Workforce Development
Venue Operations Experience (VOX)
Want to Get Your Foot in the Door at an Independent Music Venue?
Whether you're interested in digital marketing or learning the ins and outs of live show production, the VOX Program offers the training, mentorship, and real-world experience to kick-start your career.
The National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) presents two distinct Venue Operations eXperience (VOX) training programs, each designed to support under-recognized groups in the live entertainment industry (POC, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities). These programs provide hands-on training, mentorship, and intern opportunities to help participants build careers in live entertainment.
TENNESSEE VOX PROGRAM: Digital Marketing
A 4-month program in the summer of 2025 that is focused on digital marketing within live entertainment venues, offering real-world experience and career-building opportunities.
Program Highlights:
📚 15 virtual gamified training workshops
💼 12-week paid internship at a TN local host indie venue
🎓 3-month mentorship with an industry expert
🎟 Free 3-day streaming pass to NIVA '25 Conference
📝 Resume and career workshop
🌐 Access to NIVF’s job board & extended learning resources
Participating Cities in TN:
📍 Memphis
📍 Nashville
📍 Pelham
NATIONWIDE VOX PROGRAM: Live Production
A 4-month program designed for individuals seeking careers in production (live sound & lighting) within independent music venues.
Program Highlights:
📚 15 virtual gamified training workshops
🎤 Shadow shifts & hands-on venue experience
💼 8-week paid internship at a local host indie venue
🎓 3-month mentorship from industry professionals
🌐 Networking opportunities & access to NIVF’s job board
📝 Resume-building & career development assistance
Participating Cities:
📍 San Jose, CA
📍 Denver, CO
📍 Fort Collins, CO
📍 Dekalb, IL
📍 Portland, ME
📍 Tupelo, MS
📍 Philadelphia, PA
📍 Bellingham, WA
📍 Milwaukee, WI
Shoutout to our amazing past host venues! We’re gearing up for another exciting year—stay tuned for our 2025 venue list!
If you are an experienced production or digital marketing 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 Mentor!
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!
Be A HOST VENUE!
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
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, 60% of our graduates have already secured job offers!
