Booking Manager | Full-Time | Rupp Arena

Oak View Group

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Overview

The Booking Manager reports to the Director of Booking. Overseeing all aspects of booking and scheduling ticketed and non-ticketed events at the venue. Responsible for delivering a superior level of content procurement, private and special events, customer service and effective relationships with clients, promoters, tenants, staff and guests.

This role will pay a salary of $55,000 to $70,000

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays)

Responsibilities

• Responsible for soliciting, contracting, and managing from start to finish, ticketed, non-ticketed, and special events at Rupp Arena, the Lexington Opera House, Gatton Park Amphitheatre at the Town Branch and any special events at the Convention Center that are national touring artists.
• Working in tandem with the Director of Booking, establish all booking guidelines, policies and procedures for the venue.
• Responsible for all services and activities of the booking department, including sales tools and materials, proposals and estimates, sales calls and contracts.
• Oversee and manage the venue booking calendar in a concise, consistent, and organized manner.
• Participate in the development and administration of the annual budget and event forecasting.
• Prepare written proposals and estimates; reevaluate potential business value of various events and clients; initiate contractual arrangements, finalize all booking arrangements, prepare contracts, and negotiate rental and other rates as required.
• Establish and enhance an expansive network of event producers, promoters, artist agents/managers, and other clients to bring more concerts, sports, and other events (both public and private) while exploring new and creative event opportunities for the venue.
• Coordinate show information between Box Office, Marketing, Events, Finance, and Operations Departments, and focus on details and consistency.  Disseminate necessary information in a concise, consistent, and organized way, communicating details to different departments, analyzing data, checking details, and thinking critically.
• produce creative ideas or ways to increase ticket sales and discuss potential new projects.
• Conduct facility tours for potential clients; answer questions and provide information regarding venue capabilities.
• Develop bid proposals for potential clients and draft pro formas and offers for artists based on projected ticket sales; and follow through on pending bookings.
• Negotiate various deal structures, including straight rentals, co-promotions, and direct buying, as related to your event booking load.
• Source and buy talent as needed.
• Assist in scalings for Rupp Arena, Gatton Park Amphitheatre and the Lexington Opera House, drawing out seating charts and determining capacities to maximize profit potential.
• Development of new in-house events at the venue focused on driving additional revenue, sponsorship opportunities, and economic impact.
• Assist the Director of Finance with settlements of events.
• Prepare statistics, reports, and budgets as needed for senior management and the client.
• Act as liaison between venue and all outside parties and provide a high level of service to key stakeholders such as LCC Board, Opera House Fund, tenants, tours, and promoters.
• Remain current on national events and music trends in the industry and local market changes that could impact the venue.  Research data through all available media channels – industry reports, social media, trades, touring databases, etc – to support the booking strategy.
• Represent OVG/Rupp in meetings, trade shows, conference calls for events, community outreach and other industry events and associations.
• Meets with the Director of Booking regularly to discuss all matters about booking and special event goals and activities.
• Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to: basic administration tasks, responding to inquiries, acting as a venue liaison between promoters, agents, and other industry professionals

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or better from an accredited college or university in Busin