Yea, I left that title vague on purpose, I bet it'll draw in 99% of those who read it. So firstly, Gaff, Alex, Van, Chris, someone, you've gotta give me props for (what I think) is an original topic. (And to the 88 guests, feel free to give me props too.)
Anyways, I was wondering how I can train followspot ops for my upcoming production of Amadeus. I've given my version of the lecture a half a dozen times and it's never gotten through to them (or it's possible they didn't care.) Anyways, I'm tired of the note for the followspot ops being "Spastic Bumblebees" (Yea, they got that note on our last production.) This year, with the freshmen coming in, I want to give them the chance to get on run crew right away. I also want them to get the pick-ups right. Otherwise I'll have to pull two good techs off the deck or booth to man the followspots. The way I have this currently thought out (though, of course veto is always an option.) there'll be a fair amount of followspot cues. I'd like to get them consistent with the followspot. There shouldn't be much if any movement, so it's about finding and locking onto their target, and maybe moving with him a little. But I'm thinking, if they can get the pickups and everything consistent, they don't even have to worry about the douser. It'll all be run from the booth.
So how would you suggest explaining followspots to the incoming class? Am I just a terrible instructor, or do they simply not care? Is it possible to get consistent cues(out of a bunch of green freshmen), or am I being unrealistic? What do you recommend, if anything, to help them find their target? Coat-hanger iron-sight? Spotdot 2000? What about a fancy IR laser?
I'm all ears. Well this is a forum, so, erm, I'm all eyes.
Anyways, I was wondering how I can train followspot ops for my upcoming production of Amadeus. I've given my version of the lecture a half a dozen times and it's never gotten through to them (or it's possible they didn't care.) Anyways, I'm tired of the note for the followspot ops being "Spastic Bumblebees" (Yea, they got that note on our last production.) This year, with the freshmen coming in, I want to give them the chance to get on run crew right away. I also want them to get the pick-ups right. Otherwise I'll have to pull two good techs off the deck or booth to man the followspots. The way I have this currently thought out (though, of course veto is always an option.) there'll be a fair amount of followspot cues. I'd like to get them consistent with the followspot. There shouldn't be much if any movement, so it's about finding and locking onto their target, and maybe moving with him a little. But I'm thinking, if they can get the pickups and everything consistent, they don't even have to worry about the douser. It'll all be run from the booth.
So how would you suggest explaining followspots to the incoming class? Am I just a terrible instructor, or do they simply not care? Is it possible to get consistent cues(out of a bunch of green freshmen), or am I being unrealistic? What do you recommend, if anything, to help them find their target? Coat-hanger iron-sight? Spotdot 2000? What about a fancy IR laser?
I'm all ears. Well this is a forum, so, erm, I'm all eyes.