Talent Buying and Booking Services

Overview

Arts, Culture & Sports

Champaign, Illinois, United StatesPosted 15 days agoDeadline: May 15th, 2026

Fit Score

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SUMMARY

Illinois seeks a vendor for talent buying and booking services to manage a sustainable and diverse calendar of performances, including planning, marketing, and community engagement for a three-year contract.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Must have demonstrated experience booking 50+ events annually
Must have established relationships with national and regional talent agencies
Must have experience working in similar mid-size/non-major metro markets
Must have knowledge of union environments and settlement processes
Must carry appropriate insurance
Must provide an annual booking plan and calendar for a minimum of 75 events
Must provide references from a minimum of 3 relevant clients

BUDGET

Estimate

$75,000 – $150,000

CONTRACT DURATION

36 months

TIMELINE

RFP Issued: April 23rd, 2026

Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting: April 29th, 2026

Deadline for Questions: May 1st, 2026

Responses to Questions Posted: May 7th, 2026

Proposal Submission Deadline: May 15th, 2026

Proposal Review Period: May 18th, 2026 – May 22nd, 2026

Interviews: May 26th, 2026 – May 29th, 2026

Anticipated Board Approval: June 10th, 2026

Contract Start Date: June 11th, 2026

QUESTION DEADLINE

May 1st, 2026

Issuing Agency

Champaign Park District

Organization overview and procurement intelligence available on paid plans.

See Issuer Research

DESCRIPTION

The government authority in Illinois is seeking a vendor to provide professional talent buying and booking services to support its long-term performance programming. The selected talent buyer and booking lead will be responsible for securing a diverse and high-quality slate of performances, aligned with community interests and fiscal sustainability. Duties include developing an annual booking plan and calendar, coordinating marketing materials and timelines, and preparing assets and recommendations.

The vendor should create a forward-looking booking strategy encompassing the next 6 to 18 months, maintain active relationships with agents, promoters, and tour managers, and provide deal memos and recommendations for district approval. Additional responsibilities involve facilitating fiscal agent coordination, show advancement and implementation, and tracking attendance, revenue, and performance metrics. Collaboration with district staff for marketing communications and community engagement is also central to the role.

The contract is for a three-year period.

Source attribution

This Settle analysis is based on the issuing organization’s public RFP listing.