Let The Good Times Roll: NIVA Announces Third Annual Conference In New Orleans June 2-5

The National Independent Venue Association will meet up this summer in New Orleans for it’s third annual conference, taking place June 2-5 with programming and showcases taking place throughout the Big Easy. Past events took place in Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Industry leaders, NIVA members, artists, and sponsors will converge for the three-day event bringing the live entertainment community together to support, educate, and connect industry leaders across the U.S. 

Building on the success of previous conferences, NIVA ’24 promises an immersive experience including a dynamic lineup of panels, workshops, and live performances across multiple iconic New Orleans venues, including an opening reception at legendary Tipitina’s. NIVA ‘24 programming will include a fireside chat with Marsha Vlasic, Vice Chair Music Division at IAG, and more.

Early bird registration is now open, go here to register. Last year’s conference drew more than 1,000 attendees from 34 states and Washington, D.C., plus international participants.

The conference will include four programming tracks over three days: booking, marketing and ticketing, venue and business operations, and advocacy & policy. 

It’s not too late to suggest panel and presentation ideas to organizers, through the submission portal here through Jan. 31. The community-sourced program model continues to elevate NIVA’s conference programming to the high caliber that attendees have come to expect.

“NIVA ’24 is an electrifying celebration of independent live entertainment spaces that are the heartbeat of communities across the nation,” said NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker in a statement. “We are thrilled to bring together agents, bookers, government leaders, advocates, and venue and promoter operators from across the country to help bolster our economic and cultural strength.”  

In the joint announcement, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell adds, “New Orleans is thrilled to host the 2024 National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) Conference, bringing the nation’s independent performance venues, promoters and festivals to the birthplace of modern music. There is no city that recognizes the value of our culture bearers for our quality of life and our economy than New Orleans, and we recognize the vital role NIVA played in supporting them throughout the pandemic and its aftermath,”

“New Orleans will continue to lead the way in establishing the importance of nighttime economy to our residents, visitors and businesses. This NIVA Conference brings together the venues, artists and professionals that create the vibrancy that local and state economies need, and our city is looking forward to being the epicenter of independent live entertainment’s continued efforts to build our nation’s collective cultural future.”