(S) Seasonal Comedy Fest Operations Associate

Sxsw.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

SXSW seeks a Seasonal Comedy Festival Operations Associate to join the programming team and execute a robust Comedy Festival program, supporting production logistics for live shows and podcasts.

Responsibilities include coordinating assets, liaising with venues, artists and organizers, and assisting with talent travel, housing and registrations. On-site, you’ll help with production, guest lists and guest services during the festival.

Qualifications

• Experience in large-scale event planning and execution.
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to work with VIP-level talent teams.
• Proficiency with Airtable, FileMaker Pro, and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate assets, props, furniture, and liaise with venues.
• Communicate with organizers, producers, and artists to support production logistics.
• Liaise with artists, representatives, and internal teams to confirm talent travel, housing, and registrations.
• Manage and organize resources in preparation for the event using internal systems (Airtable, Google Workspace, FileMaker).
• Attend weekly meetings and venue walk-throughs as needed.
• Work with the Comedy Associate Programmer to manage invoices.
• On-site: support production, guest lists, and customer service needs.

Skills

Large-scale event planning

Highly organized

Multitasking

Excellent communication

VIP coordination

Tools

Airtable

FileMaker Pro

Google Workspace

Job description

Position:(S) Seasonal Comedy Fest Operations Associate

Location: Austin, TX

Job Id:315

# of Openings:1

SXSW Seasonal Comedy Festival Operations Associate

Job Purpose

SXSW seeks a Seasonal Comedy Festival Operations Associate to join the programming team and produce and execute a robust program for the SXSW Comedy Festival. They support efforts across all elements, including live comedy shows and podcasts. This position plays a crucial role in program execution, supporting production logistics and talent advancement pre-event and on-site.

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support overall event and show advancement, including coordinating assets, sourcing & ordering props, furniture, and liaising with venues
• Communicate with organizers, producers, and artists in support of production logistics
• Liaise with artists, representatives, and internal teams to confirm talent travel, housing, and registration arrangements.
• Manage and organize various resources in preparation for the event using internal systems (Airtable, Google Workspace, FileMaker)
• Attend weekly meetings and venue walk-throughs as needed
• Work closely with the Comedy Associate Programmer to manage & track invoices

On-Site Event Responsibilities

• Support the overall production of the event, including troubleshooting any on-site issues with programming, and helping registrants, artists, and industry executives with customer service needs
• Support multiple on-site events, including coordinating food and beverage, signage, Comedy Industry Lounge needs, and collating guest lists
• Additional event support duties fulfilled as needed throughout SXSW

Qualifications & Skills

Qualifications include:

• Experience in large-scale event planning & execution
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Communicate comfortably with external parties, including VIP-level talent teams
• Proficiency with Airtable, FileMaker Pro, and Google Workspace
• Working knowledge of the Comedy, Podcast, and Film & TV Industry is a plus

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully:

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• It is frequently required to stand or sit for long periods and travel multiple miles a day between venues during the event.
• Ability to occasionally lift 20+ pounds, as needed.
• May require occasional bending, reaching, kneeling, or climbing stairs.
• Ability to work outdoors, including exposure to varying temperatures or noise levels.

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

Work Location & Schedule

This seasonal position is an in-office role and is located in Austin, Texas. The role is part-time starting January 18th and transitions to full-time on February 15th. Must be available to work additional hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly as the festival approaches.