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Venue programmer

Also called venue booker, venue programer, club programmer

Venue programmers are in charge of the artistic programme of a venue (theatres, cultural centers, concert halls etc.) or of temporary settings (festivals). They follow artistic trends and up-coming artists, keep in contact with bookers and agents to build a consistent programme and encourage artistic creation. All of this happens within the boundaries of the artistic and financial scope of the organisation they are involved in.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Conference and event planners · ILO

What you'd do

Conference and event planners · ILO
  • Promoting conferences, conventions and trade shows to potential customers
  • Responding to inquiries concerning services provided and costs for room and equipment hire, catering and related services
  • Meeting with clients to discuss their needs and outlining package options to meet these needs
  • Arranging and coordinating services, such as, conference facilities, catering, signage, displays, audiovisual and computer equipment, accommodation, transport and social events, for participants, logistical arrangements for presenters
  • Organizing registration of participants
  • Negotiating the type and costs of services to be provided within budget
  • Overseeing work by contractors and reporting on variations to work orders
Contribute to the programmer's reflection processPlan presence at professional eventsPromote eventConsult exhibition organisersDraw up artistic programming policy+ 11 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of conference and event planners, 10 a surplus.
Conference and event planners · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.48 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Organizing registration of participants0.65
Responding to inquiries concerning services provided and costs for room and equipment hire, catering and related services0.61
Promoting conferences, conventions and trade shows to potential customers0.61
Meeting with clients to discuss their needs and outlining package options to meet these needs0.40
Arranging and coordinating services, such as, conference facilities, catering, signage, displays, audiovisual and computer equipment, accommodation, transport and social events, for participants, logistical arrangements for presenters0.39
Negotiating the type and costs of services to be provided within budget0.35
Overseeing work by contractors and reporting on variations to work orders0.34

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for conference and event planners. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).