Main caption: Dave Calendine, an accounting clerk for Sportservice, pursues his passion for music by playing the organ for fans at Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers games.
By day, Dave Calendine works behind the scenes handling accounting for Delaware North’s operations at Little Caesars Arena (LCA) and Comerica Park in Detroit. By night, he has a more fan-facing role playing the organ at these venues for NHL and MLB games.
Calendine, whose official title is accounting clerk II, oversees accounting and sales reports for Delaware North’s Detroit operations. He joined Delaware North in January 2018, when the company took over the food, beverage and retail partner at LCA upon its opening.
Music, however, has been part of his life for much longer. Calendine began playing piano at age three and transitioned to the organ at 12, starting with classical church organ before discovering the theater organ as a teenager. That passion eventually brought him to Detroit in the early 1990s, when he was offered a position as a house organist at the Fox Theatre.
While giving tours and playing the organ at the Fox, Calendine caught the attention of a Detroit Red Wings production manager, who invited him to play hockey games. Years later, a similar opportunity arose at Comerica Park, making Calendine the first organist in over four decades to perform during Detroit Tigers games at Comerica Park, where Delaware North also serves as food, beverage and retail partner.
On game days, he balances both worlds. Calendine starts his day in the office before shifting into “game mode” about three hours before puck drop or first pitch. After checking in with the production team and preparing for the event, he heads to the organ when gates open and plays through the end of the game. His gameday attire includes a custom suit for Red Wings games and jersey for baseball – number 61, a nod to the number of keys on an organ keyboard.
Calendine’s coworkers are often surprised to discover his dual role. He recalled one concession supervisor who chatted with him during the day in the office, only to do a double take later that night upon seeing him at the organ in full gameday attire.
For Calendine, the ability to balance both roles comes down to flexibility and support. He credits Delaware North for accommodating his performance schedule while allowing him to continue growing his accounting career.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have a flexible schedule that allows me to do my ‘day job’ and perform,” he said.