Concert Production Manager

Position Summary:

The Concert Production Manager plays a vital role in the planning, coordination, and execution of productions at the Arbogast Performing Arts Center. Serving as the primary point of contact for production, this position advances events, coordinates staffing and production resources, and provides technical leadership for the venue’s audio, video, lighting, and networked AV systems. Success in this role requires a strong technical foundation, exceptional attention to detail, effective communication and organizational skills, and the ability to build and maintain relationships, manage competing priorities, learn unfamiliar systems, and solve problems effectively under pressure.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience in live-event production, technical direction, or a comparable technical role.
• Strong technical aptitude and a demonstrated ability to learn unfamiliar equipment, software, and workflows.
• Strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow tasks through to completion.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate and supervise production personnel.
• Working knowledge of professional audio fundamentals, including signal flow, gain structure, routing, equalization, dynamics, effects, and basic live mixing.
• Working knowledge of IP networking and networked AV concepts, including Dante.
• Working proficiency with macOS, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office.
• Availability to work irregular and extended hours according to the event calendar, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and select holidays.

We recognize that strong candidates may not have experience with every system, platform, or technology used at the APAC. Candidates with a foundation in live production, exceptional attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated ability to learn complex systems are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a concert venue, touring production environment, production-focused house of worship, or comparable live-event facility.
• Experience advancing concerts, coordinating production vendors and equipment rentals, and scheduling or supervising freelance production personnel.
• Experience with professional digital audio systems, including digital consoles, audio networking, plugin processing, routing, and the creation and maintenance of show files.
• Familiarity with professional lighting, video, presentation, or integrated AV control systems, including SDI signal routing and distribution.
• Experience configuring or troubleshooting managed AV networks, including VLANs, IGMP, multicast, and networked AV protocols such as Dante and sACN.
• Audinate Dante Level 2 or Level 3 certification.
• Experience maintaining technical documentation, performing software and firmware upgrades, evaluating equipment, and recommending repairs, replacements, or system improvements.
• Experience working in Unix-based command line environments, including macOS and Linux.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following platforms: DiGiCo, Allen & Heath, Waves SuperRack, grandMA3, ProPresenter, Resolume Arena, QLab, and Q-SYS.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Production Advances and Shows:

• Lead the production advance process and serve as the primary production contact for artists, tour representatives, promoters, and vendors.
• Develop and maintain production schedules for concerts, rentals, rehearsals, technical work, and other events, coordinating those timelines with the Director of Operations.
• Identify scheduling conflicts, staffing limitations, equipment needs, and other production risks early enough for corrective action.
• Review technical riders, stage plots, input lists, lighting and power requirements, schedules, and labor calls.
• Coordinate backline and production equipment rentals, including quotes, deliveries, approvals, setup, and pickup, based on event requirements and venue capabilities.
• Manage load-in, show operations, and load-out while supervising production personnel.

Crew Management:

• Recruit, schedule, brief, and supervise production contractors.
• Assign production positions based on each crew member’s qualifications, experience, and event requirements.
• Prepare and distribute parking information, schedules, crew assignments, and event requirements.
• Confirm crew availability and maintain accurate contact, rate, and call-time information.
• Submit required contractor payment information and coordinate payment processing with the finance department.
• Address crew performance, conduct, and safety concerns.

Rentals :

• Meet with event organizers to determine technical expectations, schedules, staffing, production costs, and equipment needs.
• Develop an appropriate technical plan based on the event scope and the capabilities of the venue.
• Schedule qualified crew members or independently operate rentals when the technical scope permits.
• Provide audio mixing, video recording, presentation support, lighting programming, and stage setup, depending on the needs of the client.

Technical Systems:

• Serve as the primary technical lead for the venue’s audio, lighting, video, staging, communications, and networked AV systems.
• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot production systems and their associated software, networks, signal paths, and control interfaces.
• Troubleshoot networked AV systems and supporting infrastructure, including Dante, sACN, VLANs, IGMP, and multicast networking.
• Create and maintain system documentation, network information, show files, licenses, account credentials, and related technical records.
• Develop and execute preventative maintenance schedules, perform firmware and software upgrades, and coordinate inspections, repairs, and service visits.
• Evaluate system performance and operational needs, research potential solutions, and recommend equipment repairs, replacements, and upgrades.
• Coordinate qualified vendors, engineers, riggers, electricians, and service technicians when work requires specialized expertise.

Equipment and Vendor Management:

• Maintain accurate inventories of production equipment, staging, backline, cabling, and consumables, ensuring resources are organized, tested, and ready for use.
• Develop and maintain relationships with production vendors and service providers, obtain quotes, and coordinate equipment, supplies, and services as needed.
• Coordinate approved purchases, repairs, and replacements in accordance with established budgetary and purchasing procedures.

Administration and Communication:

• Coordinate production-related communications among operations, marketing, front of house, facilities, artists, clients, and vendors.
• Work with the marketing team to ensure approved media is correctly prepared and loaded into venue display systems.
• Track production budgets, expenses, purchase approvals, invoices, contractor payments, and event costs.
• Prepare and maintain technical profiles, event records, production reports, and other required administrative documentation.

Safety and Facilities:

• Follow and communicate venue safety and emergency procedures, including assisting with patron evacuation or sheltering during a fire, tornado, or other building emergency.
• Ensure rigging, electrical work, elevated work, and other specialized activities are performed by appropriately qualified personnel.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe production areas.
• Complete required training and follow applicable safety procedures when operating scissor lifts, boom lifts, and other specialized equipment.
• Serve as a liaison between production and facilities to address facility issues affecting production areas or event operations.

Work Schedule and Physical Requirements:

• Work schedules vary based on the event calendar and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended show days. Work on Christmas Eve and Easter is frequently required.
• Must be able to perform the essential physical functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, including standing and walking for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, working at height, operating scissor and boom lifts, and lifting or moving production equipment.

Initial Transition:

During onboarding, the Concert Production Manager will work alongside the current Technical Director to learn the APAC’s systems, infrastructure, workflows, documentation, vendor relationships, and ongoing projects while progressively assuming primary responsibility for production operations and technical systems.

Supervisor:

This position reports to the Director of Operations. Performance reviews are conducted annually.

Benefits:

• Salary Range: $51,000-$63,000 annually
• Health insurance reimbursement benefit.
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid time off.
• Paid holidays.

Note: The job description is intended to communicate the primary responsibilities and expectations of the Concert Production Manager. It is not exhaustive and may be revised as needed to meet the evolving needs of the organization.