Head of Live Programming

The Columbo Group; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited guest list

50% discount on food and drink

Work from home Wednesdays

Regular team socials

Pension plan

Creative environment

Job summary

The Rex, part of The Columbo Group, is opening a new 2,000-capacity venue in East London and seeks a Head of Live Programming to own the diary and programme from day one. You will lead bookings across music, comedy and other live formats, actively pursuing agencies and promoters to fill the calendar and shape the venue's identity.

You will build relationships, coordinate with senior leaders, and ensure deliverable shows through strong organisation, pipeline management and deal negotiation, while

Qualifications

• Industry experience in live events, ideally in bookings, programming or agency relationships across music and other live entertainment such as comedy, podcasts and other live ticketed formats.
• Good network of agents, promoters and managers and the confidence to build new relationships from scratch.
• Proactive approach: you start conversations, follow up without being chased and turn interest into booked dates.
• Excellent organisation with strong diary and pipeline management skills (in-venue experience).
• Commercial awareness with understanding of deal terms and what makes a show work financially.
• Enthusiasm for building a new venue's reputation from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Own every ticketed event at The Rex across music, comedy and other live formats, managing the diary from first enquiry to show day.
• Manage holds, confirmations, cancellations and changes with agents and promoters, keeping the diary accurate.
• Work with the General Manager to ensure every confirmed show is deliverable from technical spec to staffing.
• Brief Marketing early on confirmed shows for maximum lead time.
• Gather feedback after each show and act on it so promoters see improvement and return.
• Be the venue's point of contact for promoters and agents; set up a clear process for enquiries, holds and show-week info.
• Support the CEO with delivery on ticketed event deal terms.
• Proactively approach agencies, promoters, managers and tour bookers to introduce the venue.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of relationships from first contact to date, arranging site visits and pitch meetings.
• Balance formats and dates to reflect the venue's ambition and revenue targets.
• Collaborate with CEO, Head of Electronic Music and Head of Programming on live bookings and programme direction.
• Bring agency relationships into programme planning and include comedy, podcasts and other arts formats.
• Collaborate with corporate sales on programming for private hires.

Job description

We're looking for a Head of Live Programming to join our team - This role is for our new venue at The Columbo Group - The Rex

The Columbo Group is the team behind some of the UK's most loved music, nightlife and hospitality brands, including Jazz Cafe, The Blues Kitchen, Phonox, The Old Queen's Head and The Parakeet. Alongside them sit festivals and events including Maiden Voyage, Eastern Electrics, Jazz Cafe Festival, plus Columbo Music, our live promotions and touring business.

We're looking for a Head of Live Programming to own The Rex's ticketed events diary, from first enquiry through to show day. Our new 2,000-capacity music and events venue in East London is opening next year and it will be built through proactive outreach: you'll go after the bookings, win the trust of agencies and promoters, and get people excited about the venue. This is a chance to shape how one of London's most exciting new venues is programmed and experienced from the ground up.

What You'll Do

Diary & Show Operations

• Own every ticketed event at The Rex across music, comedy and other live formats, and manage the diary from first enquiry to show day.
• Manage holds, confirmations, cancellations and changes with agents and promoters, keeping the diary accurate at all times.
• Work with the General Manager so every confirmed show is deliverable, from technical spec to staffing.
• Brief Marketing early on confirmed shows so they can be promoted with maximum lead time.
• Gather feedback after each show and act on it, so promoters see the venue improve and return.

Partnerships & Process

• Be the venue's point of contact for promoters and agents and set up a clear, consistent process for enquiries, holds and show-week information.
• Support the CEO with delivery on ticketed event deal terms.

Business Development & Pipeline

• Proactively approach agencies, promoters, managers and tour bookers across music, comedy and other live formats to introduce the venue.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of relationships, tracking every lead from first contact to confirmed date.
• Arrange site visits and pitch meetings and make sure every visitor leaves knowing what The Rex offers.

Programme and Internal Collaboration

• Balance formats and dates so the calendar reflects the venue's ambition and its revenue targets.
• Work with the CEO, Head of Electronic Music and Head of Programming at Columbo Music on live music bookings and overall programme direction for The Rex.
• Bring agency and promoter relationships into programme planning, and build comedy, podcast and other arts formats into the venue.
• Collaborate with the corporate sales team on venue programming for private hires.

What We're Looking For

• Industry experience in live events, ideally in bookings, programming or agency relationships across music and other live entertainment such as comedy, podcasts and other live ticketed formats.
• A good understanding of or having current network of agents, promoters and managers and the confidence to build new relationships from scratch.
• A proactive approach. You start conversations, follow up without being chased and turn interest into booked dates.
• Excellent organisation, with strong diary and pipeline management skills (in-venue experience).
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of deal terms and what makes a show work financially.
• Enthusiasm for being involved in building a new venue's reputation from the ground up.

What to Expect

• Competitive salary - paid monthly.
• A senior role with real ownership over a new venue's diary and programme from day one.
• A fast-paced working environment where no two days are the same.
• The chance to work alongside an experienced team in Brand, Marketing and Bookings across some of London's most respected music venues.
• Opportunities to develop and grow within the business as The Rex establishes itself.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

• Unlimited guest list and tickets across Columbo Group events.
• 50% discount on food and drink across all venues.
• Work from home Wednesdays.
• Regular team socials.
• Pension plan.
• Working in a creative environment surrounded by passionate, music-driven people launching one of London's most exciting new venues.