Program Summary:

As a key member of the Headliner Entertainment team, the Lead, Comedy Program is responsible for developing, leading, and maintaining a customized and innovative brand differentiating Headliner Comedy program for Royal Caribbean International. This position is responsible for leading the recruiting, casting, hiring, booking, and scheduling of 2,000+ Headliner Comedy Booking needs annually. This position is also responsible for maintaining and further developing the Headliner Comedy Program talent acquisition strategy as well as building, establishing, and maintaining industry relationships with outside agencies, partners, and vendors developing the future growth of the overall Headliner Entertainment Comedy operation. Lead, Comedy Program is also responsible for organizing and attending, worldwide auditions, recruiting events, and managing act sponsorship. This position also creates and maintains area-specific casting tools and platforms as well as manages the audition submission process for the Headliner Comedy area. Additional duties include managing all booking administrative areas, creating, updating, and maintaining booking documents and managing the talent library. This position works closely with the Manager, Headliner Entertainment and Director, Headliner Entertainment, Live Music & Enrichment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of the overall Headliner Comedy Program for the Royal Caribbean fleet.
• Build the yearly Headliner Comedy Program plan and schedule based on itineraries, ship class, voyage length, guest demographic and budget.
• Lead the recruitment, screening, casting, hiring, booking, and scheduling of fleetwide Headliner Comedians.
• Lead the review of all Headliner Comedy submissions, analyzing and identifying current and future talent from expanded sources such as live auditions, videos, promotional reels, and talent showcases.
• Oversee the Headliner Comedy Program schedule by ship and itinerary. Adjust schedules based on guest demographics, performance, and requests.
• Responsible for monitoring shipboard and guest feedback, via reporting systems, and regularly distributing trends and feedback.
• Responsible for managing Headliner Comedy show logistics.
• Communicates with shipboard management to maintain the integrity and quality of the Headliner Comedy program.
• Develop, build, and maintain strong relationships with agencies and Entertainers establishing new alliances and industry-first partnerships to enhance this goal.
• Sets-up and attend Entertainment Comedy showcases, festivals, shows and auditions as part of the strategy of sourcing brand differentiating talent with the goal of enhancing and innovating the Headliner Comedy program.
• Create and maintain area specific casting tools and platforms and manage the audition submission process for Headliner Comedians.
• Leads all Comedy Club booking logistics.
• Creates, updates, and maintains Comedy booking and operational documents.
• Leads Comedy Club operations.
• Process salary adjustments and changes in representation for all comedians.
• Manages and updates Comedian New Hire Talent book.
• Leads new hire comedian training and interviews.
• Manages comedy talent library content, headshots, and billing.
• Responsible for writing SOP and SQM documentation to support the fleetwide Headliner Comedy program.
• Develop compelling presentations using critical data and materials for executive level meetings and other initiatives as needed.
• Prepare various reports as required including, but not limited to, status reports, talent search reviews, budget analysis and industry trends.
• Travel to various vessels to provide support and evaluate all performances as needed.
• Manage expenses within established operating plan.
• Lead specialized Headliner Comedy program bookings for Sales Events, Groups, Charters, Themed Cruises and shoreside Corporate Events.
• Lead the day-to-day Headliner Entertainment Comedy operation.
• Performs other duties as required. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in related field required.
• A minimum of ten years of experience in the Entertainment Industry. Talent sourcing, casting and booking experience is required.
• Experience in creating customized industry leading Headliner Comedy programs.
• Proven success in relationships with leading agencies must be demonstrated.
• Experience as a performer, in front of live audiences (and therefore having a profound understanding of the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the performing arts) is required.
• Cruise industry experience both shipboard and shoreside is requested.
• Successful experience working on projects with shoreside and shipboard personnel pertaining to various aspects of the cruise industry.
• Excellent understanding of policies and procedures regarding work ethics, hiring and termination of personnel.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and management skills.
• Strong decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Knowledgeable of Microsoft software: Excel, Power Point, Word, Lotus Notes, Outlook.
• Able to travel when required.

FINANCIAL/QUANTITIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position is responsible for 2,500 comedy bookings annually. Casting, auditioning and review of 10,00 headliner comedy submissions per year. Operational budget of 10M per year. Managing fleetwide comedy clubs and program.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those requirements employees must meet to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a pc, communicate, listen, and assess information. The employee may move about the office complex, may travel to other office locations, and may lift, push, pull or move 10 - 15 pounds. Visual requirements include distant, close and color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The environment includes work inside/outside the office, travel to other offices, as well as domestic, international, and shipboard travel. A high noise level is possible if visiting shipboard or offsite locations.

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