Join NIVA & Become A Part of Our Community

Become a NIVA member and join us in our mission to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent venues and promoters throughout the United States. As a trade organization, NIVA will remain on the front lines of advocacy and policy, while creating an equitable and sustainable future for our members that will serve the evolving needs of our community.

Membership Benefits

NIVA leverages the collective power of our diverse, nationwide membership to secure benefits and partnerships that are oftentimes out of reach for small independent organizations. By utilizing our powerful network of collaborators, NIVA connects its members to opportunities that serve the unique needs of our industry. NIVA aims to provide every member the equal opportunity to thrive, which in turn contributes to the overall success of our sector.

 

benefits include

  • Competitive healthcare insurance options and employee benefits programs through NIVA Care

  • Exclusive discounts and partnerships, such as access to Bandsintown premium venue positioning and marketing

  • Access to NIVA’s annual industry conference and various NIVA events throughout the year

  • Participation in professional development and interactive sessions

  • Expert guidance and training on best practices, such as reopening checklists and pertinent seminars

  • Networking opportunities with peers across the nation and engagement with community partners

  • Advocacy representation on the federal, state, and local levels

  • Key partnership and sponsorship opportunities

  • Member directory and ability to attend member meetings (in-person and online)

NIVA Members

NIVA represents independent venues and promoters in all 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam. NIVA members include some of the preeminent independent music venues, comedy clubs, performing arts centers, concert promoters, dance centers, and festivals in America. The NIVA member community consists of for-profit independent businesses of all shapes and sizes, non-profit organizations and presenters, as well as city- and state-owned venues.

 CAN YOU JOIN?

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.

  • 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.

  • All Members must submit a completed membership application form and/or annual renewal membership application form.

  • Designate a person to serve as the Member's primary representative.

  • All Members must pay dues, if any, as established by the Board from time to time.

  • All Members must abide by any code of ethics, rules of conduct, etc. established by the Board from time to time.

 

If your company meets these criteria and you would like to join NIVA, please complete the new member form.

 

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.

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.