theatre techniciantofollowspot operator
A theatre technician already meets 62% of what the followspot operator role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
62%
38.9/ 100
1 Share of the followspot operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the theatre 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 this move works
A followspot operator role treats 12 of its required skills as things a theatre technician already does. These are the ones it depends on most.
- adapt to artists' creative demands
- assemble performance equipment
- communicate during show
- de-rig electronic equipment
- follow safety procedures when working at heights
- operate follow spots
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 16 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 theatre technician background worth leading with.
- already held operate follow spots working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held set up follow spots communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held identify technical resources for performances 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 assemble performance equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
All 16 carried skills, including the 12 the followspot operator role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you would need to learn
The 10 missing skills fall into 5 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.
- required, not held follow safety precautions in work practices required
- required, not held use personal protection equipment required
- required, not held work ergonomically required
- required, not held work with respect for own safety required
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
- required, not held use communication equipment required
- required, not held work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision required
- required, not held prepare personal work environment required
- optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held keep personal administration optional
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.
- 01 use communication equipment skill · sector specific
- 02 work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision skill · sector specific
- 03 follow safety precautions in work practices skill · cross sector
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 16 skills that carry over
- already held adapt to artists' creative demands skill
- already held assemble performance equipment skill
- already held communicate during show 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 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 work safely with machines skill
- already held adapt designers’ work to the performance venue skill
- already held develop professional network skill
- already held identify technical resources for performances skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
3 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held pack electronic equipment optional
- optional, not held keep personal administration optional
- optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
48 held skills the followspot operator role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt artistic plan to location skill
- not needed by the target role adjust projector 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 assemble truss constructions skill
- not needed by the target role assess power needs skill
- not needed by the target role coach staff for running the performance skill
- not needed by the target role consult with stakeholders on implementation of a production skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate audio system programmes skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate pre-show checks skill
- not needed by the target role develop drama production process skill
- not needed by the target role dismantle the rehearsal set skill
- not needed by the target role distribute control signals skill
- not needed by the target role draw stage layouts 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 ensure visual quality of the set 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 follow time cues skill
- not needed by the target role handle scenic elements during rehearsal skill
- not needed by the target role install lighting skill
- not needed by the target role intervene with actions on stage skill
- not needed by the target role maintain system layout for a production skill
- not needed by the target role manage technical resources stock 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 operate a chain hoist control system for entertainment skill
- not needed by the target role operate an audio mixing console skill
- not needed by the target role operate dimmer equipment skill
- not needed by the target role operate stage movement control system skill
- not needed by the target role organise resources for artistic production skill
- not needed by the target role perform quality control of design during a run skill
- not needed by the target role plan act lighting skill
- not needed by the target role prepare sound equipment on stage skill
- not needed by the target role prepare the floor for performance skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with lighting equipment skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with scenic elements skill
- not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with stage equipment skill
8 further entries not listed here
Other moves recorded from theatre technician
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.