The hardships the majority of independent venues are facing is very real, as detailed in NIVA’s inaugural State of Live report, but as this week’s conference demonstrated, so is the community, optimism and collaborative spirit.

Decked out in a white suit with purple gloves, Minneapolis’ very own Prince Drag King took the stage at Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee on the final day of NIVA’s 2025 conference on Wednesday to share a few hints about next year’s host city: “Next year we’re going to party like it’s 1999. You might want to put a little gas in your red corvette and you might want to drive up the Mississippi and put on your raspberry beret.”

Audrey Fix Schaefer, the Communications Director for I.M.P. and its iconic venues in Washington, D.C., has been named as NIVA’s Board President. She previously served as NIVA’s Vice President and Communications Director.

The National Independent Venue Association launched the 2025 NIVA conference by unveiling the results of its first-ever comprehensive national economic impact study, The State of Live.

“When it’s gone, it’s gone and there is no way to get it back,” said DeGeorge, southeast president at NIVA, covering Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas as well as chair of NIVA’s industry affairs committee. “It impacts your business whether your business has been damaged or not.”

By Stephen Parker, Executive Director, National Independent Venue Association

Data drives decisions. If we want independent live music to have a seat at the table when policies, funding, and industry trends are set, we need the numbers to back up what we already know: that these stages, these shows, these venues matter.

Get ready to belly up to the bar in Polka City. Registration for the National Independent Venue Association’s NIVA’25 in Milwaukee is now open.

NIVA is undertaking the first national economic research study of the independent live entertainment sector and is asking for participation in its “State of Live” survey.