BUMBERWORKS
Helping the next generation build careers in live music production.
A place to start
Getting into live music can be tough when you don’t know anyone who works in it. We started BumberWorks when Bumbershoot returned in 2023 to help change that. The free, nine-month program gives young adults ages 17–25 a way to learn how concerts and festivals happen, with guidance from people already working in the business.
Room to explore
Participants don’t need to arrive knowing which job they want. Developed with The UC Theatre’s Concert Career Pathways, BumberWorks introduces them to work across concert production, including sound engineering, marketing, and backstage hospitality. They get time to explore different roles and understand what each involves before deciding where they’d like to spend more time.
Live Show Experience
Workshops give participants a foundation. Shadow shifts, industry tours, and paid internships at local partner venues let them see how those lessons apply on the job. At Bumbershoot, they work alongside festival professionals and watch the production come together—including the problems that come up along the way and how the crew works through them.
Learning from experts
For someone starting out, having a person to ask can make a difference. Through mentorship and speaker sessions, participants get to know people working in Seattle’s live music scene. They hear how others got started and build relationships at local venues, while learning alongside a cohort of peers who are finding their own way into the industry.
Support along the way
A free program removes one barrier, but participation still comes with other costs. BumberWorks includes meals and fair compensation to help participants make time for the experience. Sessions on teamwork, conflict resolution, and social and emotional learning also support participants with parts of working life that don’t come with a technical manual.
A future in live music
Our long-term hope is to see Bumbershoot staffed and run by BumberWorks graduates. Local venues, mentors, and program partners help make that possible by giving participants experience they can build on. It’s an investment in the people who will book the shows, run the venues, and shape what live music in Seattle looks like in the years ahead.