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 Training Sessions and the 4-month Venue Operations Experience (VOX).
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSIONS
The FREE virtual training sessions 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 events 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 more information about the Workforce Development Program, please contact Christy Culver at christy@nivf.org.
For partnership opportunities, please contact Bri Buchanan or Devin DeHart at partnerships@nivassoc.org.
Upcoming Sessions
NEXT VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSIONS
We’re excited to offer free monthly Workforce Development Virtual Training Sessions! Click the links below for details and registration information.
Past Sessions
See session descriptions in the menu below. All session recordings and supporting materials are archived in the Training Hub. To access the Training Hub archive, please fill out the form here.
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Is This Thing On? Finding Your Audience in a Post-Pandemic Market
June 16, 2022
All independent venue employees interested in venue marketing were invited to attend this interactive virtual training event. Learn from industry experts about post-pandemic promotion!
Guided By: Stefanie Haapala Burns (Marketing & Design Specialist at Audiotree)
Featuring: Lennora Jules (CMO at Pabst Theater Group), Leigh Bezezekoff (Marketing & Ticketing Manager at Tractor Tavern), Greta Cornett (Marketing Manager at Bohemian Foundation)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Get to the Gig! Creative Promotional Ideas Using Your Existing Toolbox
October 19, 2023
Marketing a show isn't all social media ads and gig posters. But if you're working with a small staff, limited budget, or time constraints, it can feel like your shows aren't making a splash. In this session, we'll cover out of the box promotional ideas that stay well, inside the box.
Instructed by: Stefanie Haapala Burns // Digital Marketing Curriculum Developer for VOX & Former Marketing Specialist at Audiotree
Access the Training Hub to watch
Grow with Google: Learn the Basics of Google Ads
October 26, 2023
In this workshop you will learn how to reach more customers and grow your business with Google Ads. We will cover how to create an account and set up an ad campaign, how to improve ad performance, and how to measure success.
Instructed by: Robert Martinez // Google Digital Coach
Access the Training Hub to watch
Aprende los Conceptos Básicos de Google Ads
30 de noviembre de 2023
En este taller, aprenderás a llegar a más clientes y a hacer crecer tu negocio con Google Ads. Te enseñaremos a crear una cuenta y a configurar una campaña publicitaria, a mejorar el rendimiento de tus anuncios y a medir el éxito.
Instructor: Roberto Martinez // Google Digital Coach
Access the Training Hub to watch
Grow with Google: Learn the Basics of Google Ads
October 26, 2023
Instructed by: Robert Martinez // Google Digital Coach
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Bar Pricing: Pour costs, supply cost, inventory and more!
August 4, 2022
This virtual session includes instruction covering a range of factors when determining bar pricing. Sam Gearing is an 11-year Food and Beverage veteran and currently the Bar Manager at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA.
Instructed By: Sam Gearing (Bar Manager at The UC Theatre)
Access the Training Hub to watch
So You Have a Show to Settle? From understanding the deal to settling the show
October 6, 2022
Come ready to learn and build a solid foundation from industry experts who will address things like: Does the offer match the contract? Are you ready to start an artist and internal prelim? Is this a rental? Do you understand the audit? What will the tour manager and your bookkeeper want to see? Settlement templates will be provided!
Instructed by the team from Production Simple & Headliners Music Hall, including Cory Mullins (General Manager), Mez Hendrix-Inman (Production Manager), Scotty Haulter (Director of Ops)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Rock ‘n Roll Risk Management
March 30, 2023
General Insurance and risk management 101
Venue coverages, limits, cancellation coverages, state of the industry, red flags, loss mitigation, risk transfer and more!
Instructed By: Cameron Smith (Senior Vice President at HUB Entertainment), Win Williams (Senior Vice President at Hub International Risk Services)
Access the Training Hub to watch
The Guest Experience: How To Provide Top-Notch Service to Ensure Repeat Ticket Buyers
April 20, 2023
Customer service may sound easy, but in a live music/comedy setting, guests and situations can be unpredictable. Learn new ways to ensure quality customer service while adhering to your policies and procedures. Empower your staff to make choices that best serve the venue and your clientele. Make your venue a destination where your customers can’t wait to come back.
