Producer

Contract

Fixed term and permanent positions, as well as freelance opportunities.

Hours

Working week of approximately 40 hours, though often as the event gets closer, hours can be long and you may have to work evenings and weekends for periods of time.

Salary

£28,000 - £42,000 if salaried, and day rates can range from £200-£350 per day depending on experience and type of event.

This information is based on a producer working in performing arts, events and festivals, rather than a producer in film, TV, or radio.

As a producer you will be in charge of designing, planning and delivering events from start to finish often to a brief with a set of objectives, reaching and engaging target audiences and stakeholders. You are the main contact for the project, leading on scheduling, logistics and ensuring there is clear communication between all parties and the wider team. The producer coordinates all aspects of the project, booking artists, securing venues, liaising with production and technical teams, recruiting temporary staff, managing the budget and trouble-shooting issues as and when they arise. Events and projects can range from promenade experiences, outdoor events, theatre shows, music and comedy gigs - the list goes on.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Communicate and coordinate with artists, partners, production, and technical teams, and manage key stakeholder relationships.

• Input into marketing initiatives for the event so visitors are informed and to ensure there is an audience at the event.

• Manage the project budget, negotiate contracts and administer relevant financial paperwork.

• Recruit the team to deliver the event including the technical team, front of house, bar staff, assistants.

• Establish an evaluation framework and identify areas to capture the impact of the event.

Skills and abilities:

• Portfolio of experience of managing and delivering projects and events.

• Often producers have specialist knowledge in a particular art form or area, such as theatre, dance, circus, music, orchestral, markets, parades, participation, schools and young people programmes etc.

• Highly organised, can prioritise, problem solve and remain calm under pressure.

• Is flexible, adapt easily to different working environments and work well with a range of different people.

• Self-motivated and open to working long and sometimes unsocial hours. Usually the first to arrive and the last to leave.

• Driving licence so you are mobile and can access sites or venues in remote locations. Often working away and not delivering events on your doorstep.

• Confident IT skills, including Microsoft packages, databases, and social media platforms.

 You don’t necessarily need to have a qualification for this role. Hands-on work experience is as valuable and often event producers have hosted their own events and gigs and gained their experience in other roles on larger scaled events.

Producers often start within a company and build their portfolio of experience before going freelance and working with a particular artist or group, or moving from one project to the next, and balancing several projects with different companies at the same time. As it is project based, careers can be very varied, and often work in different places around the UK and abroad.

Producer roles exist in theatre companies, festivals, conferences, venues, production companies and will often be recruited on a full-time basis to deliver a programme of events year-round or recruited on a project basis for one-off events.