VenuesNow 2025 All-Star Honoree: Gary Witt

GARY WITT
CEO / Co-Owner
The Pabst Theater Group

FIRST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:  
“Cutting grass in football fields and park districts.”

It’s no wonder that The Pabst Theater Group CEO/co-owner Gary Witt points to “hosting the NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) Conference in Milwaukee and at our venues in June of 2025” as a highlight of his past year. From NIVA Conference’s opening party at the historic, beautiful Pabst Theater to panel sessions held at Turner Hall Ballroom and Miller High Life Theatre, to nighttime festivities at Vivarium and Riverside Theater, The Pabst Theater Group venues truly shined during the event and showed attendees just how special the live music scene is in Milwaukee.

“We were founders of the organization and remain believers in its ability to bring together the independent venues and promoters in America, making them better,” says Witt, who was named to NIVA’s Board of Directors during the conference. Witt’s history in Brew City runs deep, with him leading PTG since 2002, where he grew from a single Milwaukee venue into a powerhouse portfolio of theaters and clubs that host over 800 events annually and contribute more than $250 million to the local economy. A passionate advocate for independent venues and downtown revitalization, Witt emphasizes local cuisine and heightened hospitality at the company’s venues, and has been a vocal leader on industry issues from pandemic recovery to cultural policy.

Witt notes that the “indecision in the economy, coupled with confusion surrounding all-in ticketing and the Beanie-Babieism of our tickets has made it a very difficult time to sell tickets.” That said, Witt adds that PTG (which also includes The Fitzgerald) has been excited to be one of the first users of booking software Prism – “and we continue to have our expectations confirmed by their ability to adapt to our needs. And A.I. is proving to be an assistance, especially given that we do 800 shows a year leaving us with a ton of work.”

Witt says he is focused on “doing what we do better.” He explains, “The only way to ever be any good at anything is to feel like you’re not any good at anything and challenge yourself daily to be better. We worship the experience, whether back of house or front of house. The experience is our focus.”