What is a Duty Manager at a Venue?

A duty manager (often shortened to DM) is the senior person in charge of a venue during an event or shift, responsible for safety, licensing, staff and customers until the building is closed. Theatres, music venues, arts centres and hire venues all have a named duty manager for every event, even when the venue itself is hired out.

What a duty manager does

A duty manager's shift follows the event:

  1. Open up: check the building, fire exits and safety equipment before anyone arrives.
  2. Brief staff: run through the event, capacity, roles and emergency procedures with the team.
  3. Meet the hirer or promoter: confirm timings, numbers and anything unusual.
  4. Run the event: handle problems, incidents and complaints, keeping to the licence.
  5. Close down: clear the building, complete the incident log and lock up.

Every event needs a duty manager on the rota, which venues plan alongside other staff with shifts in Crescat.

Duty manager vs venue manager

A venue manager runs the venue overall, including bookings, budgets and staff. A duty manager is in charge on a particular shift or event. Venue managers often act as duty manager too, but larger venues have a team of duty managers who share the evenings.

A duty manager's responsibilities

  • Fire safety and evacuation
  • Keeping to capacity and licence conditions
  • Staff supervision and breaks
  • Working with security and front of house
  • Recording incidents and accidents
  • Protecting the building on dry hires

Frequently asked questions

Does a duty manager need a personal licence?

Not always, but it helps. In England and Wales, alcohol sales must be authorised by a personal licence holder, and many venues ask duty managers to hold one.

Why does a dry hire need a duty manager?

Even when the hirer brings their own team, the venue is still responsible for the building, its licence and safety. The duty manager makes sure the hirer follows the rules and can stop the event if it becomes unsafe.

What training does a duty manager need?

Usually fire safety and evacuation, first aid awareness and the venue's licensing conditions. Many venues also train duty managers in conflict resolution and in dealing with vulnerable customers.

Related terms