needed by the target role assemble scenic elements on stage skill
  • not needed by the target role assemble the rehearsal set skill
  • not needed by the target role build devices into props skill
  • not needed by the target role change over props skill
  • not needed by the target role consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
  • not needed by the target role define prop building methods skill
  • not needed by the target role define prop materials skill
  • not needed by the target role design props skill
  • not needed by the target role develop prop effects skill
  • not needed by the target role document your own practice skill
  • not needed by the target role draw prop sketches skill
  • not needed by the target role draw up artistic production skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure visual quality of the set skill
  • not needed by the target role hand props to actors skill
  • not needed by the target role instruct on set up of equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain props skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain stage weapons skill
  • not needed by the target role manage consumables stock skill
  • not needed by the target role manage stage effects skill
  • not needed by the target role mark the stage area skill
  • not needed by the target role modify scenic elements during performance skill
  • not needed by the target role obtain pyrotechnic permits skill
  • not needed by the target role obtain stage weapon permits skill
  • not needed by the target role operate pyrotechnical control skill
  • not needed by the target role organise resources for artistic production skill
  • not needed by the target role organise stage skill
  • not needed by the target role plan pyrotechnical effects skill
  • not needed by the target role plan weapon use on stage skill
  • not needed by the target role prepare stage effects skill
  • not needed by the target role prepare stage weapons skill
  • not needed by the target role preset props skill
  • not needed by the target role purchase props skill
  • not needed by the target role purchase stage weapons skill
  • not needed by the target role safeguard artistic quality of performance skill
  • not needed by the target role set up pyrotechnical equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role store pyrotechnical materials skill
  • not needed by the target role store stage weapons skill
  • not needed by the target role train actors in the use of weapons 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.