How Much Does a Club Promoter Make?

If you have an extensive social network, a lively personality and enjoy the nightlife, you might be a good candidate for a job as a club promoter. Club promoters take on the responsibilities of advertising, promotions and public relations for nightclubs and entertainment venues. The job entails circulating invitations and flyers, placing TV and radio ads, social networking and any other methods that help bring patrons to the club. How much you might expect to earn as a nightclub promoter can be established in a few different ways.

Generally, a club promoter's salary would fall within the lowest earning 10 per cent of industry professionals, though some experienced professional may earn higher wages. The lowest 10 per cent of advertising and promotion managers in May of 2008 earned about £26,962 per year. The median salary for position holder during the reporting period was £54,528, and the highest earners took home £79,670.

Though a rare occurrence, and only applied to the most experienced and successful club promoters, you may be able to secure a flat fee as an industry professional. A flat fee is an arrangement made between the club management and promoter in which the promoter is guaranteed a predetermined payment amount regardless of whether or not his marketing efforts are a success. A flat fee may be established to cover a one-night-only event, or an ongoing promotional campaign, which may be monthly, quarterly, yearly. Though it does vary considerably by establishment, you can generally average between £65 and £650 per night in such scenarios.

Usually when no advanced ticket sales, entry admission or promotional tracking system is in place, the club promoter is paid by commission. In such instances, a timeline is established for the promotional campaign and the promoter is paid a predetermined percentage of food sales, beverage sales, or both. Your actual salary as a commissioned club promoter will vary by establishment and individual agreements, but you can typically expect to receive anywhere from 3 to 10 per cent of the total revenue generated by the club within your specified campaign period.

Many nightclubs will prefer to pay you according to the exact amount of patrons who visit the club as a result of your promotional campaigns. This method is called a "head charge" and requires some form of tracking system to guarantee your pay. Common promotional tracking methods include advanced ticket sales, invitation and flyer distribution. For instance, a club that charges an admission of £10 might allow you to sell advanced tickets for £6 each. If you sell 100 tickets, your head charge salary will equal £325. Another example, is passing out flyers or invitations prior to an event, and require that the recipients present them at the door to gain entry. At the end of the night -- or promotional campaign -- the promoter is compensated for each flyer or invitation accepted at the door.

Promoters who work with nightclubs that charge admission onsite and allow "walk-in" patronage often agree to "door" compensation methods. What this means, is that club management agrees to pay you a specific percentage of all admission fees incurred at the point of entry during your promotional timeline. Though door-pay agreements do vary by venue, promoters can typically expect agreements to guarantee between 5 and 15 per cent of the total admission fees generated by club. For instance, if you've agreed to accept 10 per cent of £16 admission fees as payment for a three-night event, and each night produces 100 guests, your payment for the period would be £1.60 per head multiplied by 300; £487 total.