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Amy Corbin

Promoter, C3 Presents

For Amy Corbin, the live experience could only ever improve.

“My first show was an Edgefest in Dallas at the Coca-Cola Starplex,” the unstoppable C3 Presents executive tells Pollstar.

“I don’t remember who played the show, but I do remember getting hit in the head with what was left of someone’s turkey leg.”

In the intervening decades, Corbin has worked to deliver festivals to fans that yield better memories than the cranial impact of projectile poultry, overseeing talent buying for some of the biggest and most influential festival properties in North America.

C3 Presents, where she serves as promoter and head talent buyer for Texas’ Austin City Limits Music Festival, Atlanta’s Music Midtown and New Orleans’ Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, seems to up its offerings every year, thanks in no small part to Corbin’s steady hand.

“I am proud of the diverse lineups we have created on our festivals,” Corbin says.

“My number one priority is to actively seek and pursue a balanced lineup. I am grateful that I am in a position that allows me to have that creative control and make a difference.”

At C3, Corbin has engaged with and helped push forward the constantly changing festival business, and she predicts there’s still plenty of change ahead.

“Concerts and festivals will continue to evolve with content, visuals, programming, services offered and value for the consumer,” she says.

The litany of challenges can sometimes be daunting. 

“The biggest challenges have to do with time,” Corbin says. “There is never enough time to get it all done. I am still searching for the answer.”

Even so, Corbin credits her accomplishments to patience, and advises others coming up in the industry to behave similarly.

“It is a marathon, not a sprint,” she says. “Find a good mentor, lean in, develop solid industry relationships, keep your head up and put 100% into every day.”

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Hot Takes:

Your first show and favorite show of all time?
My first show was an Edgefest in Dallas at the Coca-Cola Starplex in 1995.  I don’t remember who played the show, but I do remember getting hit in the head with what was left of someone’s Turkey Leg.  Hard to say my favorite.  I have seen SO SO many shows in the last 25 years. 

Top of the lists would be: Sade , Childish Gambino, Daft Punk, Outkast, Willie Nelson at ACL with the sun setting, Bob Segar, Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza…I could go on and on..

Who would you nominate for this list and why?
I would nominate my team of women at C3!  Sarah McGoldrick (she is a marketing BOSS) TalentBuyers: Margaret Galton and Kristyn Ciani- who are really involved with the local music scene, the community and program our clubs. Agents : Carole Kinzel, Marsha Vlasic, Sam Kirby, Jackie Nalpant, Cara Lewis, Marlene Tsuchii…All these ladies, support me and I support them too

Where can you be found during a show?
At the festivals, you will find me either in Lady Boom or out in the crowd.  At concerts, out in the crowd or in the production office.

New technology you use most?
My phone.