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How to Become an Entertainment Manager: Australian Careers in Arts and Humanities

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What is a Entertainment Manager?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Entertainment Manager?

An Entertainment Manager plans, runs, and promotes live events. These include concerts, festivals, theatre shows, and corporate functions. They work at the heart of Australia’s live arts industry, keeping shows on time and within budget. They bring together artists, venues, and crews to create events that audiences love.

Day to day, they negotiate contracts with artists and book venues. They manage budgets, schedules, and safety rules. Good communication is key, as they work with artists, sponsors, crew, and venue staff each day.

Most Entertainment Managers work in arts, hospitality, or events. They may run a concert hall or manage a touring show across multiple cities. Some work as promoters; others are employed by arts companies, hotels, or venues.

The role suits people who love the arts and work well under pressure. Jobs and Skills Australia (2024) shows around 2,200 arts managers are employed in Australia. Future demand is strong.

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Career snapshots For Entertainment Managers

Entertainment Managers work in Australia’s live arts and entertainment sector. Jobs and Skills Australia (2024) tracks Arts Administrators and Managers (ANZSCO 139911). Around 2,200 people work in this role across Australia. The role sits within the Managers job category at a very high skill level.

Full-time workers average 42 hours per week. Full-time workers make up 66% of the workforce. Women make up 70% of the sector, with a median age of 45. This shows the role is most common among skilled, experienced people. Average weekly earnings are $2,746, making this one of the better-paid roles in arts (yourcareer.gov.au, 2024). Future demand is strong.

What will I do?

An Entertainment Manager is the driving force behind every successful live event. They turn an idea into a fully staged show, handling everything from talent booking to audience experience. Their work spans creative planning, financial oversight, and on-the-day operations.

  • Event Planning – Plans events, sets timelines, and handles all logistics from start to finish.
  • Talent Management – Books and negotiates contracts with performers, artists, and speakers.
  • Budget Management – Sets and tracks budgets, controls costs, and reports on financial results.
  • Venue Coordination – Works with venue operators to confirm logistics, technical needs, and safety rules.
  • Marketing and Promotion – Works with marketing teams to promote events and grow ticket sales.
  • Staff Management – Recruits, trains, and leads event staff, including production crews and volunteers.
  • Audience Engagement – Designs ways to improve the audience experience before, during, and after events.
  • Risk and Safety Management – Spots risks early and acts to keep events safe and within the law.

What skills do I need?

An Entertainment Manager needs a mix of creative and business skills to do the job well. They must plan events with care, manage budgets, and keep multiple projects on track at once. Good communication is key, as they work with artists, venue staff, sponsors, and crews each day.

Problem-solving is just as important as planning. Things go wrong at live events, and an Entertainment Manager must act fast to fix issues without disrupting the show. Financial skills are vital, as they set budgets, track costs, and make sure events are profitable. A background in event work or arts admin can help build these skills over time.

Skills/attributes

  • Event planning and coordination
  • Budget management and financial oversight
  • Contract negotiation
  • Talent and artist management
  • Marketing and audience development
  • Leadership and team management
  • Problem-solving under pressure
  • Venue and logistics coordination
  • Risk assessment and safety compliance
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Digital marketing and social media literacy
  • Strong oral and written communication

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