C3 Presents the 3C’s Plus Corbin “Charlie Jones and his wife
Parish. Not many bands break
casinos nationally. “We’ve gone
Melanie; [Attal] and Charlie’s
through to the level they did. The
from two people in a home office
friend Charlie Walker (then Presi-
music’s gotta be really good.
to the third largest promoter in
dent of Live Nation North Ameri-
Some people don’t get there for
the country in one decade,” says
ca in L.A.) and his wife; and
15, 20 years, some never make it.
Corbin. “It’s still seems surreal
Charles and I; all went to Costa
They did – it’s awesome.” She
sometimes! A lot can happen in
Rica about five summers ago,”
also mentions bands like “The
10 years, right?”
begins Corbin. [Note: If you can’t
Givers” (a Louisiana band) and
“It’s not all been peachy-
keep up with all the Charlies/
John Mayer. “It’s so exciting
keen,” Corbin reflects. “Our life is
Charleses in this story, we sug-
when you spot real, raw talent
fast; you can find yourself being
gest
“Charlie
and then watch it explode. I nev-
pulled in so many different direc-
Walker’s life was stressful with
diagramming.]
er tire of the excitement in this
tions, that you lose focus on your
Live Nation. He had thousands of
business,” she says, while ex-
core relationships. But I always
employees in a publicly-shared
plaining that the company, C3
go back to Gemma. She’s our
company with stockholders and
Presents, has a staff of 75 now,
unity, our world. She’s evidence
enormous pressures,” she contin-
with an average age of 35 or so.
of Charles’ and my commitment
ues. “Unbeknownst to me, the
“Everyone is young and energet-
to one another. We know that we
three guys were talking about
ic. We’re like a huge family, but
are soulmates; we know we’re
merging all week! Within two
we’re definitely growing up!” C3
going to be together forever.
weeks,
had
had its first ‘company picnic’ re-
That’s all the commitment I
stepped down from Live Nation.
cently. “We were doing a toast
need.”
He kept a lot of his good contacts,
and we looked around and real-
One gets the feeling that
left on good terms. So he came to
ized how many little ones we
Corbin’s word is always good;
Austin, and it was obvious right
have – how many of us are grow-
she says what she means, means
away that they’d found the miss-
ing our own little families. It was
what she says, and is driven to
ing piece. As Chief of Operations
so cool to see.”
see through any promises she
Charlie
Walker
for C3, Charlie opened so many
“Along the way I’ve picked
makes along the way, without
doors for me in the arena world
up a lot of amazing people that
looking back: great characteris-
that could have otherwise taken
make me look good,” says Corbin
tics for a promoter whether she’s
me years to gain access.” So
of her personal success. “There’s
promoting herself or musical tal-
there they were, Charles Attal,
my production manager Casey
ent; great characteristics for a
Charlie Jones and Charlie Walker
Carter, whom I couldn’t live with-
mother, a friend, a partner, a
– and then, there’s always Amy,
out, and Sarah McGoldrick, my
boss. At 32, Corbin teems with a
like a backbone, holding it all to-
marketing director. If one of
confidence and style that some
gether.
them left, it would be like taking
women never achieve in a life-
One of the bands C3 works
an arm! Then there’s Huston
time. And it all started by learn-
with is Kings of Leon, and Corbin
Powell who came on in ’03.
ing the hard way the value of
is still excited about their great
Where I book ACL and all the
old-fashioned hard work; or as
success; although they are one of
arena concerts, Huston books
some may say, “sweat equity
several. “I had been with them
Lollapalooza and all the Casi-
pays in bushels.”
since they were playing The
nos.” C3 books talent for 28