II. Government Collaboration

Ensure independent stages are embedded in public planning, infrastructure, and cultural development efforts.

• Establish Representation for the Independent Live Sector in Public Decision-Making

1. Ensure independent venue owners and presenters have formal roles within tourism boards, cultural commissions, and economic development authorities. Create designated positions in state and local agencies to advocate for the sector and integrate its needs into broader cultural and economic strategies.

• Create State and Local Music and Live Performance Offices
  Push for permanent cultural infrastructure that supports independent venues through grants, capacity-building, and policy guidance–ensuring live performance is treated as an economic and civic priority.

• Offer Incentives Through Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs)
  Encourage CVBs to recognize independent stages as economic anchors by offering marketing support, funding, and technical assistance that drives tourism and downtown revitalization.

• Partner with Local Nighttime Economy Offices and Night Mayors
  Work with city-led nightlife offices to shape policy that reduces stigma around nighttime culture and protects venues operating late hours, especially in entertainment districts.

• Collaborate with Cultural Tourism Campaigns to Promote Independent Stages
  Position independent stages as core destinations in tourism initiatives, linking them to economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and community identity to increase their visibility and value to policymakers.

• Establish Designated Artist Loading Zones Around Independent Venues
  Advocate for safe, accessible spaces for artists and crews to load equipment in and out–especially in urban and high-traffic areas–supporting efficient operations and reducing safety risks.

• Provide Free or Reduced-Cost Parking for Independent Artists and Staff
  Reduce barriers for artists, production crews, and staff–especially those working late-night hours–through targeted parking initiatives that support working-class cultural workers.

• Design Public Transit Routes and Schedules Around Entertainment Hubs
  Ensure that mass transit systems account for the locations and operating hours of independent stages to support both audience access and worker mobility, especially in transit-dependent communities.