Lance Kirkland was born and raised in Orange County, California, and developed his passion for the entertainment industry at a young age. After landing a regular role as a dancer on Soul Train at the age of 16, he discovered the art of networking. He met music mogul Qadree El-Amin (Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men and Janet Jackson’s manager), and managed to secure his first internship. It was there that he learned the art of negotiation.

Lance combined this skill with his love of sports, and began booking Major League Baseball players (including Hall of Famers Vladimir Guerrero, Reggie Jackson, Brooks Robinson, and more) for public autograph signings. He went on to represent an extensive list of athletes for public appearances across the US and Canada.

When Lance discovered Comic Cons in 2011, he was inspired to add celebrity management to his business model. He signed Paige O’Hara, who voiced Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and added an extensive list of voice actors to his roster before turning to the screen. His work ethic and proven results got the attention of Gene Wilder, and Lance was fortunate to work with Gene in the last few years of his life.

In 2014, Lance signed Dick Van Dyke, then went on to work with Tim Curry, Elijah Wood, Paul Reubens, Ben Affleck, and most recently, John Cleese. Lance partnered in founding the Dick Van Dyke Foundation, which empowers youth to explore the theatrical arts through scholarships and grants, with Dick and his wife, Arlene.

Lance Kirkland strongly believes that the arts matter and can make the world a more beautiful place and has the track record to prove it. He and his business partner, Evin Dooley, are excited to announce their new management company, ELK Celebrity Management. They look forward to helping you navigate your career!

Evin Kirkland is a Southern California native who studied communications in San Francisco. She used the knowledge she gained to launch ELK Celebrity Management with Lance Kirkland. The team was able to secure John Cleese from Monty Python as their first client. From there, they grew ELK Celebrity Management into a distinguished and respected firm through Comic Cons, private signings, speaking engagements, and various corporate and networking events.

Evin is a client-focused communications professional who has a deep passion for establishing positive, long-lasting working relationships. She has a knack for people and problem solving and believes that healthy communication and honesty is the foundation to every successful client relationship.