Ahead of Next Week’s Elections, Second Annual Gathering in Indianapolis Focuses on Building Relationships, Strengthening Bipartisan Advocacy, and Turning Local Challenges Into Policy Action
Cities, Counties, & Towns: Leveraging Relationships to Preserve Indie Stages, Up-and-Coming Artists, and Community panel at the 2026 NIVA Live Policy Summit in Indianapolis, IN.
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 28, 2026) – The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance (IIVA) held their second annual NIVA Live Policy Summit, presented by Tixel, which took place October 26 and 27, at HI-FI Indianapolis.
With 36 governorships, more than 6,000 state legislative seats, and countless local offices on the ballot next week, the two-day gathering brought together independent venue operators, promoters, festivals, policymakers, communications experts, and advocacy leaders from across the country to prepare for the decisions and relationships that will shape independent live entertainment in 2027.
“Independent venues need policies that protect fans, support fair ticketing, and give small businesses the opportunity to thrive,” said Juan Torres, VP Commercials, Tixel. “We’re proud to partner with NIVA and support its work to advance those policies, strengthen independent stages, and help the live entertainment industry flourish.”
“Independent stages cannot afford to wait until a harmful bill is introduced or a local decision threatens their future to make themselves heard,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA. “This Summit gave our community time to build relationships, sharpen our arguments, and practice making the case for independent live entertainment. As we prepare for 2027, we’re strengthening a national network of advocates who can walk into a governor’s office, a legislator, or city hall ready to turn their needs into action.”
Across the two days, participants explored how to engage incoming administrations, navigate state legislatures, build productive relationships with local officials, and communicate effectively when facing well-funded opposition. Hands-on exercises gave attendees opportunities to turn their own experiences into clear testimony and audience-specific advocacy messages.
“Running a venue means seeing firsthand how government decisions affect the artists on your stage, the people you employ, and the neighborhood around you,” said Josh Baker, Co-Owner of HI-FI Indianapolis. “Hosting this Summit brings those conversations into the kind of space we’re working to protect. When venue operators can compare experiences and learn directly from policymakers and advocates, we leave better prepared to speak up for our businesses and our communities.”
The Summit’s hands-on regulatory analysis workshop, led by Don Pitts, Founder & President of Sound Music Cities, and Sean Watterson, Chair of the Cleveland Independent Venue Association, featured the release of Sound Music Cities’ Regulatory Communication Index, measuring how clearly 25 cities communicate live music permitting rules.
Participants explored how to work with city officials and staff to make existing rules easier to find and follow, with most improvements requiring no new legislation. These conversations are already building relationships and opening the door to more substantive policy changes that better support live music.
Explore the Regulatory Communication Index and city audit resources here.
Sebastian Kitchen, Executive Director of the newly established Kentucky Governor’s Office of Music, joined David Helmers, Founder of Amplify Artist Resource Fund; Joe Argabrite, President of Britewerk and NIVA Kentucky; and Billy Hardison, Talent Buyer at Danny Wimmer Presents, for “How to Start a Music & Live Entertainment Office.” The panel shared how Kentucky’s live performance community organized to secure a dedicated voice within state government, sparking discussion among attendees about replicating this model in other states.
2026 LIVE POLICY SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
Setting the State & Local 2027 Agenda — Presented by Tixel
Through live polling and discussion, attendees shared challenges facing independent live entertainment in their communities and helped inform NIVA’s state and local advocacy planning for the coming year.Navigating New Governors & Executive Branches in 2027 — Presented by Etix
David Quam, former Deputy Director of the National Governors Association, and Bill McBride, former Executive Director of the National Governors Association, discussed how governors’ offices operate, who influences executive branch decisions, and how advocates can build relationships with administrations and agency staff.The State Legislative Agenda: Building Music & Live’s Infrastructure State-by-State — Presented by Eventim
Jasper Hendricks III, Executive Director & CEO of the Black Legislative Leaders Network, and Jessica Post, former President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and Founder of Vinca Advisors, joined moderator Kerri Park, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Music Alliance, to discuss legislative relationships and persuasive advocacy. A mock testimony exercise gave attendees opportunities to practice making their case and receive direct feedback.Cities, Counties, & Towns: Leveraging Relationships to Preserve Indie Stages, Up-and-Coming Artists, and Community — Presented by Ludus
Indiana State Senator Andrea Hunley and Janene Jackson, Partner at Holland & Knight, joined moderator Tamara Keshecki, Director of Grants and Government Relations at St. George’s Theatre, to explore how local relationships can help independent stages navigate government decisions and secure support. The session included the regulatory communications workshop led by Sean Watterson and Don Pitts.Messaging Across the Spectrum: How to Break Through with Conservatives and Liberals Against Billion-Dollar Budgets
Alexandra Sollberger, Senior Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs at Global Strategy Group; Dan Combs, Partner at DCI Group; and Audrey Fix Schaefer, Head of Communications for I.M.P. and NIVA, discussed how independent advocates can earn attention, connect with different political audiences, and respond under pressure. A guided crisis communications exercise facilitated by Kendall Gilvar of NIVA challenged participants to develop responses to fictional ticketing reform and sound ordinance disputes.How to Start a Music & Live Entertainment Office
David Helmers, Founder of Amplify Artist Resource Fund; Joe Argabrite, President of Britewerk and NIVA Kentucky; Billy Hardison, Talent Buyer at Danny Wimmer Presents; and Sebastian Kitchen, Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Music, shared lessons from organizing Kentucky’s music community and securing dedicated support within state government.
Presenting Sponsor: Tixel
Additional Sponsors and Partners:
Tixel, Eventim, Ludus Technologies, Sound Better with Tito’s, Etix, Dogfish Head, Sun Cruiser, Stage Water, Area 4 Labs, Opendate, IIVA (Indiana Independent Venue Alliance), HI-FI Indianapolis, Pattern, Static Eye Design Co., Maia Olmstead
For more information, visit nivassoc.org/live-summit.
ABOUT NIVA
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is the nation’s live entertainment association, representing independent venues, festivals, promoters, and presenters across the United States. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent stages. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA led the Save Our Stages campaign, culminating in landmark legislation in 2020 that established the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the largest arts investment in U.S. history.
NIVA is committed to equity in its support of independent stages. It seeks to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
CONTACT
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