Understanding Part-Time Concert Staff Roles

Thousands of part-time concert staff keep shows running across the UK and EU.

If you love live music, flexible shifts, and fast-paced teamwork, there’s a wide range of roles that put you right where the action is—from the front gates to backstage and everything in between.

What do part-time concert staff do?

Think of a concert like a well-rehearsed production where dozens of roles interlock. Stewards, ticketing teams, bar staff, merch sellers, security, and stagehands all coordinate so doors open on time, artists sound great, and crowds stay safe.

Front-of-house (FOH) teams welcome guests, scan tickets, answer questions, and guide people to seats and amenities. Behind the scenes, technicians, loaders, and runners help build the stage, rig lighting, and move gear quickly between changeovers.

On the concourse, concessions crews keep queues moving, while merch sellers handle card payments and stock. Security and crowd management teams monitor entry points, manage pits and barriers, and respond to incidents with calm professionalism.

Role snapshots

• Box office/ticketing: Scanning tickets, resolving entry issues, handling will-call lists.
• Ushers/stewards: Guiding guests, seating support, venue and accessibility info.
• Security/crowd safety: Bag checks, pit/barrier management, egress routes; often requires an SIA licence in the UK (see GOV.UK SIA guidance).
• Stage crew/production runners: Load-ins/outs, changeovers, backline moves, basic cable management.
• Bars/concessions: Pouring drinks, POS systems, stock rotation, ID checks.
• Merchandise: Setting up stands, cashing up, inventory counts, customer service.

Why work part time at concerts?

• Flexible hours: Evening and weekend shifts fit around studies or another job.
• Access to live music: Soak up the atmosphere—sometimes you’ll catch parts of the show.
• Career exploration: Try different departments before specialising (security, tech, FOH, bars, production).
• Transferable skills: Customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, cash handling, radio comms.
• Networking: Meet venue managers, promoters, techs, and tour personnel who can refer you to the next gig.

Challenges and realities

• Late finishes: Many gigs end after public transport winds down—plan your commute.
• Physical work: Long periods standing; stage work involves lifting and pushing cases.
• Pressure and pace: Doors, intervals, and encores create crunch moments—calm communication is key.
• Seasonality: Peak times vary—summer festivals (May–Sept) and December arena runs are busiest.
• Variable hours: Shifts can fluctuate with tour schedules and local events.

Skills employers value

• Customer focus: Warm, clear communication—especially under pressure.
• Reliability: Showing up on time, in uniform, ready to go.
• Teamwork: Following briefings, using radios professionally, helping other departments.
• Situational awareness: Spotting risks (spills, overcrowding, blocked exits) and escalating early.
• Basic tech literacy: POS systems, scanners, and simple AV concepts.
• Fitness and safety: Good manual handling practice; first aid is a plus.

Pay, shifts and legal basics in the UK/EU

Typical part-time rates vary by role and city. As a broad guide in the UK: stewards/ushers ~£10.90–£13.50 per hour, bar/concessions ~£10.90–£13.00, merch ~£11.50–£14.00, stage crew/loaders ~£12.50–£18.00, and licensed security (SIA) ~£12.50–£17.50+ (higher in London or for overnight builds). EU rates vary by country; major markets like Germany, the Netherlands, and France trend higher than smaller regions.

Expect evening and weekend shifts, with call times 2–4 hours before doors. Festivals often run 8–12 hour shifts with breaks. For security roles in the UK, an SIA licence is commonly required (see GOV.UK SIA guidance), while many FOH or concessions shifts need only site inductions and on-the-job training.

Always confirm right-to-work requirements where you apply (UK example: Prove your right to work), and ask about pay frequency, breaks, overtime, and uniform policy before accepting shifts.

How to get started (action plan)

1) Pick two paths to trial: Choose any mix—FOH/ushers for guest-facing work, bars for fast pace, security for safety-focused roles, or stage crew for technical exposure.

2) Build a one-page event CV: Highlight customer service, cash handling, radio use, first aid, and any barista/retail or warehouse experience. Add availability and travel range.

3) Get job-ready extras: Comfortable black shoes, discreet clothing layers for arenas/outdoor sites, refillable water bottle, and if you’re aiming for security, plan your SIA pathway.

4) Apply smart: Mix venue operators, staffing agencies, and general job boards (see links below). Save tailored CV variants (FOH, bars, security, stage crew) to respond quickly.

5) Be reliable from day one: Accept shifts you can 100% make, arrive early, and ask for feedback post-shift—this is how you get rebooked and recommended.

Where to find EU/UK concert shifts and roles

General job boards

• Indeed UK – search “concert staff”, “event steward”, “merch seller”, “stagehand”.
• Reed – temp and part-time event roles across the UK.
• Totaljobs – filter by evenings/weekends and “events”.
• Glassdoor UK – research pay, reviews, and interview tips for venues.
• StudentJob UK – flexible term-time shifts for students.
• Arts Jobs – arts and culture postings; some venue/customer roles.
• EURES – EU mobility portal for cross-border opportunities.

Venues and operators

• Live Nation Entertainment Careers – major promoter/venues (UK & EU).
• AEG Europe Careers – O2 and other arenas/festivals in Europe.
• The O2 (London) jobs – FOH, bars, security and ops roles.
• Royal Albert Hall careers – historic venue with varied staff roles.
• ASM Global careers – arena and venue operator across the UK/EU.
• NEC Group careers – Birmingham’s arenas and exhibition spaces.

Festivals and staffing agencies

• Festaff – festival stewarding and campsite teams (UK).
• Peppermint Bars – bar/concessions staffing at festivals and venues.
• Showsec recruitment – event security and crowd management.
• G4S UK careers – security roles including stadiums and arenas.
• Eventim careers – EU ticketing/events company with venue ops.
• Oxfam Festivals volunteering – stewarding for entry to UK festivals.

Mini path example: from first shift to regular gigs

Jas starts as an usher at a London arena, turning up early, learning radio etiquette, and helping a guest with accessibility needs. The supervisor notes the initiative and offers a merch shift the following week. After a month, Jas has two venues booking them regularly and picks up paid festival stewarding for the summer. By autumn, they add casual stagehand shifts to broaden skills and earnings.

Pro tips to stand out

• Be solution-first: Bring a quick fix (“I’ll escort you to the accessible entrance”) before escalating.
• Learn names: Remember your supervisor and key team leads—relationships get you rebooked.
• Master the kit: Practice POS flow, scanner angles, and safe lifting; ask for a 60-second demo at briefing.
• Stay show-aware: Anticipate crowd surges at doors, first encore, and final song for smooth egress.
• Log your shifts: Track hours, pay, late finishes, and feedback to refine your schedule and role mix.

Bottom line

Part time concert staff are the heartbeat of live events, and there’s room for everyone—from people people to backstage problem-solvers. Start small, show up ready, and use the links above to land your first shifts across the EU and UK.