Don't. Your actors won't be in exactly the same place every show. We're currently running an automated
followspot system at the moment - cast members are wearing transmitters which the spot locks onto, so fairly high-tech and a lot better than programming a moving light path and expecting the actors to do exactly the same thing every night. We still have
followspot operators on the show. And there's almost never a show report without a problem with the automated spots on it; this is the second
system we've tried, after the first one got cut in production week and spot ops hurriedly booked. We're talking about a national opera company here - so the budgets aren't small. Just don't do it, rent better followspots instead.
I've done LOTS of shows (pro, semi-pro and
amateur) with moving lights or I-Cues and programmed spots... And yes there have been issues, however, I've also had it work consistently well. Would I love a
tracking system? Yes, but its certainly not in the budget. I've found a big part is in how you think of programming them, taking time to get the
blocking down and insisting on performers
blocking being well established and running the lights with them multiple times (usually Q2Q, Tech & 2 Dress).
Of course, I've had varied success, the pros have never really been a problem. Some of the amateurs are amazing, and some just don't follow the same path. Rate isn't the worst thing ever as I usually break the path up in multiple cues when able to allow for varied pacing.
Heck, I've had it work with shows where the entire cast is kids. STILL I'd RATHER have followspots with operators most of the time when I can depending on the show (thinking musicals mostly), however usually I can't
swing followspots (
venue limitations, budget,
fitting in a follow spot thats actually bright enough for the use,
etc) so I stick to I-Cues and such.
This is a crappy cellphone picture of one such show where instead of followspots in the balcony (would have needed ones that would have been out of budget) used my two I-cues and two Chauvet R2 spots from
foh, and two R2 spots from backstage to supplement the existing lighting rig of LEDs and conventionals. The two I-cues and R2 spots at times were all programmed
tracking spots (yes this is in a highschool, co-LD'd with a student who is now working in the industry, note up here in Canada we don't tend to have the spaces, and money available as many of the big schools in the US do. This is an arts-focused high school in a mid-sized city).
The Result? Actually better and more consistent than they've had some times in the past with actual follow spots (of course that's operator error).
So SOMETIMES it can work just fine.
I'd LOVE to have a high end
tracking system, or
PRG GroundControl in my back pocket... Reality is, I will NEVER have the budget for that.
