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 local independent music or comedy venue? Do you have an interest in learning more about what it takes to run a venue through front of house operations?
Apply now for the summer 2024 Venue Operations eXperience 4-month program! The front of house operations focus will prepare you for opportunities by providing training in box office, inventory & pricing, artist & guest relations, and more. You can apply NOW to learn and intern in local venues!
VOX is a 4-month workforce development program for selected participants from under-recognized groups in the industry (BIPOC, women, genderqueer or genderfluid, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities), that are interested in careers within live entertainment venues. The program provides venue and job-specific training through an 8-week virtual gamification program, a 2-month paid internship in a local host venue, and a simultaneous 3-month mentorship with an assigned 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 application windows for the summer cohort, which will run May-August, 2024, are:
November 20, 2023 - Venue Host interest forms open
January 10, 2024 - Venue Host interest forms close
January 29, 2024 - Mentor applications open
February 1, 2024 - Participant (Intern) applications open
March 14, 2024 - Participant (Intern) applications close
April 30, 2024 - Mentor applications close
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 opportunites
Access to NIVF’s Job Board
Participating host venues for Front of House Operations summer cohort May-August, 2024 are:
Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
Levitt Pavilion, Denver, CO
Make.Shift Art Space, Bellingham, WA
SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME
The Granada, Lawrence, KS
Treefort Music Hall, Boise, ID
Washington’s, Fort Collins, CO
World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
xBk Live, Des Moines, IA
Be A Mentor!
If you are an experienced professional in front of house operations (box office, inventory & pricing, artist & guest relations, etc.) for venues or promoters, 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. Applications for summer 2024 mentors open January 29 and close April 30, 2024! Click the application button for more info.
Be A HOST VENUE!
Are you interested in becoming a Venue Host for Summer 2024 interns? We are actively looking into providing more venues the opportunity to be Venue Hosts for the Venue Operations eXperience. You can join venues like The Basement, The Granada, Treefort Music Hall, Washington’s, World Cafe Live and xBk in partnering with NIVF’s turn key VOX program to aid in opportunities for the future workforce! INTEREST FORMS HAVE CLOSED. CHECK BACK FOR FUTURE 2025 DATES!
For more information around workforce development programming, please contact Christy Culver at christy@nivf.org
For partnership opportunities, please contact Bri Buchanan or Devin DeHart at partnerships@nivassoc.org
Meet the Second cohort!
We are delighted to announce our winter 2024 cohort of VOX program participants – Jaylin and Mariyah at The Basement in Nashville, TN, Brenna and Courtney at The Granada in Lawrence, KS, Amy and Jan at Treefort Music Hall in Boise, ID, Alexis and Nikita at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, Leah at Washington's in Fort Collins, Co, and Dana and Teri at xBk in Des Moines, IA. Participants were selected through a competitive process and receive training, paid internship experience, and industry mentorship.
