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  • 1.  Event Commission or Bonus Structures

    Posted 03-06-2021 03:18 PM

    Hello,

    We are in the process of hiring a facility rental and events manager.  This position will sell and manage outside events as well as manage any food or beverage services the Museum may require in support of our own public programs and events.

     

    To compensate for the work with public programs and events, we are offering a competitive base salary. However, as a means to encourage outside sales, we are considering a commission or bonus structure for this position. I'm interested in any insights about commissions vs bonuses and also any type of tiered structure that might have been implemented.  We hope to keep it fairly simple – for accounting purposes on our end and understanding on the manager's end. Thanks in advance.



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    Cynthia Kearns
    Director of Operations
    American Sign Museum
    Cincinnati OH
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  • 2.  RE: Event Commission or Bonus Structures

    Posted 03-08-2021 08:44 AM
    Cynthia, you are wise to consider such a structure. My firm is an F&B consultancy that advises museums on building successful event rental programs. We frequently find  compensation structures do not include commissions or bonuses. Sales people are motivated by the opportunity to earn; if another event rental means another Saturday night worked you may find over time that sales are not growing. We recommend tying 10-20% of compensation to achieving agreed upon goals with the opportunity to earn more as goals are exceeded. The commission or bonus can be tied to the number of events booked, facility rental fees, or some other quantifiable measure. Happy to connect if it would be helpful.

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    Tracy Lawler
    President
    JGL Food Service Consultants
    Princeton NJ
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  • 3.  RE: Event Commission or Bonus Structures

    Posted 03-09-2021 10:10 AM
    Agree.  Our event sales professionals make 5-15%+ in commission, depending on level (Mgr = 5%, AD = 15%).  What I mean by that is that they have an opportunity to make another 5-15% or more of their salary for meeting/exceeding their budget/target.

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    Melissa Felder
    Chief Marketing Officer
    California Academy of Sciences
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Event Commission or Bonus Structures

    Posted 01-19-2025 04:26 PM
    Edited by CATHERINE SAUNDERS 01-19-2025 08:05 PM

    Hello, 

    I am revisiting this thread. Does anyone offer a commission, extra pay, or a bonus by the event for an event rental coordinator? 

    We are updating job descriptions at our small museum and wondering if the position that coordinates rentals (in addition to giving tours and doing social media) should be offered a commission or extra fee for working rental events. The position takes inquires, books, coordinates logistics, and is the on-site "host" during the wedding/cocktail party -- making sure the museum is protected and the client has a great event. Keeping all the vendors in line and managing things on the day of seem to be the most demanding parts of the job. 

    I just did some googling of job postings and of the 10 I opened up, none mentioned a commission or extra fee per event. Another thread thought that maybe offering a commission violated the fundraising professional code of ethics. How does your museum pay the rental manager? Please share your perspectives!!



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    CATHERINE SAUNDERS
    Curator of Education
    Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum
    Providence RI
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