Meeting Tomorrow is a 20-year-old company with a growing team of 85 friendly employees. We’re headquartered in Chicago, with 80% percent of our team working remotely in cities all over the country. We produce in-person, hybrid, and virtual events and rent equipment that brings people together. Our clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, and we pride ourselves on providing the best customer experience in the events industry. We offer the greatest coworkers you’ll find anywhere, great benefits, and the opportunity to work in a dynamic, team-oriented, entrepreneurial environment. We can’t wait to meet you!
The opportunity:
The Event Production Manager is responsible for managing medium to large-sized production/virtual events from beginning to end, ensuring the profitability and successful execution of these events. The role is a resource to sales during the pre-sale process creating and designing high impact and highly creative events, and then manages the operations scoping, planning and contracting processes with vendors and technician teams as required. The role may also travel onsite to act as the main point of contact for clients and oversee event execution.
In order to be successful in our industry, you must be passionate about live events and enjoy helping customers execute their creative vision. We hope to find someone who is excited about being behind the scenes and on-site!
What we offer:
You’ll get to work with all of the amazing people behind the organization that make it what it is. The Production Management team is very collaborative - you’ll get support from your manager, your teammates and you’ll also work closely with our Project Managers who are the clients’ day-to-day planner and our Strategic Account Executives who are the ones acquiring new customers!
We have a high growth culture which means you’ll have a lot of autonomy and flexibility to manage the technical production of your events.
What you’re responsible for:
• Determining the appropriate technical solutions for our events.
• Review and update quotes in CRM system to include appropriate equipment and labor to execute the event
• Assist the sales team in negotiation and solution revision by offering different solutions
• Joining client facing calls to help pitch solutions as needed
• Ensuring we have the right equipment and labor onsite to deliver a successful event.
• Collaborating with 3D artist to develop custom event renderings to meet client needs
• Determining technical/rigging/power requirements and equipment needed to provide an outstanding customer/attendee experience
• Working with the Project Manager to develop event project plan including logistical details: coordinate and clearly communicate with all necessary parties (vendors, technicians, internal teams)
• Owning the fulfillment process: negotiate pricing and terms with contractors; hire and train the best and most qualified vendors/technicians for each event on budget
• Generally act as liaison between internal teams and vendors/technicians
• Act as a internal technical resource for all other MT teams in regards to onsite event execution
• Depending on the event needs, moderate travel to serve onsite in a customer-facing technical director role may be required.
Who you are:
In this role, you will be supporting a large variety of our productions. It’ll be important that you have experience both on-site at events and behind the scenes, particularly with audio-visual services. Here’s what else we’re looking for:
On-site experience at live events. The majority of the role is working with our clients and local partners to ensure our clients’ needs are met or exceeded and their expectations are transparent to everyone working on a particular event. Onsite experience is critical to understanding how best to approach each event’s unique challenges.
Clear communicator. You’re able to clearly communicate a message, and can cater your approach to anyone and listen to anyone.
Organized. There’s a lot to keep track of between the many shows you’ll work on. It’s important to keep information and details organized while simultaneously communicating to multiple partners and clients.
Creative. Able to come up with compelling and visually striking stage set solutions, combining both AV and scenic resources from many different places to meet a client’s theme.
Resourceful. You’re technically savvy and able to come up with solutions with little information.
Build Relationships easily. You’ll be working both remotely and onsite with our clients and technician teams.
Dynamic. You’ll need to switch gears often and be comfortable wearing a couple different hats.
Excellent negotiator. You have a proven track record and are comfortable with negotiation to ensure budgets are met for each project.
The Impact:
Within 1 month, you’ll: Be familiar with our value proposition, client base and what sets us apart from our competitorsGet all the tools you need to be successful in this role: training on how our teams work together and our processes. And, you’ll build relationships with colleagues and clients.Practice and implement negotiation skillsBecome a trusted technical advisor to our sales team Build relationships with our technicians and partnersWithin 3 months, you’ll: Have fulfilled over 10 production level events sized up to $50k with minimal directionBe comfortable and knowledgeable of all production gear, understand our owned inventory and how best to leverage it to save costs and meet event needsIn combination with our scenic designer, create at least one rendering for a proposed eventHave gone on-site and managed at least one eventBe an expert on union labor markets and how to manage and book the laborWithin 6 months, you’ll:Have full knowledge of all department processes and resolution abilitiesAre able to create event floor plans and diagrams using the tools provided by MTCommunicate event details for nationwide events to clients, technicians, and vendorsWork with your department to develop new ideas, create new processes, and implement new or improved systems to enable continuous improvementsHave full autonomy of role and be able to fulfill and do on-site execution for many eventsHave managed at least 5 production level events over $50k from beginning to end including assisting sales with the initial scope, scenic design, partner fulfillment and onsite executionAt Meeting Tomorrow, our mission is to foster a culture of respect and affection. We embrace our differences and are committed to having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer that believes in second chances and strongly encourage BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA, veterans, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated and all other individuals to apply.
Our benefits include: full medical coverage (health, vision, dental, short term disability and life insurance), PTO and 9 paid holidays, annual profit-sharing bonus, 100% charitable giving match, employer match 401k with subsidized brokerage fees, gym membership reimbursement, employee-led social action teams, fully paid parental leave, paid bereavement leave and fun social gatherings!
What makes Meeting Tomorrow’s culture so special is the people, and we look for candidates who are a match for our company’s core values: commitment, kindness and humility. If those words describe you and you see yourself in this posting, you’re ready to apply!
