If you’re like many music venue owners or managers, business has been rocking. With the touring business continuing to grow, you probably had a good year last year, and you’re on track for another big one.
What does that mean for your operations? It may mean you need more staff.
If you think you’re too busy to think about staffing questions, that itself could be a sign that you’re understaffed. And if you stay understaffed, important details could be falling through the cracks, with the potential to harm your business, damage relationships, or simply lose money.
Whether your music venue staff is a handful or a hundred, there are basic areas you need to have covered. Check your current team makeup against this list of basic roles for music venue staff. Are there functional gaps on your team? Is someone spread a little too thin? Keep in mind that at larger venues each of these functions may have teams or even sub-teams, while at smaller clubs, one person might take on more than one of these roles.
1. General manager
The general manager is in charge of day to day operations, including the budget, the nuts and bolts of running the venue, hiring and supervising staff, partner negotiations, financials, and more. At larger venues there will be a management team, all reporting in to the general manager. The venue owner is the ultimate decider, but the general manager makes and recommends investment decisions about technology, tools, and the team.
- What to look for: Sound business sense
- Ideal characteristic: Willing to delegate tasks to other members of the team
2. Talent buyer/booker
This person develops your programming. That makes them key to the venue’s success or failure. They curate a calendar of artists, work out contract details, and build relationships with artists and agencies. Their programming choices set the vibe for the venue, so their role is important both for attracting fans and for maintaining the venue’s brand personality.
- What to look for: A people person with excellent taste
- Ideal characteristic: Passion for staying on top of the endlessly morphing musical zeitgeist
3. Marketing manager
If you want music fans to buy tickets, fill your shows, and spend money at the bar, you’ve got to get the word out. A marketing lead is critical to your success.
If your team is small, this person will be responsible for marketing, PR, outreach, and social media. They may also help with sponsorships and partnerships. If you have additional resources, you may have dedicated people for each of these channels. In any case, whoever helps with marketing will need to stay on top of the ever-changing trends.
- What to look for: Someone who’s both creative and quantitative; willingness to measure results and adjust accordingly
- Ideal characteristic: Able to pivot at a drop of a dime
4. Production manager
This key role makes sure shows go off smoothly. Production managers are responsible for coordinating artists, sound engineers, lights, and stage management. At many venues these responsibilities may be shared across a team; at smaller venues the production manager may take on one or more of these roles themselves.
- What to look for: A stickler for keeping others on schedule
- Ideal characteristic: Able to work well with a variety of personalities
5. Security
Your fans’ safety should always be your number one priority. Your security lead is in charge of ingress and egress, organizing and positioning a security team, and making sure there’s a clear communication plan. They also maintain relationships with local law enforcement and emergency services.
- What to look for: A penchant for planning
- Ideal characteristic: A cool head under pressure
Other key roles
Depending on the size of your venue, your team may also require:
- A house manager: In charge of audience comfort and safety, supervising all front-of-house staff, and making sure the venue is ready to open doors and exits at the appropriate times.
- A box office and/or ticketing manager: In charge of ticket sales, accounting of transactions, and security of cash drawers.
- A backstage manager: Makes sure performers have a smooth, positive experience with your venue by keeping dressing rooms stocked, ensuring talent riders are fulfilled, and addressing any unexpected issues that may arise during a show.
- Administrative staff: These often overlooked roles can make life easier for other members of the team by answering phones, producing financial reports, helping with social media, and more.
Since your situation is unique, you can always create a unique role based upon your needs. Just create a job description based on what isn’t getting done and who on your team is most overloaded.
To learn more about venue management, check out Stop Wasting Time Managing Your Music Venue: A Concert Checklist.
