Southeast Iowa Blues Society

What Southeast Iowa Blues Society does

Southeast Iowa Blues Society (SIBS) is a Fairfield, Iowa-based 501(c)-style tax-exempt nonprofit founded in September 2010 and incorporated in October 2010, achieving nonprofit tax-exempt status in June 2011. The organization's stated mission is to preserve, cultivate, and support blues music in Southeast Iowa across multiple venues and audiences. SIBS serves two primary customer segments: blues enthusiasts and music lovers seeking community and access to live performances, and blues musicians seeking performance opportunities and networking. It delivers value through a portfolio of programs including the annual Blue Ribbon Blues Fest at Jefferson County Fairgrounds, recurring concerts at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center featuring nationally touring acts (Mike Zito, Ghost Town Blues Band, Danielle Nicole, John Nemeth, Samantha Fish, among others), monthly member meetings at The Walton Club on Lake Walton, monthly blues jams at the Fairfield Elks Lodge, and educational programs in local school districts.

Revenue is generated through two streams: annual membership dues (single $20, student 18-25 $15, family $35, VIP $75, corporate $100+) and event ticket sales ($15 member / $20 general admission, with some events at $10). The organization also cross-promotes regional events such as the Central Iowa Blues Society Winter Blues Fest in Des Moines. Distribution is entirely physical and community-driven: live events at partner venues, the society's WordPress website, a Facebook page, and email newsletters to the 135+ member base. The organization is volunteer-governed by an elected board (President Steve Arndt, Vice President Gary Henry, Treasurer Kathy Henry, Secretary Tom Vorhees, Business Manager/Ethics Officer Bob Van Nostrand, Parliamentarian Melinda Arndt) with no paid headcount disclosed beyond the stated 1-10 employee band. There is no proprietary technology, no app, no API, and no AI/ML capability of any kind — operations are coordinated manually by volunteers.

Name

Southeast Iowa Blues Society

Legal name

Southeast Iowa Blues Society

Website

https://southeastiowabluessociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southeast Iowa Blues Society is a Fairfield, Iowa-based nonprofit (founded 2010) that presents blues concerts, the annual Blue Ribbon Blues Fest, monthly meetings, and school educational programs for its 135+ members and the regional blues community across Southeast Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts & Live Music Organization

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAIAB

Live Music Clubs & Venues

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Nightlife & Live Music Venues (Clubs, Bars)

SECONDARYBPAGAHAC

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYMPAKACAE

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

Keywords

• Blues music events
• Live music festivals
• Music membership program
• Blues education programs
• Nonprofit music organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees providing reduced prices on event admission, merchandise, and email notifications
2. Event ticket sales: Revenue from concert and festival tickets, with member discounts available

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Southeast Iowa Blues Society (SIBS) is a non-profit organization that organizes and presents live blues concerts, festivals, and monthly member meetings, while offering tiered membership subscriptions. The organization also conducts educational programs in local school districts to promote awareness and appreciation of blues music in the Southeast Iowa region.

Product overview

Southeast Iowa Blues Society (SIBS) is a non-profit organization that serves as a network for blues music lovers and musicians in Southeast Iowa. The organization offers a unified portfolio of services centered on promoting and preserving blues music through regular events and shows, an annual festival (Blue Ribbon Blues Fest), monthly member meetings, educational programs in local schools, and a membership program providing benefits such as reduced event prices and merchandise discounts. SIBS operates primarily in Fairfield, Iowa, hosting shows at multiple venues including the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, Walton Club, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, and Best Western Inn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blues Music Events and Shows
• Blue Ribbon Blues Fest
• Monthly Member Meetings
• Membership Program
• Educational Programs

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Walton ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMonthly meeting venue at The Walton Club on Lake Walton, Fairfield. SIBS holds their monthly meetings in the clubhouse and hosts appreciation nights and free blues events at this venue.
• Fairfield Arts and Convention Center (FACC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary concert venue for major SIBS events. Hosted performances by artists including Mike Zito, Ghost Town Blues Band, and Danielle Nicole. Tickets available through FACC box office.
• Fishback Stephenson Cider HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-presenter of spring blues events featuring artists like Dustin Arbuckle and Ivy Ford Band. Food and cider available during events.
• Jefferson County FairgroundscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual venue for the Blue Ribbon Blues Fest, typically held in August. SIBS and Jefferson County Fairboard co-present the event.
• Central Iowa Blues Society (CIBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner society. CIBS organizes the Winter Blues Fest which SIBS promotes on their website. CIBS members receive rebates on weekend passes for CIBS events.
• Central Iowa Blues Society Winter Blues FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIBS promotes CIBS Winter Blues Fest events (2 nights, 20 acts) to their members. Event held at Des Moines Downtown Marriott.
• Sweet and Saucy BBQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood vendor at SIBS events including Blue Ribbon Blues Fest and Ghost Town Blues Band concert. Provides barbecue during events.
• Fairfield Elks LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for monthly blues events including Bob Dorr Blue 2+ blues jam and BluZillion Band performances. Pizza nights held in conjunction with some events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cincinnati Blues Society: Membership-based blues society hosting live blues events, jams, and festivals in the Cincinnati region. Very similar organizational structure, mission, and revenue model to SIBS.
• Iowa Blues Society: Statewide umbrella organization supporting blues in Iowa including affiliated societies. Comparable non-profit membership model, focused on preserving blues music and hosting events across Iowa.
• Central Iowa Blues Society: Direct regional peer operating in the same Iowa market. CIBS produces the Winter Blues Fest and shares a formal co-promotion partnership with SIBS, making them a direct, comparable grassroots blues society.
• Mississippi Valley Blues Society: A regional blues society based in the Quad Cities area (Iowa/Illinois). Operates as a non-profit membership organization hosting live blues events, jams, and festivals in Iowa — directly comparable business model and mission.
• Wheeling Blues Society: Another small regional blues society organized similarly to SIBS — a non-profit membership organization hosting blues events and concerts in its local community.
• Blues Society of Western New York: Regional blues society hosting events, jams, and festivals in Western New York. Similar non-profit membership-driven model with volunteer leadership and concert production for blues enthusiasts.

Broad incumbents

• Blues Foundation: The national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving blues music, organizing the International Blues Challenge and Blues Music Awards. Broad incumbent operating at a national level but pursuing the same mission of blues preservation and community events.

Regional players

• Des Moines Performing Arts: A larger Iowa-based arts and entertainment nonprofit in the broader central Iowa market. While not a blues-specific society, it operates as a competing cultural venue with similar mission elements (live entertainment, community access) and is a regional counterpart to SIBS's events.

Others

• Fairfield Arts and Convention Center: Primary concert venue partner of SIBS. Comparable as an OTHERS because it operates the venue spaces where SIBS hosts events; both share the regional Iowa arts and entertainment audience.
• W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards Foundation: Honors the legacy of W.C. Handy and supports blues music preservation. Relevant as an adjacent nonprofit in the blues ecosystem with overlapping mission and award recognition overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/156893677717370
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeast-iowa-blues-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southeast Iowa Blues Society