Carl
Mack:
From Street
Performer
to
Entertainment
Entrepreneur
When Carl Mack arrived in New Orleans from his home in
Rochester, New York 35 years ago, who could have guessed that
this unknown street performer would become an entrepreneur
and a major player in the live entertainment scene for which
New Orleans is world-renowned.
Colorfully attired in his trademark red and white striped
suit and straw hat, Carl was a familiar sight in Jackson Square
during the 1984 World’s Fair, playing his wheeled xylophone
for tips in Jackson Square. But he was doing more than just
By Dean M. Shapiro
playing an instrument and posing
for pictures with tourists. He
was astutely observing the local
culture, thinking of ways he could
carve out his niche in it.
“I’ve been blessed with the gift
of creativity and the ability to get
an idea and just do it,” is how Carl
explains what drives him forward.
“If I think something is a good
idea I just plug away at it and so
far most of it has worked out.”
Creativity, and the desire to
have fun while providing fun
and being able to make a living
at it, were the key elements that
propelled Carl toward acquiring
the skills that led him to where he
is today. His namesake company,
Carl Mack Presents, now hosts
or produces hundreds of parties
and special events every year,
especially during the Carnival
Season, in addition to outfitting
countless numbers of revelers
from a vast, diverse costume
collection.
As the owner of the largest
privately owned collection of
costumes in New Orleans,
Carl took his vision to the next
level, founding the Mardi Gras
Museum of Costumes and
Culture in the French Quarter a
year ago. There, in the museum’s
9,000 square feet, visitors - both local and out-of-town - can
view breathtaking displays of some of the most colorful and
imaginative garments ever crafted by human hands.
Space is also rented out year-round for special events, as are
costumes from its collection. To manage the facility, Carl hired
an experienced museum director, Helen Del Guidice, for whom
he had the highest words of praise.
20 | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | breakthrumediamagazine.com JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 1 8
