Comedy Festival Director

This is a Full Time Job

SXSW is a premier comedy festival that celebrates comedic talent from around the country (and beyond), bringing together stand-up, sketch, improv, live podcasts, and everything in between. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Comedy to lead the vision, planning, and execution of our annual festival, ensuring the long-term strategic development of SXSW Comedy.

Job Purpose
The Director of Comedy is responsible for overseeing all creative, logistical, and operational elements of the comedy festival. This includes curating showcases, booking talent, managing production timelines, and ensuring the successful execution of SXSW Comedy. Collaborating closely across departments within SXSW to deliver a stellar experience for partners and key stakeholders is essential. The ideal candidate has 7–10 years of experience in the comedy industry, deep relationships with comedians and talent agents, and a proven track record of producing successful and profitable comedy events.

Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Festival Planning & Execution
• Lead the planning, development, and execution of the annual comedy festival.

• Create and manage detailed event timelines, budgets, and production schedules to ensure seamless execution.

• Secure and coordinate venues, permits, technical needs, and other logistics.

• Ensure a cohesive Comedy festival aligned to the long-term strategic goals of SXSW.

Talent Booking & Showcase Development
• Vet, book, and schedule comedians and comedy acts across multiple formats (stand-up, sketch, improv, live podcast, etc.), developing cohesive showcase lineups.

• Maintain strong relationships with performers, agents, managers, and comedy clubs.

• Recruit and sustain partnerships with Comedy showcase presenters

Program Curation & Vision
• Shape the creative vision of the festival, striking a balance between emerging talent and established acts.

• Collaborate with marketing and PR teams to promote the festival and booked talent with enough lead time to impact badge sales and sponsorship

• Design a stellar Comedy festival experience that is unique to SXSW

Administrative & Management
• Manage contracts, payments, and communication with artists and vendors.

• Coordinate staff, contractors, and volunteers involved in festival operations.

• Provide regular reports and updates to leadership on progress and performance metrics.

Qualifications & Skills

Qualifications include:
• 7–10 years of experience in the comedy or live entertainment industry.

• Demonstrated success in planning and executing live comedy events and/or festivals.

• Strong network within the comedy community (agents, comedians, bookers, clubs).

• Solid administrative and management skills, including budgeting and scheduling.

• Exceptional communication and organizational abilities.

• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing circumstances.

• Experience working with diverse talent and inclusive programming.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully:
• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.

• Manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.

• May require occasional bending, reaching, kneeling, or climbing stairs.

• Ability to work outdoors, including exposure to varying temperatures or noise levels.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Location & Schedule

The position is full-time and located in Austin, Texas. Core business office hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You must be available to work additional hours from January through March, including evenings and weekends. You must also be available for the March event, which will have extended working hours onsite.