In the world of live music, stages are often seen as platforms—functional, elevated, temporary. But for Seth Hurwitz, they’re something far more intimate. As founder and chairman of I.M.P. and the visionary behind Washington D.C.’s beloved 9:30 Club, Hurwitz has spent decades building venues where the stage doesn’t separate artist from audience—it invites them both in. This short video interview captures his discussing the early days of I.M.P. and his philosophy on venue design.

At the core of Seth Hurwitz’s philosophy is a simple but radical idea: the best shows happen when everyone feels at home. That includes the headliner, the opener, the front-row fan, and the person working the door. His venues aren’t designed for flash or prestige. They’re designed for belonging.

The Seth Hurwitz standard of hospitality extends well beyond production logistics—it’s about fostering trust and artistry from the ground up. Artists walking into one of his venues are met with thoughtful details: dressing rooms that feel personal, tech setups that anticipate rather than frustrate, and crews that understand what it means to respect the work. Hurwitz knows that comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s a precondition for risk-taking. And risk is where magic lives.

On stage, his commitment to warmth continues. The 9:30 Club, for example, is known for its rare ability to make both rising acts and global stars feel like the room is theirs. The layout encourages interaction. The sound design wraps the space rather than blasting through it. Seth Hurwitz isn’t interested in grandiosity—he’s interested in connection.

That same ethos extends to the audience. Hurwitz wants fans to feel like they’ve come home to something—even if it’s their first time in the room. That means intuitive sightlines, intentional acoustics, and a sense of care embedded into every detail. The bar is where you want to linger. The floor is where you want to stay. It doesn’t feel like a product. It feels like a place.

Importantly, Hurwitz doesn’t treat this atmosphere as a branding exercise. It’s a responsibility. He’s built his legacy not on expansion, but on consistency—on delivering the same feeling of intimacy and electricity whether it’s a sold-out stadium or a 500-cap room. The I.M.P. Concerts history page traces this consistency across decades of bookings and venue launches.

To Seth Hurwitz, a great venue isn’t measured by its scale or polish. It’s measured by how it makes people feel. And when a stage feels like home, artists open up, fans lean in, and the night becomes more than a show. It becomes a story worth remembering.