Bookings & Events Manager

Bookings & Events Manager

Clapham Common initially then moving to Beaconsfield/Oxford area (please read the whole job description for more details)

£30,000 Per Annum

The London Essentials are a unique and spontaneous five-piece band who perform amongst delighted party-goers around the World. Discarding the traditional barriers of the stage, the Essentials bring their acoustic instruments and fine voices into the audience.

Since the band’s inception in 2010, the Essentials have performed in palaces for British royalty, on superyachts in the Long Island Sound, at a garden soirée in Udaipur and on Necker Island.

We are now looking for our newest team member to come in and help us bring our music to events all over the world.  The band perform at a wide range of events such as intimate dinner parties, weddings, award ceremonies and conferences.

You will be working with an amazing boss who also plays in the band.  You’ll be his right hand person so you’ll need to be reliable, trustworthy and a quick learner.  The person who is currently doing this role is now moving to a part-time position within the company so she will able to train you in this role and be on hand for any questions.

This is an amazing opportunity to join our small team at a really exciting time for the band.  With the flexibility to work from home 2 days a week (once established) with 3 days a week in the boss’s home office, this is an ideal mix of office life and working from home.  The role is varied and fast-paced so it would suit someone who likes to keep busy.

Please note that while it will be helpful for you come to a few events initially to fully appreciate how the band works, this role is office based and you will not be required to attend the band’s performances.

The Role:

• Assisting the owner in managing all aspects of client bookings, from the initial enquiry through to the final invoice
• A fast-paced role that requires problem-solving
• It’s vital that you are able to multi-task and prioritise effectively as there are often numerous booking enquiries to manage consecutively
• Communicating with clients via email and telephone and responding to enquiries quickly
• Ability to deal with a large volume of emails
• Managing client expectations and educating them as to how the band works best
• Maintaining an up to date spreadsheet of bookings for our two bands
• Liaising with the band members by phone and WhatsApp
• Researching and booking travel, hotels, transfers and instrument hire
• Creating the band’s travel itineraries via the Tripit website
• Developing good relationships with event companies, wedding planners, corporates and individuals who are booking the band
• Arranging and taking minutes at monthly band meetings
• Ad-hoc tasks when needed such as visa applications
• There may be a small amount of personal work for the boss and the band, such as arranging flights for their loved ones if they join them at an event
• Preparing invoices and contracts
• Helping with social media
• Helping manage the office

You:

• A complete all-rounder who enjoys being the lynch-pin of the business
• Well-spoken and presentable with a professional manner
• An organised individual with superb planning skills
• Excellent written and communication skills with the ability to adapt style as needed
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to tight deadlines
• Able to deal with pressure
• Keen attention to detail
• An upbeat individual with a can-do attitude
• Excellent problem solver with the ability to easily adapt to changing priorities
• Happy to work as part of a team with the ability to also work independently
• A resourceful thinker with initiative and energy
• Discretion when dealing with high profile clients
• Good grasp of Windows packages, Apple software and WhatsApp
• Experience working as an Events Assistant, PA or EA preferably within events/marketing/PR but not essential
• Experience using social media useful but not essential

The job will be Monday to Friday, with 3 days based in the boss’s home office and 2 days working from home, once established.  The home office is currently in Clapham Common in London but please note the office will relocate when Ben buys a house (he is house hunting at the moment).  He is currently considering moving to Beaconsfield or further towards Oxford.  As such, it is essential that you are flexible with regards to your working location and your own car is desirable.  There may be the opportunity, in the future, to drop down to working 4 days a week.

The hours are 10:00 to 17:00 with a requirement to work flexibly to meet the needs of the business when necessary.

The salary offered is £30k per year, depending on experience, including 20 days holiday and pension.