Events and Hospitality Intern

Events and Hospitality Intern (2 positions)

Reports to Development Director

Music@Menlo is seeking two Events and Hospitality Interns for its 2025 season. Interns will have the opportunity to learn skills in event planning, hospitality, and customer and patron relationship management, while gaining an understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at an internationally renowned arts organization. 

As part of the larger development team, interns will gain valuable practical skills through the management of private events, festival hospitality, and event concessions. This internship is overseen and guided by the Development Director and all activities are informed by principles and practices of exemplary customer service and hospitality. In addition to the Development Director, interns will work closely with the rest of the development team.

Responsibilities

Events and Hospitality Interns will gain experience in a wide variety of activities including: 

• Learning to develop and execute hospitality, catering, and guest services for all festival private events, with guest lists ranging from fifteen to two hundred people. Activities include monitoring multiple budgets, expense tracking, procuring food, supplies, and equipment, designing food and beverage stations, executing food and bar service, and wrapping up events with breakdown, clean up, and daily anecdotal and financial summaries.
• Planning and executing festival concessions including pricing, inventory management and planning, and running the concessions stand on a daily basis. Working with Catering and Hospitality Manager to place orders with vendors.
• Maintaining a clean and sanitary work environment when dealing with food preparation and storage, ensuring compliance with local food handling regulations.
• General administrative duties including inventory and expense tracking and event reporting.
• Late-night event production from July 19 through August 10 required.
• Other duties may be assigned to ensure the overall success of the festival.

Qualifications

The ideal candidates will demonstrate attention to detail; interest in hospitality including food presentation and service; interest in customer satisfaction; interest in learning and growing within a fast-paced environment; strong organization and interpersonal skills; strong multi-tasking and time management skills; positive energy and a willingness to pitch in and be a team player wherever needed; the ability to think quickly on their feet, be flexible, creative, forward thinking, and adaptable to their situations, thinking creatively to solve last-minute challenges; sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, and flexibility with different personalities and working styles. 

Through this internship, interns have the ability to further develop these job skills as well as learn new ones. The position requires flexibility, stamina, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Interns must be open to receiving feedback and guidance throughout the course of their internship.

In addition, the following qualifications are required to ensure a meaningful, well-rounded experience for interns:

• Ability to remain calm and pleasant in a fast-paced environment, as well as make good decisions quickly
• Ability to work independently but integrate with a larger, cohesive team
• Sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, and flexibility with different personalities and working styles
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25lbs

Dates, Compensation, Work Hours, Misc. Info

Internship dates are June 16 through August 11, 2025. This is a full-time, seasonal, non-exempt position. Hourly compensation is at the rate of $17.00 per hour. Work hours through July 3 will be approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday allowing for a 30-minute lunch. Beginning July 8, the work schedule will change to include various forty-hour work week shifts, which may begin mid-week and may include Saturday and Sunday hours plus paid overtime. All interns are required to complete a successful background check. Minors will be required to secure a State of California minor work permit before commencement of and as a requirement for employment.

Our full-time interns are eligible to participate in our generous benefits package for the duration of their assignment, starting in the month following date-of hire, including comprehensive group insurance plans, retirement plan with exceptional employer contributions, and lunch on site during the festival.

Interns will be responsible for securing their own housing and transportation arrangements. Housing is available at Menlo College, a five-minute walk from the Music@Menlo office. Interns who choose to reside at Menlo College will coordinate directly with the College’s housing staff.

In addition, interns may access the following benefits:

• On-the-job training and hands-on experience working with the organization’s staff in a professional, supportive environment
• A broad perspective on the many components that form an internationally renowned classical music festival
• Free tickets to select performances, subject to availability and schedule demands
• For positions beginning prior to July 8, a seminar series led by staff and guest speakers focusing on topics related to nonprofit management, such as nonprofit finance, strategic planning, fundraising, and arts marketing
• Career development assistance
• College credit, work study, independent study, and/or cooperative learning programs may be available through your college or university. Participants may arrange for academic credit through their school, if desired.

To Apply

Complete the application form at www.musicatmenlo.org/about/internships. 

To be considered for this position please submit your cover letter, resume and 2 letters of recommendation to internships@musicatmenlo.org 

 

Preferred deadline: February 1, 2025, or until positions are filled. Interviews to be scheduled beginning February 2 or as applications come in. 

About Music@Menlo

Music@Menlo, an internationally acclaimed chamber music festival and institute under the artistic direction of cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, was founded in 2003. Based in Atherton, California (30 miles south of San Francisco), Music@Menlo is an important part of the Bay Area’s dynamic cultural fabric. Music@Menlo is noted for its world-class chamber music performances, extensive audience engagement programs, intensive training for preprofessional musicians through its Chamber Music Institute, and efforts to enrich and expand the global chamber music community.

About the Arts Management Internship Program

Music@Menlo’s internship program is ideally suited for motivated individuals who are eager to learn about the field of arts management and related work areas in a professional setting. An internship with Music@Menlo offers invaluable training and mentorship toward a professional career in arts management or nonprofit administration. Through on-the-job training and hands-on experience, interns gain practical experience and develop professional skills to take them into the next stage of their career development.