Instructed By: Antoine Griffin (General Manager at DC Improv Comedy Club), Mallorie McRea (Ticketing & Guest Services Manager at World Cafe Live), Sarah Tisinger (Operations Manager at Washington’s & The Armory)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Cash Flow 101 - Sharing & Simplifying
September 21, 2023
Weekly management of cash flow forecast is a critical weekly activity to ensure your business is on the right track. This session will share various strategies to effectively manage your venue’s cash flow in a workable model with an eye on efficiency. Viewing the model as a tool leveraging its contents for multiple purposes to encourage a highly effective presentation to owners, operators and finance members. Dive into understanding cash flow and sharing financials.
Instructed By: Richard Malenczuk, CPA & Chief Financial Officer at City Winery. Richard is an experienced financial executive with over 25 years experience, with the most recent 15 years in concert promotion/ venue operations/ hospitality realm.
Access the Training Hub to watch
What Makes A Venue A “Must Play” For Touring Artists
February 15, 2024
Instructed By: Adam Hartke // WAVE & Cotillion Co-owner, D Tour founder, and Midtopia Board Member
Jessie Hartke // WAVE & Cotillion Co-owner, D Tour founder, and Midtopia Board Member
Rudy Love Jr. // Touring & Recording Artist and Midtopia Board Member
Access the Training Hub to watch
Talent Buying 101: Clubs and Small Fests
March 21, 2024
Instructed By: Jordan Anderson // Talent Buyer, Troubadour
Hunter Motto // Creative Director, The Crocodile
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Preparing for the Worst: Active Attacker Detection and Response Training
June 30, 2022
Learn how to aid efforts in making venues and events safer and more secure for staff and patrons. This training includes instruction on Best Practices in threat prevention, recognition, mitigation, and response to an active attacker.
Instructed By: Jeff Broaddus (President at Broaddus Defense)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Beyond the Headlines: Production Safety for Venues
November 3, 2022
We all want our events to be “safe”. But what exactly does that mean, and how do we achieve that goal? In this session, representatives from the Event Safety Alliance will explore the four key principles of event safety, workers’ & operators' legal duty of care, useful planning & training resources, and the greatest safety risks facing live productions and how to control them (hint: they’re mostly not what you see in the news headlines).
Instructed By: Event Safety Alliance
Access the Training Hub to watch
Keeping Our Scene Safe: Sexual Violence Prevention & Response in Live Music
May 18, 2023
In recent years we've seen just how pervasive sexual violence is throughout the entire entertainment industry and yet still the music industry is not being proactive in addressing harassment and harm. Attendees of this training will leave with tangible skills to intervene safely and effectively in any harmful situation; tips for crafting violence prevention policies on the road and at independent venues; and a better understanding of your rights to a safe workplace. We are all responsible for taking care of our music communities and keeping our scenes safe.
Instructed By: Maggie Arthur (Director at Here for the Music)
*Recording Not Available
Overdose Prevention For Venues 101
June 15, 2023
Coalition for Overdose Solutions in the Music Industry & Community (COSMIC) along with beats overdose will conduct a virtual training that will share what we’ve learned and address the basics of overdose prevention and reversal for venues. This curriculum will be crafted to meet the needs of venue owners and operators, it will include the following: 1) Overview of opioid overdoses, 2) Reversal and prevention interventions, 3) How to prepare your business and your staff, 4) Obstacles we’ve encountered and the solutions they’ve inspired, and 5) Overdose prevention efforts around the country. Training will conclude with a Q&A and awareness of community resources.
Instructed By: Nikki Jean (Social Responsibility Director at Rhymesayers Entertainment), Morgan Godvin (Founder of beats overdose)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Threat and Vulnerability Assessments of Physical SpacesAugust 17, 2023
Examining your venue’s physical space should be as routine as locking the doors, but if you don’t know what to look for, the most consequential weaknesses may go unnoticed. This training will demonstrate why meaningful physical evaluation of your event or property needs to be second nature.
Instructed By: Jeff Broaddus (President, Broaddus Defense)
Access the Training Hub to watch
De-Escalation: Dos & Don’ts
November 16, 2023
This class will be full of scenarios, tips and tricks, proven methods, and opportunities to talk through tense situations using best practices. It’s helpful to explore these kinds of what-ifs in a safe space with diverse ideas from trusted friends and peers.
