LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS Joe Giordano Makes Events Happen at SMG Tulsa’s BOK Center | By John Bolton, CVE
“You never work a day in your life, if you like what you do,” says of friends in the venue management business. Joe currently serves as the director of booking at the SMG-managed BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. \ Joe has been a student of event planning and booking since he was
- school, he was in band, chorus, theater, and absolutely loved going to see live shows with his many friends. Music and performing quickly became the center of his universe, and soon, he found himself in a rock band of his own, but without any gigs to play. A few members of his band started a promotion company called Past the Joneses Productions and started booking themselves in local VFW halls and bars in Northern New Jersey, giving Joe a taste of booking.
Pennsylvania, Joe made a connection through his future wife’s family to Zane Colling, general manager of the Sovereign Center in Read- ing, Pennsylvania. Zane was gracious enough to hop on a call and give Joe some tips
on how to break into the industry. Two weeks later, Zane called him for an interview after suddenly losing his booking coordinator. Like that, Joe was hired and quickly became Booking Joe. Joe was a quick study to booking and was promoted to a region- al booking manager with SMG for their Theatre Division. Those two positions taught him how to hustle and really go after shows in smaller markets saturated with venues and touring content. Most - ing creative solutions to any issues in booking shows or challenges that popped up on show days. the BOK Center in Tulsa. Since moving to Tulsa, Joe has been an integral part of one of the most successful arenas in the country. Joe has put his skills to use training other booking managers throughout SMG, as well as leading booking presentations for IAVM and other industry related organizations. Asked about his Top 10 Keys to Success in Booking, Joe quickly provided the following:
1. Empathy: Knowing what and where promoters, agents, and managers are coming from in a situation is critical to negotia- 2. Responsiveness: Simply responding in a timely fashion is crit- ical to booking. 3. Passion must love every side of it. I still pinch myself at every show. 4. Time and organization: Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day, so this is critical! Drive and determination: I think a lot of us really do know them is your drive and determination to do so. Work-Life Balance: I truly would not be here today without the support of my family and incredible wife who understands regular.
Make everything a win: An ethos I’ve developed over the past few years at BOK Center, I’ve noticed that all we do is cre- ate winning opportunities for our promoters, agents, managers, and artists. There is a very strong “YES” culture here in Tulsa, as we want to take any situation and turn it into a positive. I’ve tried to incorporate the same attitude toward booking, as well. Adaptability: As so many facets of the industry change, I need to as well. Industry Knowledge: I try to listen to one new artist per day (yet another list I have). 10. : Knowing what sort of creative deal points you can come up with to add value to a show is immensely helpful.
properly, introduce you to the right people, and let you learn on the to learn, but that can be taught. The relationship development side takes years, so he recommends getting your name out there sooner rather than later.
his wife also love to travel when they can, play golf, snowboard, and of course he loves being the star shortstop for the BOK Center soft- ball team.
“It sounds cheesy, but I love what I do because of the people our
industry impacts,” Joe says. “We have the opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime, and I can’t get enough of it. Music and entertainment bring happiness in a world that needs more smiles. I love contributing towards that bright spot or moment in someone’s minutes at every show, watch the show if you want, but to really pay attention to the crowd. The people in the very last row singing their lungs out and jumping up and down is what it is all about for me.” FM
John Bolton, CVE, is vice president of SMG – Sports and Entertainment Di- vision. He also serves on the Editorial Advisory Committee for Facility Manager magazine.
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