The performing arts production manager is part of the production team, that is, the team that allows a show to see the light of day. They are present at every stage of the creative process, from the very first decision through to following up on tours. This exciting profession requires broad professional knowledge in the field of the performing arts, a great deal of passion and, of course, availability.
What is the role of a performing arts production officer?
The role of performing arts production officer is essential: they handle the practical management of the show, in terms of technical aspects, administration, budget monitoring, as well as finance and communication. They draw up roadmaps and the steps to be validated. They may be overseen by a production director and focus on certain areas in collaboration with other production officers
What Are the Duties of a Performing Arts Production Officer?
The duties of production officers are organized around the production phases: before, during and after. They take into account all the activities of steering and organizing the show as a cultural project.
Pre-production duties:
- They study the script together with the director in order to fully understand their vision and identify the needs and objectives of the show.
- They then draw up a production plan and set a budget, detailing the production stages precisely, for example:
- rehearsal scheduling, set construction, technical installation, coordination of costumes and props, etc.
- They also handle contracts (and their negotiation) with all suppliers, service providers and partners, as well as the technical and artistic stage management team, technicians, stagehands, etc.
Wrap-up duties:
- They coordinate the dismantling and restoration of the premises.
- They are responsible for evaluating the production by comparing it with the initial objectives, which involves writing a report. They can rely on figures but also on the comments and feedback of the various stakeholders to draw lessons for future projects
Other activities the production manager may be called on to carry out:
- Research and select performance venues.
- Manage the legal and insurance aspects of the production.
- Promote the show and sell tickets.
- Raise funds for the production.
- Write grant applications and funding requests.
What Is Production in the Performing Arts?
In the field of performing arts, as in audiovisual, "production" refers to the activities that bring a project to life. These include administrative and financial aspects, but also technical and organizational ones. They are specific to the world of culture and performing arts, which has particular rules and processes, for example:
- cultural grant applications
- the flow of a production, taking into account creation and rehearsal time
- The intermittent entertainment worker status requires mastery of cultural project management to determine fees, hours to declare, and artists' availability.
- communication with various stakeholders and the ability to link constraints, administrative requirements, and artistic work.
What skills are needed to work in this profession?
The Production Manager role requires great versatility and a desire to find solutions in every situation. It is therefore essential to be committed to your work and to expect all kinds of tasks, from the most static, such as administrative management, to the most hands-on and physical, since it is not unusual to lend a hand to technicians during setup, to check venues before and after a performance, or to look after artists (administrative documents, housing, for foreign artists for example) or plan routes on GPS apps!
The skills required relate to the specifics of the cultural field and of live performance production:
- budget and legal management,
- command of files: presentation, funding applications, partnerships,
- cultural communication,
- mastery of the production stages,
- in-depth knowledge of the cultural sector, its codes and its professional culture,
- knowledge of the art world and performing arts networks,
- organizational and planning skills,
- negotiation and diplomacy skills,
- availability.
What is the salary of a performing arts production officer?
The average salary of a production officer in France is 2 500 euros gross per month, whether in the private or public sector. It can however change with experience and depending on the organization.
Training as a Performing Arts Production Manager
The most sought-after production managers are generally at Bac+5 level, holding a specialized degree in the field of culture: a university Master, or a professional Master at a higher education school.
IESA is the leading school for careers in culture and the performing arts. It offers programs from Bac+3 to Bac+5 that train specialized, skilled professionals thanks to:
- A foundation of knowledge and art culture after high school,
- Specializations by field starting in the 3rd year of the Bachelor,
- Hands-on Master’s programs in constant contact with the professional world that allow graduates to enter the workforce easily.
IESA trains performing arts production managers through two tracks:
The Master in Performing Arts Production and Distribution
The Master in Performing Arts Production and Distribution is open to holders of a Bac+3 and organizes the specialization in production and distribution over two years.
IESA puts professionalization at the center of learning so that its graduates have a highly hands-on profile.
Thanks to work-study, students enter their professional environment while still studying, which lets them connect the field with their coursework and gradually put into practice what they learn in class. They thus gain significant first experience and a professional network to draw on.
The Professional Program for Performing Arts Production Managers
This program is for people with significant experience in the performing arts world (2 years minimum) who want to acquire the professional skills specific to the Production Manager profession. The program lasts about one year and is split between 6 months of intensive classes and 2 to 6 months of professional practice internship (depending on the profile).
On completing the program, graduates can apply for performing arts management and administration roles, demonstrating in-depth technical knowledge of production.