Member Services

NIVA engages with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies on behalf of the independent live entertainment industry to uplift and protect the interests of our members. NIVA also champions its membership as the founding member of the Fix the Tix Coalition.

NIVA empowers its chapters and members to engage with state and local officials and stakeholders throughout the country to uplift and advocate for independent live entertainment. NIVA’s state and local work provides resources and model advocacy strategies for live entertainment-friendly communities across the United States.

NIVA empowers its members to advocate on the local and state level for the policies that matter most to them. NIVA’s State Policy Tracking Program allows any member to search, track, and receive timely notifications about state legislation and regulations.

As the leading conference for independent music and comedy venues, festivals, and the promoter industry, NIVA’s annual conference brings the live entertainment community together to support, educate, and connect industry leaders across the United States. Each year, NIVA members engage in invaluable networking, attend industry-focused programming, and tune in to unforgettable live music.

NIVA's "Certified Live Independent" program champions, unites and rewards the venues, promoters, festivals, and performing arts centers that are proud to be independently owned and operated. Becoming “Certified Live Independent” is a badge of honor that will amplify your business’s visibility among fans and solidify your credibility within the national independent live entertainment community.

NIVA provides a space for its members to connect, collaborate, and seek information through webinars, town halls, and more. The NIVA community is more than just a network of contacts. It’s a source of support, camaraderie, and the collective strength needed to overcome industry challenges and drive positive change.

NIVA empowers its chapters and members to engage with state and local officials and stakeholders throughout the country to uplift and advocate for independent live entertainment. NIVA’s state and local work provides resources and model advocacy strategies for live entertainment-friendly communities across the United States.

NIVA’s economic impact calculator allows members to calculate the overall economic impact and the number of jobs supported by their venues in their specific region. Understanding the economic impact of their venue empowers members to advocate for the ongoing development and growth of the live entertainment sector throughout the country.

NIVA Savings is a group discount program that uses the collective buying power of our industry to save our members money on the items they buy every day. This program will generate significant cost savings for NIVA members participating in the program. Phase One of this program will offer NIVA members savings for food, barware, serving-ware, and cleaning supplies. The program delivers member discounts at wholesale between 10-35% on each invoice.

The NIVF Emergency Relief Fund (ERF), administered by the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF), a 501(c)(3) organization, provides economic relief to independent, live performance venues and promoters, both for-profit and nonprofit, experiencing a critically severe emergency due to circumstances beyond their control. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed throughout the year.

NIVA Care is a one-of-a-kind health insurance program that allows members to provide healthcare for full, part-time, and 1099 contractors. NIVA Care was designed to fit all NIVA members, whether they already offer benefits, would like to offer benefits, or are a sole proprietor.

The National Independent Venue Foundation is proud to partner with Drake University, to provide their State Funding Resource Guide. This database provides a critical repository of funding and workforce development opportunities designed to increase and support economic development and initiatives for independent venues and small businesses in the United States.

The Workforce Development Program, managed by the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF), is designed to advance and strengthen the training of current and future workers in independent live performance spaces. The program aims to foster community-building strategies that aid in developing local talent and removing barriers for entry, in particular for currently underrepresented communities, towards viable career paths within the industry. Currently, the program consists of Virtual Training Sessions and the 4-month Venue Operations Experience (VOX).

The Independent Venue Job Board, managed by the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF), provides exclusive jobs and hiring opportunities for independent venues, promoters, festivals, and more. NIVA members can hire from a broad pool of talent and job seekers can find specific and relevant experience in the independent live events sector. Salary transparency is required.

The Live List is an artist development initiative entirely curated by popular vote of the NIVA community. The list was compiled from the suggestions of 1,000+ NIVA members who each contributed to the names of as many as ten favorite up-and-coming live touring artists. This is not a “best of” list but a “most liked” list from the folks who live for live.