If there’s a dog in your family, you already know how pawsome they are. How they can make a ruff day better and fetch joy in any situation.
On the heel (pun intended!) of "Bring Your Dog to Work Day" and as we approach the dog days of summer, we’ve found more than a dozen four-legged friends who are bringing the same delight to the INTIX members world of ticketing. We’re happy to unleash them below, in no pawticular order.
Snickers – Ticket Shredder
Snickers is an eight-year-old Peke-a-Tese who loves going to work with mom Katie Quinn, box office specialist at Bridgestone Arena. Home to the Nashville Predators, it’s no surprise that Snickers is a huge hockey fan. She’s known for guarding her bones and toys. These natural defensive instincts are a perfect match for her favorite player, P.K. Subban.
If this bundle of energy had a job in the ticket office, she’d be in charge of shredding and ripping tickets. Snickers also recently pawticipated in her first presale — sitting pretty in Quinn’s lap as Panic! at the Disco tickets were made available to fans who had pre-ordered the band’s latest album.
Daisy – Sales Rep
“Bring Your Dog to Work Day” was Daisy’s first time going to work with mom Emily Alcorn, box office coordinator at the Bridgestone Arena ticket office. The feisty, four-month-old Yorkinese showed up ready to play, and pal Snickers showed her the ropes at will call too. “She has a face that could convince you of anything,” says Alcorn; this would make her an ideal sales rep.
Bridgestone Arena encouraged its employees to bring or make a donation to the Nashville Humane Association in exchange for this cool pet perk.
Lenny – Greeter / Will Call
Two-year-old Lenny loves the spotlight and he’ll strike a pose anytime — all you have to do is ask!
Julie Strothman, event manager at U of M Tickets and Events, describes her boy as funny, outgoing and cheesy. “Sometimes he’ll just be playing with his toys, he looks cute and I ask if he wants me to take his picture,” she says. “Then, he stays in that pose.”
Lenny is happy to pose for fans when he’s in the ticket office too.
Lenny weighs in at about 20 pounds of fun and is a mix of Beagle, Pekingese and Rat Terrier. A job as a greeter or in will call would be perfect for his personality. "As soon as someone walks in, Lenny greets them," says Strothman. "He wants to know who you are and what's going on."
Lenny’s best bud at work is George the Beagle, whose dad is a sound tech. The two love running together through the theater whenever they have the opportunity. Then, they nap.
Daltrey – Will Call
Named after legendary Who founder and frontman Roger Daltrey, this two-year-old Parti Poodle is as outgoing as his breed’s moniker suggests. Daltrey has enjoyed many summer days in the Mahaffey Theater ticket office with mom Laura Zehe, who is now a consultant.
When Daltrey wasn’t busy playing ball on the theater’s front lawn or prancing on stage, he was a pretty ineffective security dog. “Daltrey just tries to be everyone’s best friend,” says Zehe. This includes customers and staff alike, including Ali Howe, whom Daltrey is following through the ticket office hallway in this photo.
Like other ticket office dogs, Daltrey also enjoys a good nap under mom’s desk. He keeps his Florida Gators (and his toys) close to his heart at all times.
Brady – Customer Service
Like Daltrey, Brady is also named after a legend. His name comes from the world of sports in honor of five-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady. The Lab-Shepherd mix is very energetic and loyal — just like the player he’s named after, who won all his championships with the Patriots. Mom, Courtney H. Lynn, assistant box office manager at The Florida Theatre, also says he’s super sweet and loveable.
Brady usually visits The Florida Theatre on Mondays to guard the doors and hang out in the ticket office. When a customer comes in, he pops up at the window. “The customers always approach Brady with a big smile and try to talk to him. He responds by wagging his tail,” says Lynn.
It goes without saying that Brady is doing a great job serving customers, but Lynn says he’d also do great at will call or in security.
Bob – Customer Service
“Bob the dog” is somewhat famous in ticketing circles. Mom, Mardi Dilger, director of ticket operations for the Miami Marlins, describes him as “kind of funny looking and super sweet.” The seven-pound Chihuahua has a serious underbite and a bent ear.
When visiting the Marlins ticket office, Bob often sits in Dilger’s lap as she works. “If he’s not in my lap, he’s at the back of my chair with his head on my shoulder. He just cuddles all the time and follows me everywhere,” she says. Bob also loves to sit on the counter and play with the ticket office staff.
If Bob had a job in the ticket office, he would be in customer service. “He makes everybody happy and everybody who looks at him smiles,” says Dilger.
Lucky – Customer Service
This super friendly, six-month-old Terrier mix spent his first day at the Peace Center ticket office on "Bring Your Dog to Work Day." But, he’s very familiar with the venue because he lives across the street and both of his parents, including box office customer service representative Megan Hollis, work for the organization.
“He loves everything and everyone,” Hollis tells Access. “Lucky wanted everyone’s attention and kept putting his paws up on the counter to see who was coming in. Once the crowd winds down, he starts winding down too.”
