Freelance Pop Culture Events Producer & Promoter

Sofar Sounds•Chicago, IL

1d•$250 - $5,000•Remote

About The Position

Sofar Sounds, a global movement that began in 2009 to revitalize the magic of live music, has expanded to include comedy, singles, dance, and more. It is renowned for discovering rising talent, with many mainstream performers having played early Sofar shows. Sofar empowers artists by providing a professional platform for booking, promotion, and audience engagement, along with access to brand partnerships, content creation, and global media placements. Sofar shows are unique, pairing world-class live performances with distinctive venues like museum rooms, living rooms, gardens, and rooftops, all designed to encourage presence and connection.

Requirements

1-3 years of experience in event production, pop culture or fandom-driven programming, community building, experiential marketing, social media marketing, promotions, and/or partnerships.
Plugged into global and national pop culture, including music releases, film/TV premieres, fandom trends, viral moments, nostalgia waves, creator culture, and internet micro-communities.
Ability to evaluate what will sell, understanding fan interests, community mobilization, and the ticketable potential of cultural moments.
Experience participating in or producing pop culture-centric experiences (themed nights, singalongs, screenings, fan events, watch parties, viral trend activations, etc.) with a sense for authenticity.
Adaptable, reflective, and feedback-driven, with a willingness to interrogate what works and why, and openness to criticism and diverse perspectives.
A growing network of performers, creators, venues, or fan community connectors.
Commercially minded with an understanding of how to translate cultural heat into real-world attendance, excitement, and shareable moments.
Proficiency in reaching niche fanbases and communicating effectively across social platforms, subcultures, and community-specific marketing channels.
Confidence in pitching thematic concepts and partnership opportunities, ideally with experience in sponsorships or collaborative activations.
Creativity, ownership, and hospitality in all interactions.
Organized, efficient, and clear communicator (written and verbal), capable of managing multiple ideas and timelines.
Ability to thrive in flexible, self-directed environments while remaining collaborative with Sofar teammates and fellow Producers.

Nice To Haves

Experience in sponsorships or collaborative activations.

Responsibilities

Launch and grow Sofar’s pop culture programming in your city by producing, promoting, and selling tickets through creative, self-directed local marketing tactics.
Conceptualize and produce events inspired by global and national cultural touchpoints such as iconic artists, film premieres, award shows, album drops, viral memes, nostalgia moments, fan trends, and franchise anniversaries.
Tap into fandoms of all sizes and develop experiences that are timely, exciting, and culturally relevant.
Identify trending moments, upcoming releases, creator-driven movements, or internet phenomena that can be transformed into compelling ticketed experiences.
Promote events strategically by reaching the right audiences through fan groups, online communities, content creators, niche social channels, and cultural micro-communities.
Build relationships with performers, venues, creative partners, fan communities, creators, and local organizations aligned with event themes.
Collaborate with other Producers in your city to align on event cadence, neighborhoods, and cross-promotional opportunities.
Work closely with the Global Communities team to uphold Sofar’s standards, share insights, and shape pop culture programming.
Own the atmosphere and guest experience, ensuring every event is immersive, on-theme, and rooted in hospitality.
Support financial performance by tracking profitability and contributing to the sustainable growth of the city’s pop culture vertical.
Identify sponsorship or co-promotion opportunities tied to event themes.
Contribute to Sofar’s broader programming ecosystem through cross-genre ideas, such as pop culture x music integrations, film-inspired performances, and multi-sensory experiences.