Audio Visual Project Manager – Event Production

AV Project Manager - Event Production

Location: Royal Productions main office, Metairie, LA (New Orleans area), with regular travel

Reports to: Executive Director of Events & Technology

Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience, plus benefits

Royal Productions is hiring an AV Project Manager to own the production side of our events, from the day a show is sold until the last case is back on the warehouse shelf. You’ll work hand in hand with our sales team, scenic team, warehouse and every other department to deliver shows that run without a hitch.

This is a production management role, not a sales role. You’ll help build the drawings, the schedules and the labor plan. Then you’ll travel to site and run the show as the crew’s lead contact. When the truck is open and the clock is ticking, you’ll grab a case and help with set and strike. You’re just as sharp at a desk as you are on a show floor.

About Royal Productions

Royal Productions has been producing live events since 1987. We’re a fast growing national AV and event production company headquartered in the New Orleans area. We run in-house AV programs at hotel properties across the country, plus a road show division that takes productions wherever our clients need them.

Our people take pride in the details, back each other up, and care about getting it right for the client every single time.

What You’ll Do

Own the show from sale to strike

• Partner with the sales team from the first client conversation through final invoice, turning what was sold into a production plan that can actually be built and run
• Review proposals and orders for technical accuracy, flag gaps early, and keep scope, gear and labor in line with what the client is paying for
• Lead production meetings, site visits and client calls on the technical side of the event
• Track every change that comes in before and during the show, and document and communicate it to the right people

Build the plan

• Create and update event drawings, floor plans, stage plots and room layouts (CAD, Vectorworks or similar)
• Build production schedules, load-in and load-out timelines, run-of-show support documents and crew call sheets
• Plan and coordinate labor (crew counts, positions, call times, travel and lodging) with an eye on labor cost and margin
• Coordinate with outside vendors, venues and hotel partners on power, rigging, dock access, union rules and logistics

Bring every department together

• Work with the scenic team on set pieces, staging and branded elements so they fit the drawings, schedule and budget
• Work with the warehouse team on pull lists, prep, staging, trucking and returns, so gear is tested, packed and counted before it ships
• Keep sales, scenic, warehouse, crew and the client on the same page with clear, timely communication

Lead on site

• Travel to events and serve as the on-site lead contact for the crew and the client’s production point person
• Run load-in, rehearsals, show days and strike, solving problems in real time
• Get hands-on: help with set, strike, cabling and troubleshooting whenever the show needs it
• Hold the crew to Royal’s safety standards and SOPs

Close it out

• Reconcile labor hours, equipment and any loss or damage after each show
• Submit accurate show reports, timesheets and change-order details so billing is right
• Debrief with sales and operations on what went well and what to do differently next time

What You Bring

Required

• 3 years in live event or AV production, including at least 1 year leading crews or managing shows (as a project manager, production manager, show lead, or senior technician ready to step up)
• Strong working knowledge of audio, video, lighting, staging and power distribution, and how they come together in a room
• Experience building event drawings and floor plans in CAD, Vectorworks or similar software
• Proven ability to manage multiple shows and deadlines at the same time without dropping details
• Excellent organization and clerical skills: clean paperwork, accurate schedules, organized files and follow-through on every email
• Clear, calm communicator with clients, sales, crew and vendors, especially under pressure
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel regularly, including overnight and multi-day trips

Nice to have

• Experience in hotel or in-house AV, and with corporate meetings, conferences and general sessions
• Experience coordinating scenic, staging or set builds
• Familiarity with warehouse operations, gear prep and trucking logistics
• Experience with union labor and venue rules
• Background with event management or rental software

Schedule, Travel and Physical Requirements

• Based out of our main office in Metairie when not on site
• Regular travel to events across the U.S., with per diem and lodging provided on out-of-town shows
• Early mornings, late nights, weekends and holidays as shows require
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 lbs, stand for long periods, climb ladders, and work in loading docks, ballrooms and warehouse settings

Why Royal

• Real ownership of your shows from start to finish
• A national footprint with a wide range of events, venues and clients
• A growing company with room to grow with it
• Competitive pay and benefits