Entertainment Operations Manager

Wildhorse Resort & Casino•Pendleton, OR

14h•$50,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Entertainment Operations Manager is responsible for the strategic development, acquisition, financial planning, ticketing strategy, advancing, coordination, execution, and evaluation of professional ticketed entertainment at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. The role identifies, evaluates, negotiates, secures, and coordinates entertainment talent in support of the Resort’s brand, guest demographics, business objectives, financial goals, and development as a regional entertainment destination. The manager provides direct supervision and strategic direction to the Special Events Manager and Events & Ticketing Coordinator, and serves as the primary internal entertainment liaison among the Marketing Director, talent buyers, booking agencies, artist management, production vendors, ticketing providers, and Resort departments. The position leads headline concerts and major ticketed events from booking through final settlement, while overseeing ticketing strategy, event financial planning, cross-department coordination, compliance, reporting, and operating standards. The role requires a flexible schedule, including attendance at event activities as needed.

Requirements

Associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Marketing, Business Management, or Arts and Media.
Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in live entertainment, concert venue operations, event-center management, theater operations, talent buying, entertainment production, or comparable professional entertainment work.
At least two years of direct responsibility for entertainment oversight, production liaison, concert or event planning, or venue operations at a professional live-event facility with seated capacity of 1,500 or greater.
Professional experience coordinating live entertainment from initial planning through completion, including artist or agency communication, contracting, advancing, production coordination, hospitality, ticketing, performance, settlement, and post-event reporting.
Experience working with professional production departments or vendors on audio, lighting, video, staging, backline, rigging, electrical requirements, technical labor, and touring-production requirements.
Experience developing event budgets, sales projections, ticket-pricing and fee strategies, revenue forecasts, expense projections, and post-event financial analysis.
Experience reviewing or administering artist agreements, technical and hospitality riders, payment provisions, cancellation terms, insurance requirements, and other entertainment contractual obligations.
Experience directing professional venue ticketing strategy or operations, including manifests, ticket scaling, pricing, fees, presales, public onsales, inventory holds, comps, VIP and sponsor allocations, accessible seating, Box Office coordination, reporting, and settlement support.
Ability to manage multiple professional entertainment projects simultaneously in deadline-driven, high-pressure environments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate professionally with talent agents, artist managers, promoters, tour managers, production personnel, executives, vendors, and internal departments.
Proficiency with event-management, ticketing, budgeting, scheduling, spreadsheet, presentation, reporting, and standard business software.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, load-ins, sound checks, performances, and settlements.
High-Security Gaming License clearance is required.
Must be at least 21 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Management, Arts and Media, or a related entertainment discipline.
Five or more years of direct experience supporting professional touring concerts, casino entertainment, theaters, performing arts centers, arenas, or major ticketed entertainment.
Experience serving as a primary venue liaison with nationally recognized talent agencies, artist management companies, promoters, tour managers, or production managers.
Experience opening or programming a new event center, developing venue operating procedures, establishing seating configurations, implementing ticketing systems, or developing an annual professional entertainment program.
Experience in casino entertainment, casino marketing, player development, hotel or resort operations, or Tribal gaming.
Knowledge of regional entertainment markets, artist routing, competitive venue activity, ticket-demand analysis, professional entertainment deal structures, ticketing strategy, and event revenue analytics.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the Resort’s entertainment strategy using market research, ticketing history, guest demographics, regional trends, competitive activity, artist routing, venue capabilities, financial performance, and business objectives.
Develop and maintain an annual professional entertainment calendar aligned with revenue generation, guest acquisition, player development, overnight stays, brand awareness, customer retention, and regional market growth.
Identify and evaluate professional entertainment opportunities, including touring artists, regional entertainment, comedy, specialty entertainment, cultural programming, and other ticketed events.
Work with the Marketing Director to develop annual and event-specific budgets, financial targets, ticket-sales goals, revenue projections, expense assumptions, and return-on-investment expectations.
Review talent offers and recommend artist value, pricing, venue configuration, sales potential, and financial feasibility.
Oversee talent acquisition and booking communications with talent buyers, agencies, artist management, promoters, and other representatives.
Review and negotiate artist contracts, offer terms, technical and hospitality riders, cancellation provisions, payment schedules, insurance requirements, production obligations, and related terms.
Oversee event advancing and ensure contractual, technical, production, hospitality, transportation, lodging, security, food and beverage, ticketing, and operational requirements are identified and communicated.
Serve as the primary entertainment liaison with Resort departments needed for successful event execution.
Direct the Resort’s entertainment ticketing strategy, including pricing, fees, seating configurations, manifests, inventory, holds, comps, VIP and sponsor allocations, accessible seating, presales, public onsales, ticket releases, and inventory controls.
Establish ticketing standards and approve event-specific ticketing plans, timelines, sales pages, event descriptions, customer terms, promotional codes, and access rules.
Supervise and provide priorities and approval authority to the Events & Ticketing Coordinator for ticketing administration, platform configuration, scanner operations, credentials, reporting, and event execution.
Oversee ticketing-system performance, data integrity, scanner readiness, event access controls, patron opt-in data handling, and coordination with relevant departments.
Review sales pace, gross sales, fees, attendance, comps, holds, geographic and channel performance, settlement information, and ticketing analytics.
Develop and maintain entertainment reporting standards covering event pro formas, sales pace, attendance, revenue, expenses, settlements, geographic performance, feedback, and future programming recommendations.
Recommend entertainment advertising and promotional strategies based on the artist, audience, market, sales pace, objectives, and historical performance.
Coordinate with the Marketing Director and Special Events Manager to integrate entertainment with the Resort marketing calendar and avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Direct and oversee the performance of the Special Events Manager.
Review the annual Cabaret/Sports Bar programming strategy for alignment with approved budgets and the broader entertainment strategy.
Oversee booking of approved Cabaret/Sports Bar entertainment while leaving the Special Events Manager primary responsibility for programming concepts, recommendations, performance days and times, and recurring strategy.
Collaborate on entertainment-related special events and ancillary programming, including after-parties, listener parties, promotional or secret concerts, outdoor summer concerts, VIP experiences, and other guest-engagement opportunities.
Provide primary entertainment leadership for headline concerts and major ticketed events from booking through final settlement.
Coordinate with the Special Events Manager on meet-and-greets, Player Development activities, guest reception, promotional and listener events, and other guest-facing components.
Conduct pre-event meetings and ensure departments receive event schedules, responsibilities, deadlines, production information, guest requirements, ticketing plans, and operational assignments.
Ensure contracts, deposits, final payments, purchase orders, vendor agreements, production expenses, settlements, and financial documentation are processed accurately and on time.
Review and approve post-event reporting on ticket sales, fees, attendance, geographic performance, revenue, expenses, profitability, production, settlements, feedback, operations, and recommendations.
Maintain professional relationships with talent agencies, artist management firms, promoters, production vendors, ticketing providers, industry organizations, and other entertainment partners.
Establish and maintain operating standards and procedures for ticketing, presales, onsales, credentialing, guest access, VIP inventory, event advancement, settlement support, reporting, and patron-data distribution.
Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, Resort policies, gaming, privacy, and safety requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable laws.
Maintain a flexible schedule and attend load-ins, sound checks, performances, settlements, and other event activities as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.