Position Summary
The Talent & Event Manager is responsible for recruiting, booking, planning, and coordinating events at the Sullivan Arena. This position develops relationships with promoters, talent agents, event producers, sports organizations, businesses, schools, and community groups to create a diverse and financially sustainable event calendar.
The Talent & Event Manager serves as the primary client contact from the initial inquiry through event completion. The position works closely with the President/General Manager and Operations Director/Assistant General Manager to ensure each event is financially viable, properly planned, and successfully executed.
The Talent & Event Manager leads event acquisition, client management, and planning, while the Operations Director/Assistant General Manager leads facility readiness, staffing, and operational execution.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Event Recruitment and Business Development
- Recruit and book concerts, sporting events, family shows, trade shows, conventions, community activities, private rentals, and other events.
- Develop relationships with promoters, agents, touring productions, event organizers, sports groups, schools, businesses, and community partners.
- Market the Sullivan Arena to local, regional, and national event producers.
- Identify new programming opportunities that increase facility use, attendance, revenue, and community engagement.
- Maintain a pipeline of prospective events and provide regular booking updates to the President/General Manager.
- Represent the Sullivan Arena at industry, business, and community meetings when appropriate.
Event Proposals, Contracts, and Financial Planning
- Respond to event inquiries, conduct facility tours, and prepare proposals, rental estimates, and event packages.
- Develop preliminary event budgets that include rental income, staffing, production, security, ticketing, concessions, parking, equipment, and other expenses.
- Assist with negotiating rental terms, promoter agreements, and other event-related arrangements.
- Prepare contracts and related documents for review and approval by the President/General Manager.
- Track deposits, insurance certificates, permits, licenses, payment deadlines, and contractual obligations.
- Assist with event settlements, invoicing, and post-event financial reconciliation.
- Obtain approval before making financial commitments, offering material discounts, or agreeing to terms outside established guidelines.
Event Planning and Client Relations
- Serve as the primary contact for promoters, organizers, and rental clients from initial inquiry through event completion.
- Gather and document event requirements, including schedules, attendance, seating, production, ticketing, staffing, security, concessions, parking, merchandise, and hospitality.
- Lead event-planning meetings and prepare event summaries, timelines, and internal planning documents.
- Communicate event requirements and changes to the Operations Director/Assistant General Manager and all affected departments.
- Coordinate with ticketing, marketing, sponsorship, concessions, security, production, custodial, finance, parking, and guest-services personnel.
- Manage client expectations while accurately communicating the arena’s capabilities, policies, costs, and limitations.
- Attend major event move-ins, event days, and move-outs as needed.
Calendar and Internal Coordination
- Maintain the master event calendar in coordination with the President/General Manager and Operations Director/Assistant General Manager.
- Help prevent scheduling conflicts and ensure sufficient time for setup, conversions, maintenance, and teardown.
- Participate in senior leadership meetings and provide updates on prospective, contracted, and completed events.
- Work with the Operations Director/Assistant General Manager to confirm operational feasibility, staffing requirements, facility readiness, and event execution plans.
- Assist in developing consistent rental rates, event procedures, planning standards, and client-service expectations.
Event Review and Performance Tracking
- Conduct post-event reviews to evaluate financial results, attendance, operational concerns, and client satisfaction.
- Maintain accurate records of inquiries, proposals, contracts, event results, and client contacts.
- Track booking activity, facility utilization, event revenue, repeat business, and other performance measures.
- Recommend improvements to arena services, equipment, policies, and event offerings.
Organizational Authority
The Talent & Event Manager reports directly to the President/General Manager. The Talent & Event Manager oversees event recruitment, booking coordination, client communication, and planning. The Operations Director/Assistant General Manager oversees facility operations, staffing, building readiness, and event execution. Neither position directly supervises the other unless assigned by the President/General Manager.
The President/General Manager retains final approval over:
- Major contracts and promoter agreements.
- Artist offers, guarantees, and minimum payments.
- Rental rates outside approved guidelines.
- Material discounts or waived charges.
- High-risk or unusually complex events.
- Significant financial or operational commitments.
Supervisory Responsibilities
The position may supervise event coordinators, booking assistants, interns, contractors, or temporary staff assigned to event planning and client services.
The Talent & Event Manager may also provide project direction to employees from other departments for specific events, while permanent staffing and operational supervision remain coordinated through the Operations Director/Assistant General Manager.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality, entertainment management, sports management, marketing, communications, or a related field; relevant experience may substitute for education.
- Experience in event booking, venue management, hospitality, entertainment, sports, conventions, or a related industry.
- Strong communication, negotiation, organizational, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
- Ability to prepare and understand event budgets, estimates, contracts, and financial projections.
- Ability to manage multiple events, clients, priorities, and deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and protect confidential financial and contractual information.
- Proficiency with standard office, calendar, spreadsheet, presentation, and event-management software.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of the senior leadership team.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience booking or managing events at an arena, convention center, theater, sports facility, or similar venue.
- Established relationships with promoters, talent agents, touring productions, sports organizations, or Alaska event producers.
- Experience with ticketing, event settlements, facility agreements, artist riders, and production requirements.
- Knowledge of the Anchorage and Alaska entertainment, sports, business, and community-event markets.
- Familiarity with security, crowd management, concessions, sponsorship, guest services, and event production.
Work Schedule and Conditions
- This is a full-time leadership position with hours that vary based on event activity.
- Evening, weekend, holiday, and extended-hour work is required.
- Occasional travel may be required for meetings, conferences, or event recruitment.
- The employee must be able to move throughout a large arena and work in office, backstage, event-floor, and public-facing environments.
- Event conditions may include crowds, loud noise, changing temperatures, and extended periods on-site.
- This is a full time salaried position. Salary is determined on experience.
Performance Expectations
Performance will be evaluated based on:
- Number, quality, and financial value of events booked.
- Growth in facility utilization, attendance, and event revenue.
- Accuracy and timeliness of contracts and event-planning documents.
- Client satisfaction and repeat business.
- Effectiveness of internal communication and coordination.
- Completion of required deposits, insurance, permits, and documentation.
- Development of a balanced event calendar that supports the Sullivan Arena’s financial and community objectives.
General Statement
This job description identifies the primary duties and expectations of the position but does not include every responsibility that may be assigned. Duties may be adjusted based on the needs of All In 49, the Sullivan Arena, and its events.
All In 49 is an equal-opportunity employer committed to maintaining a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
