Lighting - Followspotting
A followspot is a special type of profile lantern which has been adapted to be moved around to follow a performer on stage by an operator. Although the practical operation of the lantern is simple, doing it well requires a great deal of practice.
While it's true that many pop/rock shows may have used the truck driver as the followspot operator in the past, putting the least experienced member of the crew onto followspot duty may be a mistake.
A Matter of Balance
Your followspot should be properly balanced - this will make it much easier to operate. If it's not balanced, seek advice about how to make it so.
Practice Makes Followspot Perfection
If you find yourself in the position of being a followspot operator and you've not done it much before, try to find someone to help you practice before the show starts.
Have two friends on stage (gently!) kicking a tennis ball around while you try to follow it. Although it's unlikely you'll ever succeed, you'll learn how much pressure you need to apply to the followspot to move gracefully around the stage. Try to avoid juddery movements, and make each movement as if you meant to make it!v
As time goes on, practice picking up the ball while it's in motion. See below for information about using sights to do this.
Set Your Sights
If your followspot has sights already, ensure they're lined up correctly. Practice picking up small parts of the set around the stage. It should be possible for you to be 100% accurate about these pick-ups, without having to turn the followspot on to check!
If you don't have sights, make some. Use copper wire (or a wire coat-hanger) to fashion two small loops which you can attach to the top of the followspot. Use blackwrap tape to fix them if you have it, as this won't melt when the lantern heats up.
There are some manufacturers who make sights with added functions.
Accessories
Followspotting is hot work - make sure you're equipped for this. If you're working in an air-conditioned room, think yourself lucky that the designers of your theatre space allowed for this. If you're not, wear thin layers of clothing, and use a pair of biker gloves to protect your hands from the heat.
Maintenance
If you're having to work on a followspot with sticky shutters or iris, you can use graphite powder to lubricate the parts. Never use oil on a lantern of this kind.