Lucky got a lesson in proper headset use from Kat Lopez, who also works in customer service. He looks great and appears ready to provide service with a smile, but word is he didn’t actually take any calls.
Penny – Security Dog
When Penny first started visiting the ticket office at Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre, she was very energetic and talkative. “Whenever a ticket printer or the copier went off she felt everyone needed to be warned,” says Micki Tschida, senior box office manager, operations.
Now that she is older, Penny is a valued part-timer who likes to come in and nap. Tschida reports that she prefers mom’s lap to her comfy dog bed. She also like to walk around and patrol the ticket office.
Sounds like Penny would be the ideal security dog at any age!
Boomer – Security Dog
Shar Pei mix Boomer is an industry veteran. For the past 10 years, he’s spent time in ticket offices across the country with Mom, Sarah Goodson, director of the Fine Arts Ticket Office at Florida State University.
When Boomer gets to work, the first thing he does is clean the floor and look around for food. Mostly though, he just hangs out.
“I have a pet gate, bowls and treats here,” says Goodson. “If I go to lunch, I leave him with the ticket staff and he just sits and waits for me to come back.”
Goodson thinks Boomer would make a great security officer because he’s very protective. He checks people out to make sure they are OK, she tells Access.
A few other interesting facts about Boomer. He can play pattycake and auditioned for — but did not get — the part of Bruiser when FSU’s School of Theatre staged a production of the musical Legally Blonde. Boomer also thinks he’s a lap dog. Here’s a photo of him with Alexander Hope when he was a graduate student at FSU (Hope is now director of campus ticketing at the University of Northern Colorado).
Bailey – Runner / Envelope Sealer
Bailey has also visited ticket offices in venues across the country, including the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Nationals Park where he was the official spokesdog for "Pups in the Park."
Now 12 years old, the Jack Russell and Dachshund mix is slightly longer than he should be and has the “Amy Winehouse eyeliner look,” says mom Tammy Enright, ticketing systems manager at Smithsonian Institution.
Bailey has not been to the Smithsonian yet because of federal government regulations. However, the organization is doing a baseball exhibition and film series this summer at the American History Museum, so Bailey is thinking about going.
If he had a job in the ticket office, Enright says Bailey would be very good at sealing envelopes. He would also be a great runner in an organization with multiple ticket offices or in a larger venue — bringing change, retrieving a manager or being the overall pointpup who runs back and forth.
Jackson – Director of Happiness
Jackson spent much of his puppyhood and life in a minor league clubhouse. After his dad passed away about a year ago, he joined the family of Jennifer Ferrell, director of ticketing at Volvo Car Stadium. Now, 13-year-old Jackson is her occasional assistant in the ticket office. More often than not, he’s asleep on the job.
Ferrell describes Jackson as a big and loveable furball but says he can be a bit of a cranky old man at times. When he’s at work, Jackson enjoys strolling into people’s offices and looking for snacks. Sometimes he chases a tennis ball or plays with a toy. Jackson also gets very excited when kids come to the venue and enjoys visiting with them.
If he had an official ticket office title, Ferrell says he would definitely be the Director of Happiness because he is always smiling at everybody.
Handsome Dan XVIII – Mascot
The athletics ticket office staff at Yale University says you can never be sure who will answer the phone!
Here is Handsome Dan XVIII waiting to hear from fans before a hockey game woof….. errrr, make that with very limited seating availability.
Penny – Marketer
This 19-month-old Bulldog spends her days learning all about ticketing industry branding, strategy and marketing from her dad, consultant Dave Wakeman.
Wakeman says Penny is the opposite of what you’d expect from this breed, describing her as excitable, energetic and high strung.
“Everybody,” he says, “should be talking to Penny!” When she’s not rolling around on her back waving her legs to get Wakeman’s interest she’s constantly in his face saying hello. Indeed, it sounds like Penny knows how to get attention, which would make her an ideal marketer. With dogged determination, she even barks in the background when Wakeman is recording his podcast, The Business of Fun.
When Penny is not in the office or hanging with her family, she listens to show tunes and spa music.
Belle – VIP Host
Belle doesn’t need a seat for any of the venues or events she attends. Why? She’s got an all access backstage pass!
Belle is a 12-year-old Jack Russell. Alongside Dad, Rob Tison, a veteran rock n’ roll roadie, she’s been touring with iconic groups like Dave Matthews Band and Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band since she was 10 weeks old.
With her friendly smile and outgoing personality, Tison thinks Belle would make a great VIP host. She loves everybody she meets and certainly makes them feel welcome — and hopes to see you at a show!
If you know a ticketing dog who isn’t featured in this story, don’t terrier yourself up about it. Instead, send a photo to media@intix.org and we’ll unleash them in our next furry spotlight! You can also share photos with INTIX on Facebook or Twitter.
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