2025 Impact NextGen Honoree: Dan Cleff

DAN CLEFF
Senior Director, Ticketing
AEG Presents

LENDING A HAND
Cleff worked on the Concert for Carolina that raised more than $24 million for Hurricane Helene Relief.

“Getting butts into seats” is a task that Dan Cleff, AEG Presents senior director of ticketing, takes very seriously, and he counts his lucky stars for having the opportunity to do just that with acts like Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves and Zach Bryan.

He was exposed to the magic of live entertainment at a young age, attending shows with music-loving parents and seeing acts like The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

“I knew that being at these big arena and stadium shows and looking around and seeing everyone lose their minds and having the time of their lives, I could be a part of that for a living,” says Cleff. “I had to do whatever it took to make it happen.”

His first gig in the industry was as a group sales coordinator at Madison Square Garden, working on group initiatives across all sports teams and family shows at the venues operated by MSG Entertainment. Cleff was a sponge wherever he went, learning new skills and what it takes to stand out in the competitive live industry.

“Starting with my parents, who have always led by example and showed me, first and foremost, how to be a good person and hard worker,” he says. “The great teachers at the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University who helped me realize that everything in our industry starts with good customer service. My many past bosses and colleagues at MSG, Hershey Entertainment, Barclays Center and AEG Presents. who I have learned so much from, and they continue to be great advocates for me in the industry.”

It’s not easy to break into live music, which is why he does what he can to pay it forward. One example is doing his part in putting together the Concert for Carolina event, which raised over $24 million for Hurricane Helene Relief, “an incredible experience to see everyone come together to put on this show which started with Luke Combs and Eric Church putting the idea out there, to the show playing off only four weeks later!”

Cleff makes the same effort for anyone breaking into the business and instilling the same values that have helped him succeed at various chapters in his life and career. “I take great pride in doing whatever I can to help the next generation grow and learn,” Cleff adds. “The goal should always be to create a great team environment filled with people who can bring something different to the table and empower them to be the best they can be to help the team succeed as a whole.”