Venue Booking Agent - The Concourse Performing Arts Centre

Century; Willoughby; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Concourse, part of Century Venues, is seeking a Venue Booking Agent to source, quote and contract a broad range of events across its performance spaces. You will collaborate with promoters, producers and hirers to maximise venue utilisation while aligning with programming objectives and audience needs.

Ideal candidates have experience in venue programming or event bookings, plus a solid understanding of Australian music and entertainment market conditions, and strong negotiation skills to

Qualifications

• Experience in venue programming or event bookings in a performing arts environment.
• Strong knowledge of music genres, audience demographics and entertainment formats.
• Understanding of Australian music and entertainment industry rates and market conditions.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing and commercial decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Source and secure suitable events for The Concourse across its venues.
• Manage new event enquiries from initial contact through contracting and delivery.
• Quote and negotiate commercial terms with promoters, producers and hirers.
• Identify opportunities across theatre, concerts, comedy and corporate events.
• Work to occupancy, utilisation and revenue targets.
• Maintain venue calendar and ensure bookings progress per workflows.
• Build strong relationships with promoters, producers, agents and hirers.

Skills

Venue programming

Event bookings

Commercial venue sales

Negotiation

Planning & organisation

Communication

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

WH&S awareness

Music industry knowledge

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Bookings, this role will be responsible for sourcing, securing, quoting and contracting a diverse range of events across The Concourse's performance spaces. The successful candidate will play an important role in developing a balanced and commercially successful event calendar across a broad programming mix, including classical music, chamber and ensemble performances, jazz and world music, contemporary and popular music, comedy, community and school events, and corporate and private functions.

The role will involve working closely with promoters, producers, performing arts organisations, community groups, schools, corporate clients and other hirers to maximise venue utilisation while ensuring events align with The Concourse's programming objectives, audience profile and operational requirements.

The ideal candidate will have experience in venue programming, event bookings, commercial venue sales or a related performing arts environment, with a strong understanding of the diverse requirements of presenting live performance and events.

Job Description

The Venue Booking Agent will be responsible for:

• Sourcing, identifying and securing suitable events for The Concourse.
• Managing new event enquiries from initial enquiry through to contracting and event delivery.
• Quoting and negotiating commercial terms with promoters, producers and hirers.
• Identifying opportunities across theatre, comedy, cabaret, contemporary music, business events and other suitable entertainment.
• Working towards venue occupancy, utilisation and revenue targets.
• Managing the venue calendar and ensuring bookings progress in accordance with established workflows.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with promoters, producers, agents, hirers and other industry stakeholders.
• Working closely with internal operational teams to understand and interpret event requirements.
• Staying informed about industry activity, new productions, touring schedules, promoter activity and competitor/interstate venue activity.
• Ensuring bookings align with the group's entertainment policies, commercial objectives and programming framework.

Selection Criteria

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Experience in venue programming, event bookings, commercial venue sales or a related entertainment/performing arts environment.
• Strong understanding of music genres, entertainment formats and audience demographics.
• Knowledge of the Australian music and entertainment industry, including commercial rates and market conditions.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing and commercial decision-making skills.
• Strong planning, prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High-level interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Ability to liaise confidently with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong administrative and attention-to-detail skills.
• Experience coordinating and interpreting event requirements.
• A working understanding of staging and technical requirements, including sound and lighting.
• The ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively to a broader team.
• Experience programming or booking interstate venues will be highly regarded.
• An understanding of venue compliance requirements, including music licensing, WHS, noise, rigging and related event considerations. (beneficial, not essential)

Century Venues operates a diverse portfolio of leading entertainment and performing arts venues across Sydney, presenting a broad range of music, comedy, theatre, cabaret, business events and live entertainment.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established venue group and contribute to the ongoing development of The Concourse's events program.