(I) Production Intern

Sxsw.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 14,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

The SXSW Production Department is seeking an intern to gain hands-on experience in large-scale event production in Austin, Texas. This paid internship runs January through March, with 16 hours per week and full-time hours during the festival, at $12/hour.

You will help build production timelines, manage on-site logistics, and assist with stage operations and vendor coordination. Applicants must be enrolled in a Texas university or college and demonstrate quick thinking, organizational skills,

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in an accredited university or college and living in Texas.
• Strong problem-solving and quick-thinking abilities.
• Organized and detail-oriented; able to manage digital assets and paperwork.
• Excellent customer service and communication (phone, email, in‑person) skills.
• Thrives in collaborative, team-based environments.

Responsibilities

• Advance and execute production for an assigned stage during the festival.
• Collaborate with Production Managers to organize materials from artists.
• Support Production Team across SXSW Conference and Festivals.

Skills

Quick thinking

Problem solving

Production technology basics

Organized / detail-oriented

Communication skills

Education

Current university/college student

Tools

Filemaker

Airtable

SXSW databases

Job description

The SXSW Production Department is seeking a highly motivated intern to join our team. This role is ideal for students interested in gaining hands‑on experience in large‑scale event production. The Production Department manages logistics for SXSW Conference & Festivals, including audio/visual orders and labor for the Music Festival, production and site operations for Waterloo Park, Registrants Lounge, and Artist Lounge, as well as logistics for performance stages across SXSW, including Comedy, Film, and EDU Festival stages.

During this internship, students will gain valuable experience in all aspects of event production and site logistics, including working with artists, speakers, vendors, and venues; creating timelines; supporting vendor acquisition; and developing the solution‑oriented, creative, and quick‑thinking mindset essential to success in event production.

What You Will Learn

• How to build production schedules and timelines for a large-scale festival
• The “advancing” process, which involves working with artists and speakers to plan and organize onsite elements of their performances or presentations Venue and vendor acquisition, including walkthroughs, creating production orders, and working with the City of Austin to bring large‑scale events to life
• How to use event software such as Filemaker, Airtable, SXSW internal databases, and other data management tools
• How to successfully stage manage a programming stage at an industry‑standard level

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advance and execute production for an assigned stage (Sales, Music, EDU, or Comedy) during the festival
• Collaborate with Production Managers to organize and review production materials from Music Festival artists
• Support each member of the Production Team, on diverse and robust tasks, across SXSW Conference and Festivals

Qualifications & Skills

To be eligible for an SXSW internship, you must be enrolled in an accredited university or college and live in Texas.

• Demonstrate quick thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Have, or have an interest to acquire, knowledge of basic production technology
• Be organized and detail‑oriented, especially with managing digital assets such as paperwork or spreadsheets
• Have excellent customer service and communication (phone, email, and face‑to‑face) skills
• Thrive in collaborative, team‑based environments

Physical requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.

• Ability to lift to 20+ pounds occasionally, as needed.
• Manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• May require occasional bending, reaching, kneeling, or climbing stairs.
• Ability to work in an outdoor environment, which may include exposure to varying temperatures or noise levels.
• This position requires extensive walking and standing through the March event. Schedules may vary during the on‑site operational period.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Location, Schedule & Pay

This position is located in Austin, Texas, and runs from January-March. Core business office hours are Mon‑Fri, 10 am - 6 pm. Time commitment is a maximum of 16 hours per week. Availability of 40 hours per week is required during the event, between 3/13/2027 and 3/21/2027. This is a paid internship at $12/hour.