Business Development Manager, Live Events

Job Title

Business Development Manager

Location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Job Description

Hurricane Productions is a leading audio visual production company specializing in creating immersive and unforgettable live event experiences. From corporate conferences and product launches to gala dinners and music festivals, we provide comprehensive AV solutions including cutting-edge sound, lighting, video, staging, and technical support. We pride ourselves on our innovative approach, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to client success.

Job Summary: The Business Development Manager is a strategic and results-driven individual responsible for identifying, pursuing, and securing new business opportunities for Hurricane Productions within the live events industry. This role requires a deep understanding of audio visual technologies, event production workflows, and a proven ability to build strong client relationships. The ideal candidate will be a proactive self-starter with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, passionate about connecting clients with our exceptional AV solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Business Generation: Proactively identify and research potential clients and market segments within the live events industry (e.g., corporate clients, event agencies, associations, non-profits, entertainment venues). Develop and execute strategic outreach plans to generate new leads through cold calling, email campaigns, networking events, industry trade shows, and social selling. Qualify leads thoroughly to assess their needs, budget, timeline, and decision-making process. Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective clients and opportunities.
• Relationship Building & Client Acquisition: Cultivate strong relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders at target organizations. Conduct compelling presentations and demonstrations of our AV services and capabilities, tailoring solutions to meet specific client requirements. Collaborate with the technical and production teams to develop innovative and cost-effective AV solutions and proposals. Negotiate contracts and close new business deals, ensuring profitability and client satisfaction. Act as the primary point of contact for new clients during the initial engagement phase, ensuring a smooth handover to the account management or project management team.
• Market Research & Strategy: Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging AV technologies, and competitor activities to identify new market opportunities and differentiate our services. Provide insights and feedback to the leadership team on market demands, pricing strategies, and service offerings. Contribute to the development of annual sales targets and business development strategies.
• Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with the marketing team to develop effective sales collateral, presentations, and digital content. Liaise with the production, technical, and operations teams to ensure seamless project execution and client satisfaction. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all sales activities and client interactions in the CRM system. Provide regular reports on sales performance, pipeline status, and market insights to management.
• Brand Advocacy: Represent Hurricane Productions professionally at industry events, conferences, and networking functions. Promote the company's brand, values, and commitment to excellence in all interactions.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in business development, sales, or account management within the audio visual, event production, or related service industry. Proven track record of consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets and growing a client base. Demonstrable experience in cold calling, lead generation, and closing complex deals.
• Skills: Strong understanding of audio visual equipment and technologies (e.g., LED walls, projection mapping, sound reinforcement, lighting design, video switching, streaming platforms). Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively. Exceptional presentation and public speaking abilities. Strong negotiation and closing skills. Proficient in CRM software (e.g., Zoho One Suite), Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Strategic thinking with an analytical approach to identifying market opportunities. Highly organized with strong time management and prioritization skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. Customer-centric mindset with a commitment to delivering outstanding client service.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Desired Attributes: Passionate about live events and creating memorable experiences. Energetic, self-motivated, and goal-oriented. Resilient and adaptable to a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Networking prowess and ability to build rapport quickly. Creative problem-solver.

Physical Demands: Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed to attend client meetings, industry events, and trade shows. May require occasional lifting of light equipment or materials.

Compensation: Based on Experience

Hurricane Productions, LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) in all our employment practices to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, marital status, military status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws. This includes prohibiting unlawful discrimination against those associated with or perceived to belong to a protected class, whether or not an employee actually falls into such class, Hurricane Productions EEO practices are upheld in every location that it operates and in all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, recruiting, placement, transfer, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, layoff, recall, training, and leaves of absence.