Colonnade has lots of events, new billboard
Last month, there were 36 events held at The Colonnade Event Center and Performing Arts Theater in Ringgold., including concerts by James Rogers and the Ball Brothers and performances of The Nutcracker.
What concerns Joy Burchfield, interim director of the Colonnade, is that not enough of the public knows about the events held month after month.
“We have a lot of private events like weddings and business meetings,” says Burchfield, “but we also have all sorts of things for the public.”
Plays, concerts, craft fairs, art exhibits, the annual Catoosa Chamber business expo are all examples. Burchfield wants more people to know the Colonnade is there and what can be found inside. “Sometimes people stop by and come inside just to ask what the building is,” she says. “We’re always happy to give them a tour.”’
It doesn’t help that the Colonnade’s electronic sign on Battlefield Parkway and Old Mill Road hasn’t worked for a while. Burchfield says that in addition to malfunctions the sign’s software has become outdated. She says the only practical option would be to replace the sign, but she’s not sure the expense would be worth it.
So, the Colonnade is trying an alternative option, with the blessing of the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners.
Burchfield came before the commissioners at their Jan. 3 meeting to request permission to use some of the Colonnade’s advertising budget to rent billboard space.
Trailhead Media had just installed a digital billboard on Battlefield Parkway not far from the Colonnade’s old digital sign. Burchfield talked to the company and says it offered a good deal on billboard space.
To rent the billboard for six and a
We have a lot of private events like weddings and business meetings, but we also have all sorts of things for the public.”
Joy Burchfield, interim director of the Colonnade
half months, Burchfield told commissioners, would run $3,250. Ads, she says, can be changed weekly and the Colonnade can sell ad space to its clients who wish to publicize their events.
Burchfield says the Colonnade will advertise all events open to the public.
The commissioners approved the request unanimously. Commissioner Vanita Hullander, District 3, praised the use of the billboard to advertise and said she felt it would also help people find the Colonnade, which sits off Battlefield Parkway enough to be a little hidden.
A basic message is already displayed on the billboard — an invitation to visit the Colonnade’s website. Burchfield says people have been commenting that they’ve seen the ad. If the results of the billboard advertising prove worthwhile, says Burchfield, then she would like to continue it beyond the initial contract period.