From Milwaukee to the World: The Founding of BOMI/INTIX

In 1979, Patricia G. Spira, the leading lady of ticketing, and Richard Carter crossed paths at the International Association of Auditorium Managers (IAAM, now the International Association of Venue Managers, or IAVM) regional conference in Milwaukee. It was a serendipitous meeting that would revolutionize the ticketing industry.

A group of people at a conference. Lifetime Achievement Award recipients pose proudly with Patricia G. Spira at the INTIX 2003 conference in Denver. L-R: Roger Lobb, Patricia G. Spira, Albert Leffler, Connie Nelson, John Turchon and Richard Carter.

"I was sent down [to the meeting] from the Minnesota Orchestra to learn about what’s new in ticketing," Carter recalls.

Unimpressed with the general admission focus at IAAM, Carter wandered to the nearby Performing Arts Center, where Spira was the first Box Office Manager. He was not alone in his curiosity, as others had also ventured over to the Performing Arts Center.

Spira addressed these IAAM attendees who were interested in learning about her venue’s centralized ticket operation and invited questions. Eager to learn more, Carter stepped forward, sparking a professional friendship.

"I had a little piece of paper, and I wrote her name on it. I walked over and introduced myself [at IAAM] while I was holding the paper because I'm bad with names. I still have it somewhere at home. We started talking about the problems we were having designing layouts, talking about ticketing, [and more] ... Then I stayed with her and her husband Marvin [in Milwaukee] at their home for a couple of days."

This initial connection blossomed into a collaboration that culminated in the founding of Box Office Management International (BOMI), now known as the International Ticketing Association (INTIX). Later that year, the pair discussed their interest in attending a one-week box office management course in Banff, Alberta, Canada. “Now remember,” says the BOMI/INTIX 20^th anniversary history book, “this was in the era of manage by objective, manage by results, manage, manage, manage. People were attending seminars and workshops, and it was believed to be essential for professional growth and effectiveness to attend these courses.”

Neither Spira’s nor Carter’s organization would fund their participation in the Banff conference. Their frustration with being unable to attend led them to decide on a different approach.

“It was at that moment in the phone conversation that the decision was made to have a gathering of box office managers to meet and discuss their common concerns,” the BOMI/INTIX history book explained. Initially envisioned as a small meeting in the Green Room at the Performing Arts Center, the idea grew into a comprehensive three-day conference. Carter traveled from Minneapolis to Milwaukee and they began developing the program together.

“I flew down to Milwaukee, and we spent the day just talking, talking, talking and decided to start putting together [plans for what would become the very first BOMI get-together],” Carter says, recalling Spira's passion for getting things done.

Spira took charge of fundraising, ensuring that financial constraints would not prevent anyone from attending. She secured sponsorship funding from Ticketron, which was renewed annually until the company’s demise. Spira got permission to use her organization’s stationery, giving the conference importance and a mark of approval. The PAC’s board chair, Bill Randall, agreed that the venue would host the conference and that the bank where he was a senior executive would hold a cocktail dinner party the first night. He also said she didn’t need to seek funding but suggested a small registration fee. On his recommendation, a $50 fee was charged to attendees from North America. Delegates coming from overseas had their registration fee waived.

"The [registration fee] included the hotel," Carter remembers of the inaugural BOMI gathering. "It was about three blocks away [from the conference location], and it was probably the coldest day in the life of Milwaukee’s history at the time."

The conference was a resounding success, attended by box office managers from near and far and characterized by a relentless passion for ticketing. “When the meetings were over with, you know what happened? We all got together in the bar and talked all night until the bar closed down. Talking, talking, talking theatre [and ticketing] night and day,” Carter reminisces.

Black and white image of people at an event. The 22 attendees from the very first BOMI gathering. Standing L-R: Herman Kesselaar, Larry Appel, Larry and Fred Frank, Gerald Corner, Phil Carter, Peggy Rose, Richard Carter, Mark Leenhouts, Denis Hardy, Ernie Santi, Gaston Morin, Joe Weicher and Peter Ross. Seated L-R: Patricia G. Spira, Monique Burnelli, Alice Boettcher, Virginia Anderson, Bea Westfahl, Judy Ashford, Ann Spira and Chloe Long.

Like Spira, Carter's dedication to BOMI/INTIX was unwavering. Over the years, he contributed significantly, from serving on the Board of Directors for 23 years and recommending speakers and locations for receptions to shaping the association's future. He co-chaired the 1985 BOMI International Conference in Toronto, the first to be held in Canada, and the 1995 BOMI Summer Conference, also in Toronto. He chaired the INTIX 2001 Toronto Conference, titled "2001 AD: A Ticket Odyssey," and pulled out some photos from his personal collection for this story. We also scoured the INTIX archives to find more memories from conferences past.

A man speaks behind a podium. Richard addresses attendees at the 2001 conference in Toronto.

A group of people at an event. Canadian volunteers stuffing attendee bags at the Ticketmaster offices for the Toronto 2001 conference. Front row seated (L-R) Laurel Ryshpan, unknown, Martha Gall. Back row standing (L-R) Rey de Guzman, Richard Carter, Shamayne Skelly, Jeff Mains, Pauline Thiessen, Jan Campbell, Gail Anderson, unknown, unknown and Gillian Morrison holding Braden Morrison, then one year and three months old, now 24 and a ticketing pro at the Toronto Blue Jays.

A large pile of black bags. Bruce Morrison looks at the pile of WW&L bags that had been stuffed for the 2001 Toronto conference.

Carter participated in numerous committees, including the Strategic Long Range Planning Committee and the Scholarship Committee. As a frequent workshop presenter and speaker, Carter shared his ticketing expertise at multiple conferences. He also founded the Ontario Professional Ticketing Association (OPTA), further expanding his influence in the industry.

In recognition of his career achievements and substantial industry contributions, Carter received the Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. The award held special significance due to his close professional friendship with Spira.

A group of people at a conference. Richard Carter (seated second from right) holds his Patricia G. Spira Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. He poses with Canadian conference attendees, including Bruce Morrison (standing top left), Bill Nuhn, Shamayne Skelly, Anita Soutendam, Marilyn Bowlby and Lyn Royce. Seated L-R Tami Mitchell, Jim Aldridge, Richard Carter and Diane England.

A group of people at a conference. Lifetime Achievement Award recipients in Toronto at the INTIX 2001 conference. Top row Brian Leishman and Richard Carter. Bottom row L-R, Bill Murphy, Richard Miller, Connie Nelson and Roger Lobb.