Written by: Mackenzie Christian
Raise your hand if you and your best friend met waiting in line to see your fave play a small venue. 🙋🏻🙋🏻🙋🏻 If you are like us, then you love being surrounded by other fans and scream-singing the lyrics to some of your favorite songs. Some of the best places for a connection like this are the smaller stages where your fave is right 👏🏻 there! These independent venues are the reason that the major artists we know and love are able to sell out arenas and stadiums today. It’s these smaller stages that allow us as fans to be able to connect and get to know the artists we love on an intimate level like never before. Here are some great things to know about independent venues and how fans can help! 🙌
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is a group of over 2,900 independent venues in 50 states and Washington D.C. that are banding together to ask Washington for targeted legislation to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic. Being the first to close and the last to open, independent venues are 100% shut down for an indefinite period of time. With zero revenue right now, independent venues are some of the most vulnerable small businesses, and they are at risk of closing permanently. 💔
NIVA celebrated and raised awareness and money for these independent venues by hosting a weekend of performances at independent venues coast to coast with some of the top artists in the world! This amazing series of shows was the #SOSFEST, and it featured some truly amazing acts. Miley Cyrus was at the legendary Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. The Revivalists were at Tipitina’s in New Orleans, LA. Kelsea Ballerini played at Exit/In in Nashville, TN, and there were so many more incredible artists who participated all across the country! These artists know how much value and history lives inside these small venues! Live music is so important to both the artists and the fans, but venues truly are the heartbeat of the music industry. They are the way that fans and artists are able to connect on the deepest level!🎶
Seeing that With The Band is a fan engagement company that helps fans and artists feel a part of something bigger than themselves, we only felt it was right during Independent Venue Week to raise money for the National Independent Venue Association. This non-profit organization has raised money for independent venues all across the U.S. during one of the hardest times that independent venues have ever seen. The money raised in this campaign will go directly towards making sure that independent venues are not forced to close their doors. 🌟
If you are unable to donate at this time, there is still a way you can help! Visit the NIVA website and under, "Take Action," you can choose to send a letter to Congress. Let your voice be heard, and let them know what these smaller venues mean to you and your community! Other things fans can do is buy merchandise from NIVA! They have everything from hats to t-shirts to face masks! A personal favorite of ours is their limited edition posters for all of their shows during NIVA shows from each venue and artist! ✨
We know you miss live music, and we miss live music too! Show us how much you miss shows by using our hashtag #IMissConcerts on social media and create TikTok’s showing us what you miss most about concerts! Support NIVA and Save Our Stages by tagging them on social media @nivassoc, using the hashtags #SOSFEST and #SaveOurStages, and doing what you can to help them through this time! These stages have always been there for us and our fave artists. Now, it’s time for us to be there for them. 💜
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