Curator, Wellington (freelance independent event production, revenue-share) at Sofar Sounds

Note: While this is a freelance role, candidates must be local to the market in which they are applying. About Us Founded in London in 2009, Sofar invites discovery of emerging talent and local grassroots art and culture through one-of-a-kind live experiences—music, dating, comedy, food & drink, dance, and more—in surprising venues in 400+ cities globally. We get people off of their phones and into real life experiences, and aim to foster an environment where art and community take center stage. From the top of an Oslo ski jump tower, to a catamaran in Cancun, and Aretha Franklin’s Detroit home, along with hidden museum rooms, private living rooms, and other urban nooks and crannies, Sofar transforms unlikely spaces into captivating venues for intimate gigs, curating inclusive experiences that bring people closer together. The Role As a Freelance Curator, you’ll curate, produce, and promote live events to build a strong and vibrant Sofar community in your city. You’ll be a true Sofar ambassador – mapping out your strategy; supported by the central Global Communities team as you produce exceptional events, conceptualize and execute local marketing initiatives, sell local sponsorships and private shows, and expand Sofar’s footprint.  This role will allow for a flexible schedule, but your activities will likely take place over weekends and evenings.  Our Curators have strong business sense, maintain a keen awareness of cultural trends, and have communities that they can easily tap in to organize amazing live events (including performers, unique locations, sponsors, etc.). They’re entrepreneurial, resourceful, and driven; whether it’s figuring out how to creatively sell tickets or dealing with a live event curveball, they know how to get things done and thrive on the challenge. If this sounds like you, we can’t wait to meet you! What You'll Do: • Strengthen Sofar’s brand in your local community, promoting and selling tickets in your city with self-directed local marketing tactics. • Create a vision to build and execute your strategy - number of monthly shows, neighborhoods, show theme ideas, etc. • Lead curation and booking for experiences in your city with the highest-quality, diverse set of artists and venues, continuing to grow our networks, as needed • Own the staffing and quality of shows in your local market, working to ensure magical experiences that are rooted in hospitality • Manage your city’s financial performance, ensuring financial success and health of every event • Build relationships with local businesses to drive sales of sponsorships and private events • Identify and build relationships with local organizations with like-minded audiences to build community, broaden our reach, and co-promote shows. • Build relationships with local businesses to drive sales of sponsorships and private events • Collaborate with other local leaders to grow your city through diverse experiences that generate buzz and amplify Sofar’s brand awareness • Support Sofar’s Business Partnerships and Global Communities teams by ensuring high-quality curation and seamless event operations for inbound partnership opportunities that elevate the Sofar brand Who You Are: • You have deep connections to your local scene and play an active role in building community around it • You have 3-5 years of experience in live event curation, production, and promotions • You have experience selling event sponsorships or marketing activations, preferably in the live events or experiential marketing space • You’re confident pitching ideas and event concepts to potential sponsors and have a track record of closing partnership deals • You have a strong pulse on your city, the unique nature of each neighborhood, and where people like to spend their free time • You’re a natural connector and excel at building relationships with diverse community-driven organizations, media partners, or local businesses that would add strategic and financial value to your vertical's growth • You understand how to promote and build strategic alliances that will ultimately sell more tickets at our shows • You take pride in your work and approach every opportunity with professionalism and ownership, ensuring the best experience for artists, venues, partners, and guests • You have exceptional time management skills and are a clear communicator • You can work autonomously, but understand the importance of remaining connected to the broader organization Compensation: This Freelance Curator role is compensated through a revenue share model based on event performance. Earnings are directly tied to revenue, which is distributed to cover artist payments, gig insurance, and the Curator payments. Actual earnings may vary depending on factors such as show volume and total revenue. Curators are also eligible for sponsorship commissions for any sponsorships they sell, and may receive coordination fees for their assistance executing any partnerships sold by the global team. Curators are expected to maintain profitability across all events. If an event incurs a loss, that amount will be recouped from a future profit-share payment. If our mission and job opening resonates, you're encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn't precisely match the job description. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging and building a diverse team that reflects a variety of lived experiences, perspectives, and skills.