WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Workforce Development Program 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 Trainings and the 4-month Venue Operations Experience (VOX).

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - VIRTUAL TRAININGs

The FREE virtual trainings cover a range of topics related to independent venues and promoters. These interactive sessions involve various venues and organizations that contribute their unique insights, expertise, and best practices. These trainings are open to any current or prospective employee of an independent venue or promoter.

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. We encourage live attendance to get the interactive benefits of each session. If you are unable to attend during the live virtual event, you can access the archived portion of the events.

To access the Training Hub archive of recorded trainings and supporting materials, please fill out the form here.

For questions or partnerships surrounding the workforce development programs, please reach out to christy@nivf.org.

NIVF + NIVA Development sessions: 4-Part Marketing Series

Ad PLans: From Ideation to ExecUtion

We’re thrilled to continue our 4-Part Marketing Series with the second workshop in the NIVF + NIVA Development Sessions.

🗓️ April 16, 2026

⏰ 3:30pm ET on Zoom

Moderated by Camilla Grayson (The Masquerade), this session brings together leading marketing minds from across the live entertainment industry to break down how great campaigns actually come to life. From big-picture strategy to on-the-ground execution, this session will offer practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways to help you build smarter, more effective marketing plans for your venues.

SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE!

mark your calendar for the full series:

This series is built by the industry, for the industry—designed to deliver real-world, practical strategies you can put to work immediately. Each workshop will have its own unique registration link, announced at the conclusion of the prior workshop —so stay tuned and plan to join us live.

🗓️ March 19 – Being Your Brand

🗓️ April 16 – Ad Plans: From Ideation to Execution

🗓️ May 7 – Meta/Digital Marketing

🗓️ May 21 – Agent + Promoter

Past trainings

All recordings and supporting materials are archived in the Training Hub. To access the Training Hub, please fill out the form here.

Thank you!

Thank you to the venues, businesses, and partner organizations below who have contributed to our virtual trainings and VOX!

Logo for 1huddle with the number 1 in blue and the word huddle in black
Text reading 'calling all crows' with silhouettes of three flying crows to the right.
2024 Grow with Google High Impact Partner badge with a ribbon and star details.
L-Acoustics logo with the company name in gray and a stylized icon in gold on a white background.
Levitt Foundation
Music Will
Logo for Nightlife United with a gradient purple to blue hexagon background and white text
Black background with the white letters 'NIVA' in bold, uppercase font.
Black and white logo with the word ''r·world'' inside a circle, with a stylized dot in the middle.
A logo for 615 Indie Live 2026, featuring bold white text and a stylized red and white curved line design on a black background.
Black text says 107.3 alternative Cleveland.
A purple circular logo with the word "BEM" in the center.
Logo with two concentric circles with plus and asterisk signs inside, and the words 'beats overdose' below.
Broaddus Defense logo with the company name in blue text on a white background.
Campus Outreach logo with interlinked circles and text.
CISA
Urban-style logo with the text 'CITY WINERY' in bold purple letters, surrounded by a distressed purple border on a white background.
Purple logo with a plus sign, a star, and a circular orbit with a star, featuring a large letter 'C' in the center.
Logo for DC Improv comedy club featuring a clock with a brick wall background, bordered by the text "Comedy's Best Since 1992" and "Washington D.C."
A black and white graphic with a stylized sun, stars, planets, and musical note above the text 'DRKMTTR' in bold font.
Stylized logo with the word 'DMLP' in yellow outlined letters on a dark background.
https://www.entergain.com/
World map in orange and beige tones with 'esa' and the words 'event safety alliance' on the right side.
Cartoon illustration of a man and a woman smiling and making a 'hang loose' hand gesture, with the text 'HANDS UP Productions' beneath them, surrounded by red starburst shapes.
Logo for Headliners Music Hall with stylized black text and decorative element above, featuring a blue dot and black shapes
Bold white text on a black background spelling out the brand name 'HIVE' for event marketing email management software hive.co.
Logo with a blue gradient circle above the word 'HUB' in white capital letters on a dark background.
Logo of Inclusive Saratoga featuring a stylized flower with four purple and four green petals above the text 'Inclusive Saratoga' in purple.
Black and white logo with the words 'LIVE' and 'MUSIC SOCIETY' and a vintage microphone in the center.
Midtopia logo with stylized mountain peaks in shades of yellow and orange above the word 'Midtopia' in bold black letters.
Logo of Music Venue Alliance Nashville featuring bold orange letters 'MVAN' with a lightning bolt and the text 'MUSIC VENUE ALLIANCE NASHVILLE' below.
MUSICARES
Logo of the Pabst Theater Group featuring a black circle with a white letter P inside, and the company name written next to it.
Logo of Porter’s Call featuring a simplistic drawn door and the text 'Porter's Call' in dark font.
Graphic with the words 'Production Simple' in black font, with a red exclamation mark replacing the letter 'I' in 'Production' and a red vertical line replacing the 'I' in 'Simple'.
Logo of RAMPD featuring a black musical note with a personified head, and the text 'RAMPD' with the caption 'Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities'.
Logo of the Rocky Mountain ADA Center with the ADA acronym in stylized blue font and a list of states: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.
Logo featuring a tree with green leaves and a key in its branches, and roots extending below, with the text 'roots & keys' and 'life and relationship coaching'.
Snapchat logo with a ghost outline on a yellow background.
https://coloradosound.org/
Black and white logo of a crocodile with the text "The Croc" over its back, "Est. 1991" on either side, and the word "Crocodile" below.
Logo of The Equity Project with the words 'Equity. Redefined. Actualized.' underneath.
Logo for The Theatre with a black background, ornate gold and white border, and white stylized letters in the center.
A logo celebrating 25 years of Diesel Music, featuring a stylized animal skull with horns and a banner that reads "25 Years of Diesel Music".
The word 'Troubadour' written in black, Old English style font on a white background.
Black circular logo with a white letter 'W' and blue gradient stripes on the right side.
Blue circular logo with a stylized microphone graphic above the text 'World Cafe Live' and 'Est. 2004' at the bottom.
The logo of WXPN radio station with black and gray letters on a white background.
Black background with white logotype of the venue 'xBk' centered

For questions or partnerships surrounding the Workforce Development Programs, please reach out to christy@nivf.org.