Special shout out to World Cafe Live COO Kerri Park for this well-deserved recognition on Pollstar & VenuesNow’s list of ‘2024 Women of Live’ honorees! Read more below. We’re grateful for her leadership, not just at WCL, but also in Philadelphia and the national independent venue ecosystem.
Posted by Ryan Borba | Mar 11, 2024
Committed to her beloved city of Philadelphia, and getting her start at World Cafe Live in 2004 as part of the food and beverage team, Kerri Park now oversees all departments at the 650-capacity music venue, where she pushes looks to push the boundaries of what a nonprofit venue can be.
“Our venue’s most impactful success was participating in the National Independent Venue Foundation’s Venue Operations Experience workforce development program,” Park said. “Empowering the next generation of venue operators and owners has always been important to us, and it was very exciting to officially get a new program off the ground. We are participating in our third cohort this summer and we look forward to building out the opportunities.”
Park became general manager of World Cafe Live in 2018, and in 2019 helped navigate the merger of 501c3 LiveConnections with World Cafe Live, now serving as chief operating officer.
“Industry wide, we have all benefited from everyone’s embrace of how much live entertainment and particularly live music mean to our lives,” Park says. “I believe the key to a sustainable future full of momentum is rooted in fortifying the independent ecosystem for both venues and artists.”
With 2024 being an election year, Park says it’s important to note the public’s disposable income and economic well-being, which impacts live music.
“The reality is that show attendance is directly related to access to disposable income, so it will be imperative that opportunities for average Americans are prioritized by the president in this upcoming election.”
Park is also a LEADERSHIP Philadelphia Fellow, member of the Advisory Board for the Director of Nighttime Economy, serving on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Music Alliance, and the current chapter President for NIVA’s Northeast Corridor. Women play a major role in those organizations and in her life.
“I have learned from every woman I have ever had the opportunity to work alongside, and in those situations I have learned so much about what I’d like to emulate as well as recognizing choices I would decide not to make for myself when given the chance,” she said.
“I absolutely need to thank and acknowledge the founding female forces behind the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) especially Dayna Frank, Audrey Fix Schaefer, Tobi Parks, and Laura Wilson who have all done so much more for all of us then they will ever realize. My best piece of advice to my team is always to remember that whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. We get to play a role in the best of someone’s day and if you approach it from that space, you’ll be able to handle whatever curveballs the night brings.”
