Programming question for a noob

That is one of many ways to handle such a show. It is a bit more difficult on the Element as you only have one cue list/stack where the other Eos boards have many. You would have to preprogram everything, possibly jumping around if you need to make changes during the show. (show order changes?) Possibly having your 'base looks' by submaster.

Another method would be do have the base looks on the cue list and do songs by submasters. Everything on a cue list provides repeatability. Using subs for effects requires less programming up front but much more work during the show.

I think you are really asking for a chase type effect. Effects can be attached to subs or cues and will provide the sequence type looks you want. Note that 'absolute' effects or chases are almost little cue lists and can run once or until stopped. For movers the other effect types can be very helpful and the built in ones are a great starting point. Copy one to another number and change anything you like. (To 'reset' a built in effect to factory defaults 'delete' it. It won't go away, just return to normal. Subs can hold intensity or rate for effects so you will plenty of manual control, but it's not needed. If you don't record all the parameters into an effect sub, then other subs or cues can easily control the rest; color or gobos or prism . . . The idea is layer different programming tools to create far more possible looks than setting them all at once and is very useful if you can't record everything into the cues.

Learning about effects is easiest if you can spend lots of time playing around with the manual open beside you. I also like the "Tea Break Tutorials" as you can follow it's methods with your rig. And sheet this is nice to have handy: Basic Effects  This might be helpful too: Effects Workbook

That is one of many ways to handle such a show. It is a bit more difficult on the Element as you only have one cue list/stack where the other Eos boards have many. You would have to preprogram everything, possibly jumping around if you need to make changes during the show. (show order changes?) Possibly having your 'base looks' by submaster.

Another method would be do have the base looks on the cue list and do songs by submasters. Everything on a cue list provides repeatability. Using subs for effects requires less programming up front but much more work during the show.

I think you are really asking for a chase type effect. Effects can be attached to subs or cues and will provide the sequence type looks you want. Note that 'absolute' effects or chases are almost little cue lists and can run once or until stopped. For movers the other effect types can be very helpful and the built in ones are a great starting point. Copy one to another number and change anything you like. (To 'reset' a built in effect to factory defaults 'delete' it. It won't go away, just return to normal. Subs can hold intensity or rate for effects so you will plenty of manual control, but it's not needed. If you don't record all the parameters into an effect sub, then other subs or cues can easily control the rest; color or gobos or prism . . . The idea is layer different programming tools to create far more possible looks than setting them all at once and is very useful if you can't record everything into the cues.

Learning about effects is easiest if you can spend lots of time playing around with the manual open beside you. I also like the "Tea Break Tutorials" as you can follow it's methods with your rig. And sheet this is nice to have handy: Basic Effects  This might be helpful too: Effects Workbook