Followspot Light Fixtures

Followspots are fixtures designed to be manually operated, allowing the electrician to light a performer, with an intense, controllable beam, around the stage. A professional-quality followspot will have an iris for controlling the size of the beam, a dowser (a mechanical dimmer which allows the operator to control the intensity and to fade in and fade out the light), and a color boomerang, which allows the operator to change the color of the beam.

Followspots should be bright enough to “cut through” the existing stage lighting. Often, theatres have purchased followspots which are too weak for the required throw; in these cases, the designer is better off using an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight with an iris installed.