How to hire an entertainment manager

How to hire an entertainment manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step entertainment manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an entertainment manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new entertainment manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post an entertainment manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your entertainment manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an entertainment manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An entertainment manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, entertainment managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents entertainment manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Entertainment Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Entertainment Manager		$12-37
   Talent Scout	Talent scouts are primarily responsible for finding out the talented individuals in the field of entertainment and sports activities. They often attend sports activities and organize recreational events and also foster marketing campaigns and engage the talent hunks in such platforms.	$25-51
   Manager	Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department... Show more	$17-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Booking
   • Social Media Marketing
   • Guest Service
   • A/V
   • Ticket Sales
   • Payroll
   • Event Planning
   • POS
   • Event Management
   • DJ
   • Entertainment Contracts
   • VIP
   • Travel Arrangements
   • Event Coordination

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all entertainment booking and upkeep of entertainment calendar.
   • Create and choose music, tracks and are lead DJ for all shows.
   • Regulate staffing and POS locations on nightly basis.
   • House disc jockey (DJ) every Thursday through Saturday.
   • Maintain excellent knowledge of artist's contracts and in charge of booking procedures, bookkeeping and management.
   • Authore and implement training manuals for VIP guide program, as well as developing show supervisors to management positions.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your entertainment manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An entertainment manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, entertainment managers' average salary in washington is 45% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level entertainment managers earn 66% less than senior-level entertainment managers.
   • Certifications. An entertainment manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an entertainment manager's salary.

   Average entertainment manager salary

   $46,880yearly

   $22.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level entertainment manager salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing an entertainment manager job description

   An entertainment manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an entertainment manager job description:

   Entertainment manager job description example

   The Rock Family of Companies is made up of nearly 100 separate businesses spanning fintech, sports, entertainment, real estate, startups and more. We're united by our culture - a drive to find a better way that fuels our commitment to our clients, our community and our team members. We believe in and build inclusive workplaces, where every voice is heard and diverse perspectives are welcomed. Working for a company in the Family is about more than just a job - it's about having the opportunity to become the best version of yourself.
   About Bedrock
   Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovative city-building strategies, reaching far beyond the boundaries of bricks and mortar. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties in Detroit and Cleveland, including landmark developments at the Hudson's Site, the Book Tower restoration, City Modern and the May Company Building. Bedrock's portfolio totals more than 22 million square feet of office, retail and residential space within new construction and adaptive reuse projects.
   
   For more information on Bedrock's projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
   
   Bedrock Experience Team
   As Bedrock's Experience Team, we are dedicated to supporting local Detroit and Cleveland businesses and enhancing the greater community. Our primary focus is to provide tenants and business partners with the necessary tools and resources to be successful, in addition to creating both public and private activations throughout the city. The Event Experience Team Curates Bedrock events and initiatives for internal teams, as well as Bedrock tenants and business partners. The team acts as an in-house concierge to ensure anyone who lives, works, or visits a Detroit space has an amazing and unique experience!
   
   Job Summary
   In partnership with the Team Leader of Events and Programming, the Senior Events Associate will execute internal and externals events for Bedrock team members and tenants, in Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH. They will support the planning and execution of activations, surprise and delight initiatives, and programming within Bedrock properties and public spaces. In addition, they will support and maintain Experience Team processes.
   
   Responsibilities
   In partnership with the Team Leader, Events & Programming, conceptualize, plan, and execute internal, external, and tenant facing events from start to finish. Solicit quotes for food/beverage selections, arrangements for audio visual service, transportation, travel, entertainment, communications, décor, etc.Work with internal teams and outside vendors to execute on events Track event timelines and budgets Manage registration process for events Manage volunteer workforce for events Execute on day-of event deliverables Lead and manage larger events and initiatives executed by the team Participate in the planning and execution of activations, surprise and delight initiatives, and programming within Bedrock lobbies and public spaces Provide accounting and billing support by maintain and tracking event budgets ensuring all contracting, invoicing, and payments are fulfilled in a timely manner. Support Bedrock-specific gifting process including research and selection of new gifting products, obtaining quotes and purchasing gifting stock, maintaining inventory, and overseeing the assembly and distribution of Bedrock gifts Maintain industry knowledge and stay current on industry trends, providing the team with innovative ideas and creative event and programming solutions Organize project close out and ensure all project documents, feedback, and metrics are recorded and saved Responsible for developing and executing Bedrock's team member events and initiatives and maintaining the team member engagement calendar Develop new and cultivating existing relationships with local and national event vendors and suppliers Provide support to the overall Experience Team, and Bedrock team members/tenants as needed Other duties as assigned
   
   Qualifications
   Bachelor's degree in Event Planning, Hospitality, Marketing, Communications or related field or the equivalent in applicable experience Approximately 3 years of experience, at least 2+ years in event planning Great attention to detail and high level of organization Excellent listening, communication and people skills for internal/external partner interactions Strong writing skills to clearly communicate event details Ability to think creatively to introduce new ideas or concepts when planning events and activations Capable of foreseeing potential problems at events in order to alleviate risks ahead of time Skilled problem solver; ability to deal with difficulties that arise on the spot at events Ability to plan, organize and establish priorities to achieve results Capable of working on several projects at once; works well under pressure Self-starter; always seeking new projects and ways to improve existing ones Ability to work within a budget and often within very tight timelines Flexibility to work unusual and often long hours Proficient in using and navigating PC platforms, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and is comfortable in learning and using new technology
   
   Disclaimer
   This is an outline of the primary responsibilities of this position. As with everything in life, things change. The tasks and responsibilities can be changed, added to, removed, amended, deleted and modified at any time by the leadership group.
   
   We are proud equal opportunity employers and committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members. Employment decisions, including hiring decisions, are not based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law.
   
   The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and does not discriminate in any hiring or employment practices. The Company provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in completing the application and/or participating in the employment application process should notify a representative of the Human Resources Team, The Pulse, at 1-800-411-JOBS.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find entertainment managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any entertainment managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level entertainment managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your entertainment manager job on Zippia to find and recruit entertainment manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with entertainment manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new entertainment manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the entertainment manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an entertainment manager?