Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

followspot operatortostagehand

A followspot operator already meets 56% of what the stagehand role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From followspot operator
56%
Overlap1
To stagehand
17 Skills carried over
7 Required, not held
48.3 Difficulty2
Career overlap Partial match

56%

Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

48.3/ 100

1 Share of the stagehand role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the followspot operator 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

Why this move works

A stagehand role treats 10 of its required skills as things a followspot operator already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • follow safety procedures when working at heights
  • manage personal professional development
  • prepare personal work environment
  • prevent fire in a performance environment
  • set up equipment in a timely manner
  • use personal protection equipment

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

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 17 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A stagehand role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a followspot operator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held set up follow spots communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held de-rig electronic equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held assemble performance equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held pack electronic equipment handling and moving
  • already held perform first fire intervention assisting and caring
  • already held set up equipment in a timely manner handling and moving

All 17 carried skills, including the 10 the stagehand role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 15 missing skills fall into 7 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.

Skill to acquire Tier
01 constructing 3 required, 2 supplementary
  • required, not held assemble scenic elements on stage required
  • required, not held assemble the rehearsal set required
  • required, not held assemble truss constructions required
  • optional, not held build scaffolding optional
  • optional, not held dismantle scaffolding optional
02 management skills 1 required, 2 supplementary
  • required, not held modify scenic elements during performance required
  • optional, not held organise stage optional
  • optional, not held prepare the floor for performance optional
03 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • required, not held handle scenic elements during rehearsal required
  • optional, not held set up stage lights optional
04 assisting and caring 1 required
  • required, not held work safely with chemicals required
05 handling and moving 1 required
  • required, not held dismantle the rehearsal set required
06 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held set up cameras optional
  • optional, not held set up pyrotechnical equipment optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a stagehand role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 17 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
  • already held manage personal professional development skill
  • already held prepare personal work environment skill
  • already held prevent fire in a performance environment skill
  • already held set up equipment in a timely manner skill
  • already held use personal protection equipment skill
  • already held work ergonomically skill
  • already held work safely with machines skill
  • already held work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision skill
  • already held work with respect for own safety skill
  • already held assemble performance equipment skill
  • already held de-rig electronic equipment skill
  • already held develop professional network skill
  • already held pack electronic equipment skill
  • already held perform first fire intervention skill
  • already held set up follow spots skill
  • already held store performance equipment skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
Skill to acquire Tier
07 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held scaffolding components optional
8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held organise stage optional
  • optional, not held prepare the floor for performance optional
  • optional, not held set up cameras optional
  • optional, not held set up pyrotechnical equipment optional
  • optional, not held build scaffolding optional
  • optional, not held dismantle scaffolding optional
  • optional, not held scaffolding components optional
  • optional, not held set up stage lights optional
9 held skills the stagehand role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adapt designers’ work to the performance venue skill
  • not needed by the target role adapt to artists' creative demands skill
  • not needed by the target role communicate during show skill
  • not needed by the target role follow safety precautions in work practices skill
  • not needed by the target role identify technical resources for performances skill
  • not needed by the target role keep personal administration skill
  • not needed by the target role operate follow spots skill
  • not needed by the target role understand artistic concepts skill
  • not needed by the target role use communication equipment skill
1 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held scaffolding components optional
Index

Other moves recorded from followspot operator

Full index of moves from followspot operator

Note

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.