Workforce Development
Venue Operations Experience (VOX)

Interested in working in live entertainment venues? VOX is a 4-month workforce development program that provides venue and job-specific training.

Have you wanted to get your foot in the door at a local independent music or comedy venue? Do you have an interest in learning more about what it takes to be part of a production team?

The summer 2025 Venue Operations eXperience (VOX) will focus on preparing you for real-world opportunities with hands-on training in event production, live sound, lighting, and more. You’ll gain valuable skills through structured workshops, covering everything from basic production terminology to advanced audio and lighting techniques, all while interning at local venues!

VOX is a 4-month workforce development program designed for under-recognized groups in the industry (BIPOC, women, genderqueer or genderfluid, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities), offering venue-specific training, an 8-week virtual gamification course, a 2-month paid internship at a host venue, and a 3-month mentorship with an industry expert.

*Applicants must be 18 years or older, interested in job opportunities within live entertainment venues or currently employed within entertainment venues, looking to expand or explore this career pathway. Formal education or experience is NOT required!

The program includes:

  • 15 virtual education through gamification sessions with a NIVF certificate of completion

  • Shadow shifts in a local music or comedy venue

  • 8-week PAID internship in a local venue

  • A personal mentor with industry experience

  • Networking opportunities

  • Access to NIVF’s Job Board

Thank you to our past host venues across the U.S.!

Be A Mentor!

If you are an experienced production professional for venues, looking to give back to the independent community and have a desire to invest in the future workers in our industry, we need you! As a mentor, you will provide real world guidance as the participants navigate the program and prepare for entry level work in live entertainment venues.

Be A HOST VENUE!

Are you interested in becoming a Host Venue? We are actively looking into providing more venues the opportunity to be Host Venues for the Venue Operations eXperience. You can join independent venues across the nation in partnering with NIVF’s turn key VOX program to aid in opportunities for the future workforce!

Please consider supporting the Venue Operations eXperience workforce development program and help lay the groundwork for more equitable opportunities in the live entertainment sector. For more information, please contact Christy Culver at christy@nivf.org


Meet the summer 2024 COHORT GRADUATES!

Check out these amazing people joining and supporting our industry! Since launching in the summer of 2023, we have supported 32 interns, connecting them with industry mentors and placing them in local host venues across the U.S. Our cohorts have been 90% women, 65% LGBTQ+, and 64% BIPOC. Impressively, in just over a year, 58% of our graduates have already secured job offers!