NCIAA - National Club Industry Association of America

“The National Club Industry Association of America (NCIAA) was founded in 1989 and is the official advocate and trade association of Professionals in the Nightlife & Club Industry. The only recognized Professional Club DJ Licensing Bureau in the world resolving DJ name use disputes. The NCIAA needs your help and support to keep our nightlife culture alive and combat unjust laws.”

Some of their responsibilities consist of dealing with laws being threatened by special interest groups against them. They protect member's intellectual, property and First Amendment rights and promote responsibility. They serve as federal, state, municipal "legislative watchdog" to review laws, regulations and policies. They respond to proposals impacting the industry through policy consensus from experts in our field. They also protect, represent and educate their members to serve the industry through coordinated activities along with educating their members, media, elected officials, civic and community leaders on industry issues.

MISSION STATEMENT: “NCIAA's mission is to represent, preserve, protect, educate, promote and support the economic, social and cultural contributions that provide a safe and vibrant nightlife & club industry community.”

Their Members and Alliances consist of Advocates, Community, Development, Entertainment, Establishments, Hospitality, Marketing, Media, Research, Safety, and Suppliers. 

The NCIAA is the main organization that takes care of all legal aspects and to provide them with guidelines to follow to protect your business to keep your doors open. A benefit to their website is the tools to share news, information, issues, legal developments and anti-club activity. They use this program to allow members to list interactive profiles and messaging features. They also allow members to access media, artwork, website, newsletter, and publications and informal services. It provides access to project leads, jobs, fellowships, internships, experts and professional businesses along with networking opportunities with fellow professional peers, colleagues and recognized experts. It also provides access to award shows, conferences, meetings, symposiums, workshops, seminars and tours.

As a possible nightclub/venue owner in the future, it wouldn’t even be a question to join this website… I would greatly consider this organization and what they have to offer. They offer you everything there is to know and give you the ability to be flexible and open to new ideas through networking. Networking is key and is one way to help make your business successful!

All information taken from NCIAA - National Club Industry Association of America

Jose Abreu - kids transformed by music | Video on TED.com

Jose Abreu is a very inspiring person in my eyes. His dream was to be a musician and was determined until his dream came true. His goal was to give back to his country in hopes that the children would have the same opportunities that he had. From his first rehearsal, he saw a bright future for the program that he started, however only eleven students showed up. He was forced to decide, “Do I close the program or multiply these kids.” He decided to fight the challenge and promised those eleven children that he would turn their orchestra into one of the best/leading orchestras in the word. And he did. He was recognized as the 5th World Orchestra, he attends to 300,000 lower to middle class children along with targeting poor children, encourages the younger generation to be role models for their family and their community, and was also awarded the TED prize.

Through his story, he shares knowledge about his life experiences and how he accomplished his goals. To me, he is inspiring because I support the music programs in schools and is one program that has always been sadly looked upon. Schools don’t understand the importance of music in an individual’s life. I saw the music program wither away in my own school and we could have really used someone like Jose to motivate, inspire, and teach children one of the most important talents in the world… to make music.

His strategy is to never give up on something that has so much potential. My goal is to be as inspiring as he was, so someday I can give back to my community for the opportunities it has given me.

“The music becomes a source for developing the dimensions of the human being, thus elevating the spirit, and leading man to a full development of his personality.” –Jose Abreu