The National Independent Venue Association’s mission is to cultivate, elevate, and advocate for an equitable and sustainable ecosystem of independent performance venues, festivals, and promoters.
Formed by a group of independent venue owners and operators in 2020, NIVA is the first-ever independent live entertainment trade association with more than 20 member-led chapters. NIVA offers a range of valuable member services designed to support and uplift its community of nearly 1,500 members across all 50 U.S. states. NIVA is committed to not only your sustainability, but also your growth. Through programs and initiatives that help you maximize your profits, expand your network, and participate in forging the future of the industry, NIVA is here to support you today and help you thrive tomorrow.
The challenges to our independent live entertainment industry continue to mount. When we stand together, we will overcome them. Independents are stronger together — join us today.
Independents Are Stronger Together.
For more information about NIVA membership, contact members@nivassoc.org.
Membership Benefits
NIVA works to bring together the independent live entertainment community, serve as the national voice to elevate our sector, make life easier for our members, and ensure that we have a seat at the table to forge the future of our communities and our industry. By leveraging the collective power of our diverse, nationwide membership, NIVA secures benefits and partnerships that are oftentimes out of reach for small independent organizations. NIVA aims to provide every member an equal opportunity to thrive.
✓ Community & National Network
Access to a national community of nearly 1,500 members
Free membership to your local chapter to build community and collaborate on live entertainment
Attend NIVA’s monthly town hall with members across the country
✓ Lowering Costs & Fueling Growth
Partner discounts for both live entertainment platforms and conferences
Access to programs and strategies that create growth and resilience for your organization
Discounts on goods via NIVA Savings
✓ Advocacy & Policy
Spearheading industry change through national, state, and local advocacy
Support for local advocacy on local, county, and state legislation, as well as policy, organizing & advocacy toolkits for members
Membership Criteria
Programming by participating venues and promoters must primarily consist of original live music, comedy, and other similar programming as a primary driver of your business; factors to be considered in meeting this qualification will include the presence of at least 4 of the following at member venues or locations/festivals where promoters program performances:
(1) defined performance and audience space;
(2) mixing desk, PA system, and lighting rig;
(3) at least two of: sound engineer, booker, promoter, stage manager, security personnel, box office manager;
(4) there is a paid ticket or cover charge to attend most performances, artists are paid fairly and do not play for free or solely for tips, except for legitimate fundraisers or similar charitable events; and
(5) performances are marketed through gig listings in printed and/or electronic publications, websites, email blasts, and/or social media.
To be eligible for NIVA membership:
Venues and promoters must not be owned (in whole or in part), managed, or exclusively booked by an organization that has more than one of the following three attributes:
(1) “publicly-traded”
(2) multinational or
(3) owns, manages or books venues in more than one state
Venues and promoters can be for-profit, non-profit, or government-owned, and can be corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, or individual sole proprietors.
To qualify as a “promoter” you must book and present musicians, comedians, or similar performing artists primarily in independent venues or at festivals and pay fees to those performers based on selling tickets to the public or other comparable means.
If your organization meets these criteria:
Submit a completed membership application form and/or annual renewal membership application form.
Designate a person to serve as the Member's primary representative.
Pay dues, if any, as established by the Board from time to time.
Abide by any code of ethics, rules of conduct, etc. established by the Board from time to time.
If your business is not a venue, promoter or festival and you wish to become an affiliate member to become part of the community, please email partnerships@nivassoc.org.
Our Members
The NIVA member community represents the small businesses, non-profits, and publicly-owned spaces that make up most of the independent live entertainment ecosystem. We are venues, promoters, festivals, and performing arts centers. Our stages are the center of live performance in every community across all 50 U.S. states, including music, comedy, theater, spoken word, and dance.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) delivered the single largest U.S. investment in the arts through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. SVOG allocated $16.25 billion in federal emergency relief administered by the Small Business Administration, saving the industry from a complete collapse. NIVA created the first, and only, annual independent live entertainment industry conference that connects our community in person with essential business networks. NIVA also established the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) as a non-profit 501(c)(3), which has distributed over $3.7 million to date in emergency relief to venues. Learn more about NIVA here.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) are committed to equity in their support and advocacy for independent venues, and seek to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities. NIVA is committed to creating and upholding a safe space for its members where respectful conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility can continue to happen. NIVA and NIVF make an ongoing commitment to prioritize DEI initiatives and learn more about best practices and approaches to DEI in the live performance industry, and to provide resources and professional development opportunities to support NIVA’s members in doing the same for their individual businesses.