Summary of the Independent Event Producer + Promoter (freelance, commission-based) job at Sofar Sounds

Build something of your own. Make your city more interesting.

What if your next career move wasn't another job, but an opportunity to build a business around what you love? Sofar Sounds is looking for entrepreneurial, culturally curious independent local event producers and promoters across the U.S. and Canada to create unforgettable live experiences in their communities with the support, infrastructure and global network of Sofar behind them.

Sofar is a powerful partner to have in your corner. We work with experienced independent producers who know their communities inside and out: the artists worth discovering, the venues with potential, and the cultural currents shaping their cities. 

You bring that local knowledge, creative vision and entrepreneurial drive; we bring the global brand, platform and infrastructure to help you build on it. Sofar handles the operational heavy lifting (payments, taxes, insurance and royalties, ticketing, etc.) so that you can focus on creating great experiences, championing local talent and getting people through the door. 

You remain in charge of local promotion and ticket sales, and you're free to keep working with other clients and building your business beyond Sofar. It's a partnership designed to make both sides stronger.

Sofar Sounds is a global community transforming unexpected spaces into intimate stages for the world’s best emerging talent. 

Founded in a London living room in 2009, Sofar set out to bring the magic back to live experiences through intimate, distraction-free performances. Today, we bring people together in hundreds of cities around the world through music, comedy and more, all powered by local producers who champion emerging talent, uncover unexpected spaces and bring their communities to life.

Sofar has a track record of finding artists before the world does, and bringing established names to unexpected places. Some of the many icons who have performed with Sofar include Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Leon Bridges, Tank and the Bangas, Olivia Dean, YEBBA, Teddy Swims, Remi Wolf, Hozier, and Lola Young. 

Partnering with Sofar allows you to maintain your own autonomy while removing the friction: 

• End-to-End Platform: Ticketing, guest comms, artist booking, advancing, payments, and post-show surveys, all in one place

• Lifecycle Marketing Support: Once someone buys a ticket, we work to bring them back. Sofar provides lifecycle email & SMS campaigns and a dedicated Lifecycle Marketing Manager to drive repeat attendance from your existing audience. New customer acquisition is yours to own.

• Global Brand Power: Sofar’s reputation unlocks better venues, higher-quality artist bookings, press opportunities, and brand partnerships (Sony, Visa, Delta, and more) that are harder to access independently.

• Reduced Risk: We carry event insurance, manage compliance, handle royalties and sales tax, and absorb much of the operational risk typically borne by independent producers.

• Creative Control: You own your events, community, and growth strategy, while gaining access to a global team, shared best practices, data, and tools.

• Global Artist Network: A constant pipeline of 50,000+ artists actively seeking Sofar stages, plus a worldwide producer community sharing real-time insights.

• Dependable Payouts: Your commission lands via direct deposit, fully reconciled. No chasing invoices.

As an Independent Local Producer, you’ll curate, produce, and promote concerts and live events that build a strong community in your city. You're welcome to do this fully under the Sofar brand, or to co-promote with your own established brand. You’ll set the local strategy, lead artist and venue curation, drive ticket sales, and represent Sofar in your market, all backed by a global platform and team.

This is a commission-based freelance role. Events typically take place on weekends and evenings. Earnings vary based on show volume and profitability.

• You’re already producing events: you have hands-on experience running live shows and know what it takes to make them great

• You have 3–5 years of experience in live event curation, production, or promotions

• You have deep roots in your local scene and an existing network of artists, venues, and community connectors

• You know how to sell tickets, not just produce shows. You have a proven ability to promote events, grow an audience from scratch, and drive local demand through social media, partnerships, press, and community outreach. This is a core part of the role, not an afterthought

• You have experience selling event sponsorships or marketing activations, ideally in live events or experiential marketing

• You’re entrepreneurial and resourceful: you figure things out, you thrive under pressure, and you take ownership

• You have a strong read on your city: the neighborhoods, the audiences, and where cultural energy lives

• You’re a natural relationship-builder with a track record of closing deals and cultivating lasting partnerships

• You understand the economics of live events and know how to make the numbers work

• You can work autonomously, but value being part of a larger community and organization

• You communicate clearly, manage your time well, and bring professionalism to every interaction