Leadership / 01.05.22
In Ticketing and Life, Cary Clark Is Creating and Living for ‘Magic Moments’
Christine Payne
Editor’s Note: In this edition of our “Getting to Know You” series, we are delighted to thank and showcase Cary Clark, the chair and host of the INTIX 43rd Annual Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.
There are many memorable things about the city of Orlando, Florida. For many, Walt Disney World, which bills itself as the most magical place on earth, immediately comes to mind. Yet there are many other incredible venues that create equally magical experiences for their guests. Several of them, including the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium, Tinker Field, Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Mennello Museum of American Art, are collectively managed by Orlando Venues, the City of Orlando’s Venues Department. At the helm as Box Office Manager, it is Cary Clark’s job to oversee ticketing operations for these facilities.
Being in charge of the ticket office at so many venues, one might expect Cary to have a favorite, if not in Orlando, perhaps elsewhere, but he does not. He does, however, have a favorite live performance — you might even say, a favorite among favorites.
“Nothing beats a Tina Turner show,” he says. “And Paul McCartney was amazing. But [as my favorite] I would have to say Madonna — the Blond Ambition Tour and the Girlie Show.”
Cary is also quick and decisive when asked to name his favorite band.
“My favorite band is Blondie. It is hard to pick a favorite song, but I would say [Blondie’s] Pretty Baby.”
Indeed, like many in the ticketing industry, Cary lives for that “magic” moment. What does he love most about his job and our industry?
“Show time! The roar when the main act takes the stage,” he says. “What I love is making people happy, helping them forget their woes, if only for a couple of hours.”
With that said, it is no surprise that when asked what talent he himself would most like to have, he quickly answers that he wishes he could play the piano.
Cary has had many meaningful achievements in his career, yet with his humble nature, we could not get him to name one. He did however share that his most memorable career moment is the first time he truly felt he had accomplished something great because of his own efforts.
“Quite a while ago, when the Power Rangers came out with a live show, I was handling bookings and overseeing the ticket office at a small arena. It was the first time I felt like I had done something by myself from beginning to end,” Cary says.
And while the INTIX 43rd Annual Conference & Exhibition is organized not by a single person but by a significant and dedicated team, Cary will undoubtedly have that same feeling of pride as he chairs the conference Jan. 18–21, 2022. One thing we know for sure is that it should absolutely top his most memorable INTIX moment to date, which was “winning the 50/50 the last time the conference was held in Orlando.” You’re a winner any time in our book Cary!
Cary also won this amazing Disney prize pack at INTIX 2013 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Cary has enjoyed a long-term relationship with INTIX for the same reasons as others, to gain knowledge and insight about new trends. “It [also] helps me feel connected to others in the industry and gives me an opportunity to listen to different perspectives,” he says.
It is no surprise that Cary likes in others the same qualities he exudes himself — sincerity and dependability. In a leader he most values “honesty, being open to listening and the ability to change or adapt.”
When Cary is not working, he likes to spend time with family, read (his favorite authors are Margaret Atwood, John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway), watch movies and have a good laugh with old high school buddies. He loved taking his “baby girl Lilly” to the dog park, but she passed away recently, leaving many wonderful memories alongside a hole in Cary’s heart that will take time to heal.
From the love of his life, Lilly, to a place he would love to visit, Cary shares what would be a dream trip. “I want to travel around the tip of South America and go to Antarctica because I know it will be 100% different from anywhere else I have been.”
Right now, Cary says his favorite spot is Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast, roughly a 3.5 hour drive from his home. No wonder he names his most treasured possession as a seashell. Cary also dreams of having a lake house of his own one day. In fact, that is one of the things he would want if he had three wishes. The others, which he lists above the lake house, are healthcare and sufficient food for everyone.
And, if he could go back in time, what advice would he give himself? “[I would try to] learn to calm down,” he says.
With INTIX 2022 fast approaching, he might have to put that off for a little while yet.
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Tags: Leadership , ticketing pros , INTIX 2022