What is Conference Production, the role of a Conference Producer and what skills you need to be a successful Conference Producer
Events create a fun, intimate and engaging experience with your audience – there’s nothing like being in a room of like-minded people with fresh ideas.
The purpose of events is to allow the offering and sharing of intellectual content and communicating information and practice in ways which engage attendees. Events facilitate networking and business opportunities and help businesses promote their brand or products.
What is Conference Production?
Conference Production is a multifaceted, highly exciting and rewarding career path that allows you to create an event concept from scratch, curate the content and watch it come to life on the day.
Through extensive market research, (desk, phone, and face to face) a Conference Producer will identify key industry trends in order to create topic ideas that meet the needs of their audiences.
They write content-rich and commercially viable conference programs that will offer networking and knowledge transfer opportunities for paying delegates, sponsors, and speakers.
Events take place all over the world, so depending on the company you work for, you might have the opportunity to travel internationally.
The role of a Conference Producer
Key tasks and responsibilities include:
Market Research & Analysis – In-depth phone-based research of key subject areas and hot topics within a particular industry sector. Identifying the target audience and finding out what they want / need to know
Speaker Acquisition – Identifying high-level, influential industry experts to speak at the conference. Speakers can play a huge part in attracting delegates to the conference.
Copy Writing – Writing promotional copy in the form of a conference programme, in the language of your target audience. Ensuring that all sales-driven materials such as web, direct mail and email copy will maximise delegate attendance
Project Management – Working with all internal teams, sales (delegate and sponsorship), marketing and operations to ensure the success of the conference and that it is delivered on time and in budget
Onsite Attendance – Attending conferences to ensure excellent delivery and smooth running on the day. Often this will include opening your conference. This is an opportunity to represent the company and to network with key players and speakers within the sector, and to build relationships and shake hands with the people that helped shape your agenda.
What skills you need to be a successful Conference Producer
- Outstanding academics with a 2:1 degree. History, Geography, Economics, Philosophy, Languages, Literature, Politics and Social Sciences are often preferred, but not essential and only favoured due to the research aspect of the industry.
- Excellent qualitative research capabilities to keep abreast of current affairs & business news
- Having a keen eye for business is vital, so that you can draw parallels with developments in other industries
- Having a thick-skin and outstanding verbal communication skills as you will need to conduct research calls with industry stakeholders in order to discover industry news and developments that might not yet be common knowledge.
- Strong commercial acumen to be able to produce a profitable and sustainable event
- Creativity and natural curiosity to produce industry leading content that will stand out amongst your competitors
Job titles, career progression and average salaries
Conference Production is one of the highest paying jobs in events and a role that you can quickly grow through the ranks.
• Graduate Conference Producer/ Conference Producer – £24-£28k + profit share/bonus
• Senior Conference Producer £28k – £40k + profit share/ bonus
• Conference Manager £35k – £45k + profit share/bonus
• Portfolio Director – £43k-£60k + profit share /bonus
• Division director/ Head of Content – >£65k- + profit share/ bonus
If you’re looking to get into conference production, have a look at our current vacancies to see the roles we’re working on and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with our new roles.
