Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation

       Organizations in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector are navigating an era of shifting visitor engagement post Covid, while also facing increasing financial pressures on operating budgets and endowments. These organizations are often complex, multi-faceted operations with different departments running on very different schedules. For example, guest-facing roles in ticketing, concessions, or front-of-house align with public operating hours, while behind-the-scenes functions like facilities, housekeeping, and security operate on separate and often more variable timetables. Even within a single function – such as security – staff responsible for venue access may follow very different schedules than those working in monitoring or control rooms.

 

       The challenge is that staffing levels in many departments do not always match actual visitor demand or operational needs. This can result in costly over-staffing during slower periods, or stressful under-staffing during peak performances, events, or recreational activities. Special events – such as concerts, festivals, tournaments, or private rentals – add further complexity, particularly when managing overtime budgets.

       Coleman Consulting Group works with organizations in this sector to analyze true scheduling needs by time of day, day of week, and busy versus slow seasons. Using employee input, we design custom shift schedules that precisely align staffing with operational demand. The result is measurable cost savings – often hundreds of thousands of dollars annually – while simultaneously improving employee work-life balance. In addition, the process fosters stronger cross-department communication and helps standardize scheduling practices and policies across the organization.