Photo by Dino Perrucci


The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) are among the American live event groups that sent a letter to President Biden in which they “formally offered their venues, staff, and expertise to the COVID-19 vaccination effort.”

In addition to NIVA and NITO, others who organized to send the letter include AEG, Bandit Lites, Broadway League, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), Live Nation, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Oak View Group (OVG) and We Make Events.

“The live event industry is in a unique position to help – the pandemic has fully shuttered operations, leaving venues empty and the furloughed crowd-management oriented staff who operate them eager to help out and get back to work,” read a press release.

“Since the pandemic shuttered our industry almost a year ago, our buildings and our co-workers have been paused, unutilized, and struggling,” Dayna Frank, owner & CEO, First Avenue Productions and Board President of NIVA, said (via press release). “These vaccines are our best chance at putting COVID-19 behind us, and our experiences organizing events and managing crowds now put us in the unique position of being the best prepared and most qualified industry to support the vaccination effort and get this country on the road to recovery.”

Read a portion of the letter sent to President Biden below.

NIVA, NITO et al.’s letter to Biden (in part)

“As you set about achieving the ambitious goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in 100 days, we wish to offer the full support and resources of the live event industry. We share your vision of expedient, equitable, and widespread vaccine distribution. It is our duty, as businesses rooted in communities across the nation, to do our part to set America on a positive path during this time of crisis. We stand ready to work with Federal and State governments to save lives and get America back to work and school.”