Instructed By: Jeff Broaddus (President, Broaddus Defense)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Beyond Zero Tolerance: Anti-Harassment Policy 101
January 18, 2024
Expand outside of zero tolerance and create a procedure that protects employees, non-employees and fans. Attend this working session presented by the Here For The Music campaign of Calling All Crows and learn our formula for writing your own sexual violence prevention and response protocol as well as the opportunity to get real-time feedback from the Director of Here For The Music.
Maggie Arthur, Director of Here For The Music, has been helping make venues, festivals and other live-music spaces safer since 2017 by both writing internal policies and facilitating trainings for staff, artists and fans.
Instructed By: Maggie Arthur (Director at Here for the Music)
*Recording Not Available
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Disability Inclusion for Venues
September 15, 2022
In this session, we learn best practices for being inclusive of people with disabilities at their venues. This includes disability etiquette fundamentals, ADA regulations, common types of reasonable modifications needed, communication accessibility, etc.
Instructed By: Tess Stanton (Training Facilitator at Rocky Mountain ADA Center)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Physical Accessibility for Venues
September 29, 2022
In this session, participants will learn about the physical access requirements for venues, including the ADA regulations and Standards for Accessible Design. We will discuss common barriers to physical accessibility, and strategies for removing barriers.
Instructed By: Tess Stanton (Training Facilitator at Rocky Mountain ADA Center)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Microaggression: Identifying & Undoing Bias
December 1, 2022
Walking through your venue doors are people representing a wide variety of identities, including racial background, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability status. Learn how to ensure everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe at all of your events. Understand the commonplace verbal, behavioral, and environmental microaggressions experienced by people from minority groups. Can these actions affect people even when they’re unintentional? Explore and understand the definition of bias. Garner tools to identify and address microaggressions in the workplace and beyond.
Instructed by the team at Campus Outreach Services, including Katie Koestner (Executive Director), Tierra Barber (Diversity & Inclusivity Coordinator)
*Recording Not Available
Accessible and Inclusive Events by RAMPD
December 7, 2023
A discussion between disabled music professionals on easy and affordable ways venues can eliminate common access barriers for talent, teams, and audiences alike! ASL access and captions are provided for this event.
Instructed by: The team at RAMPD -Elizabeth McLain, PhD (she/her), Rev. Chris Wylie (DJ Pastor Rock) (he/they), Precious Perez (she/her)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Grow with Google: Make Your Small Business More Accessible
January 25, 2024
Continuing our partnership with Grow With Google, this workshop will introduce you to tools and tactics for making your website and digital marketing more accessible. Come with your questions and get ready to improve your web presence and digital marketing!
Instructed by: Roberto Martinez, Google Digital Coach
Access the Training Hub to watch
Understanding Bias in Everyday Interactions
April 18, 2024
Instructed by: Ariana Flores, The Equity Project
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Mental Health Attuned to Our Unique Industry
January 19, 2023
Long hours, late nights, constant pressures, and tensions that are unique to the independent venue industry can take a toll on our mental health. In this session, we will learn strategies to aid in our well-being.
Instructed By: Chad Karger (Director & Porter at Porter’s Call)
Access the Training Hub to watch
Use Words: Say What You Mean (Conflict-Resolution Series Part 1)
February 16, 2023
Clinical social worker, relationship coach, mediator, and author of "Easyish: Keys To A (Relatively) Easy Relationship" Amy L. Miller joins us for a bit of a "Healthy Communication 101" session. Before we can build healthy teams, we must establish good communication habits. She will walk us through what gets in the way of assertive, healthy, and nonviolent communication, and offer skills and strategies for doing it better.
Instructed By: Amy Miller, MSW, LCSW (Owner of Roots & Keys Coaching, LLC )
Access the Training Hub to watch
Use Words: How to Do Conflict Well (Conflict-Resolution Series Part 2)
March 16, 2023
Under even the best of circumstances, conflict is inevitable. Join us to discuss ways to approach necessary conflict in a proactive way that is intentional, and which prioritizes resolution. This session will include tips and tools for effective conflict resolution as well as opportunities to practice the skills.
Instructed By: Amy Miller, MSW, LCSW (Owner of Roots & Keys Coaching, LLC )
Thank you!
Thanks to the venues, businesses, and partner organizations who have contributed to our virtual training sessions!
