Festival Programming Intern

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation; Metairie (LA); Hybrid; USD 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

All-Access Pass to TOTC 2027

Class credit (if applicable)

Mentorship opportunities

Industry access and networking

Job summary

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is seeking a Festival Programming Intern to assist the Events & Programming team with administrative, programming, and event tasks for Tales of the Cocktail 2027. The internship is primarily remote, with in-person support in New Orleans for July 21–31, 2027, including conference operations and event programming.

Responsibilities include coordinating meetings, data management, on-site support, and assisting with Tales Catalyst, seminars, and bookstore activities.

Qualifications

• Must be available in New Orleans, LA from July 21–31, 2027.
• Must have access to a vehicle and a laptop.
• Working knowledge of Google Drive and remote collaboration.
• Event/programming experience preferred but not required.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support administrative, programming, and event responsibilities for festival operations.
• Assist with coordination, data entry, and note-taking across platforms.
• Attend weekly meetings and provide on-site conference support.
• Help plan Tales Catalyst and coordinate ticketing, bookstores, and seminars.
• Organize event databases and maintain programming materials.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Organized

Google Drive

Reliability

Event coordination

Tools

Asana

Airtable

OpenWater

Slack

Whova

Job description

About the Internship

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is seeking an organized, reliable, and diligent Festival Programming Intern to support the Events & Programming team.

This internship provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a large-scale cocktail festival, from educational programming and event coordination to conference operations and logistics. The Festival Programming Intern will support both year-round Foundation programming and preparations for Tales of the Cocktail 2027.

The internship is primarily remote; however, the intern must be available to work in person in New Orleans from July 24–30, 2027, supporting conference operations and event programming.

Tales of the Cocktail 2027 will be held July 25–30, 2027, in New Orleans.

What You'll Do

As the Festival Programming Intern, you will work closely with the Events & Programming team on a variety of administrative, programming, and event responsibilities, including:

• Learn and work with Foundation platforms, including Asana, Airtable, OpenWater, Google Drive, Slack, and Whova.
• Assist with meeting coordination, agenda preparation, data coordination, and note-taking.
• Attend weekly virtual Programming meetings, Team Meetings, and meetings with external planning partners as needed.
• Support on-site conference operations and event logistics.
• Assist with local errands related to events and programming.
• Help plan and execute the 2027 Tales Catalyst event.
• Assist with event setup, complimentary ticket coordination, and other event support.
• Support the seminar application process, including data entry, form creation, and organization.
• Assist with seminar coordination, including application organization, moderator outreach, and deadline reminders.
• Participate in seminar application phone interviews and Education Committee meetings.
• Organize and maintain event and programming databases.
• Provide additional administrative and programming support as assigned.

During Tales of the Cocktail, the Festival Programming Intern will provide hands‑on support to the Events & Programming team, including:

• Assist with executing Tales Catalyst.
• Compile and organize event binders and materials for Tasting Rooms, Meet the Distillers, and seminars.
• Support Bookstore & Bitters Market activities.
• Assist with the author signing schedule and daily coordination with the bookstore manager.
• Provide on‑site support for event logistics and programming.
• Serve as a flexible "floater" to support different festival activities as needed.
• Assist with Cocktail Tour sign‑ins.
• Coordinate with the Partnerships Intern on Official Partner deliveries.
• Provide additional on‑site conference and programming support as assigned.

Schedule & Availability

The internship is structured around the Foundation's spring and summer event‑planning season.

• January through May: Approximately 12–15 hours per week
• May through August: Approximately 18–20 hours per week
• During Tales of the Cocktail: Additional on‑site availability required
• Primarily virtual with flexible work hours and standing weekly meetings
• The intern must be available to work in person in New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail and part of the week leading up to the event.

Availability will vary throughout the internship based on the event‑planning cycle. Candidates should generally be available for:

• December 2026: Approximately 2–5 hours per week, virtual
• January through early May 2027: Approximately 5–15 hours per week, virtual
• May through mid‑July 2027: Approximately 15–20 hours per week, virtual
• July 19–30, 2027: Full‑time availability for on‑site event preparation and execution in New Orleans
• Tales of the Cocktail, July 25–29, 2027: Full‑time, in person
• August 9–31, 2027: Approximately 10–15 hours per week, virtual

What We're Looking For

• Must be available in New Orleans, LA, from July 21–31, 2027.
• Detail‑oriented and organized.
• Must have access to a vehicle.
• Must have access to a laptop.
• Working knowledge of Google Drive.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Reliable and able to manage responsibilities in a primarily remote environment.
• Comfortable supporting multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Event experience is preferred.

Compensation & Internship Benefits

• $10/hour
• $15/hour during Tales of the Cocktail 2027 week, as applicable
• All‑Access Pass to Tales of the Cocktail 2027
• Class credit, if applicable
• Mentorship opportunities
• Industry access and networking opportunities
• Brand partner education opportunities
• Additional internship benefits may be available throughout the program

Work Authorization

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States and able to provide documentation supporting their work authorization.

Physical Requirements

This internship requires the ability to perform typical office and event‑related activities, including sitting, standing, walking, using a computer, and maintaining visual attention for extended periods. During event activities, the intern may occasionally be required to lift or move materials and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds.

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is committed to educating, supporting, and advancing the global drinks industry. Through its annual conference and year‑round programming, the Foundation provides opportunities for education, professional development, connection, and industry engagement.

Disclaimer

This posting is intended to describe the general nature and responsibilities of the internship and is not a comprehensive list of all duties. Responsibilities and activities may change based on organizational and event needs. This internship description does not constitute a contract or promise of employment.