Live Music Society Launches New Webinar Series to Empower Small Performance Venues

Non-Profit Has Given $3.8 Million To Support Small Music Venues Since 2020

October 1, 2024 - Live Music Society, the nonprofit organization that has provided $3.8 million in grant funding to small venues and listening rooms across the United States since 2020, is launching the first of a series of free public webinars beginning this Fall. These webinars will equip small venue owners and operators with insights and strategies shared by industry experts. From mastering the art of grant writing to cultivating a compelling brand and implementing effective marketing strategies on a budget, these sessions can provide essential tools to not just survive, but truly thrive in the world of independent music venues. 

More info on Live Music Society’s free webinars here:https://www.livemusicsociety.org/webinars

The free webinar program being offered by Live Music Society grew out of their Music in Action Summit, held in June in New Orleans. The Summit brought together representatives from 31 grantee venues across the United States in a gathering that fostered a wealth of knowledge exchange, inspiration, and collaboration. LMS developed these webinars based on a deeper understanding of community goals and needs that surfaced at the Summit. The new series underscores Live Music Society's unwavering dedication to empowering and sustaining the invaluable network of small independent venues nationwide. 

Fall 2024 Live Music Society Webinars:

• Tuesday, Nov 12 - Aaron Henderson - Grant Writing: The Narrative; Guiding participants through writing a compelling grant proposal. 
• Learn how to craft a compelling story for any grant proposal. This session will help you navigate what funders are looking for, and provide tips for ensuring your venue's unique challenges and mission are effectively communicated. 
• Tuesday, Nov 19 - Aaron Henderson - Grant Writing: Budgets; Supporting your story through the creation of realistic and funder-friendly budgets. 
• Build a solid, funder-friendly budget to support your grant application. This webinar will cover practical tips for how to link budget items to project goals and avoid common pitfalls in grant budgeting. 
• Tuesday, Dec 3 - Bruce C. Bryan - Branding: You Have a Brand. Now What?; Take a deep dive into understanding brand identity and bringing it to life. 
• Branding goes beyond just a logo. Learn how to bring your venue’s brand identity to life through consistent messaging and audience engagement. This session will help you solidify and amplify your brand’s presence in the community. 
• Tuesday, Dec 10 - Bruce C. Bryan. Marketing: How to Make the Most of the Advertising Budget You Have; Tools and tactics to maximize impact with a limited marketing budget. 
• Discover practical marketing strategies tailored for small venues with limited budgets. This webinar will focus on maximizing your advertising impact through affordable and effective tools and tactics. 

The introduction of the Live Music Society webinars comes on the heels of an eventful year for Live Music Society. In August, the nonprofit announced the opening of its Toolbox grant applications for its 2024 grantees. The Toolbox grants are designed to support the practical needs of small music venues, offering up to $10,000 per venue to address challenges and enhance the live music experience. This marks the third round of Toolbox grants, following two rounds in 2023, which granted $300k to 43 small music venues.   

In May, Live Music Society announced the recipients of their second annual Music in Action grant, totaling $710,000 and awarded to 24 small venues. The grant emphasizes economic growth, audience and community engagement, and empowers small venues to take steps towards equity and equality through curated live event programming. Read more at Billboard. The first Music in Action grant debuted in 2023, and awarded $500,000 to 17 small performance venues.

About Live Music Society: 

Live Music Society’s mission is to recognize and protect small venues and listening rooms across the United States so that live music can remain accessible to all. Since its founding in 2020, the nonprofit has distributed $3.8 million through 176 grants to 155 venues, supporting live music spaces, emerging talents, established musicians, and affordable access to music in underserved communities. In 2023, they introduced two grant programs aimed at long-term growth and support, earning them NIVA's Community Development Award that year. The Music in Action program focuses on engaging communities and expanding audiences, while the Toolbox program supports practical projects that enhance the live music experience. In 2024, they hosted the first Music in Action Summit, bringing together 31 grantee venues to share knowledge and inspire collaborations, underscoring their commitment to strengthening the independent venue ecosystem nationwide. Their partnerships with organizations like NIVA, the House of Songs, and the Americana Music Association show their dedication to fostering creativity and protecting the spaces where musicians can grow.