The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The Town of Rocky Mount made the right move in bringing in a professional promoter for the new Harvester Performance Center, which should be ready for events by next spring.
Gary Jackson, who has been involved in the music industry for more than 40 years, has plenty of experience developing and managing music venues. His latest job has been with Kirk Avenue Music Hall in Roanoke. He has a solid track record of making these venues successful, and that's exactly the kind of background that is needed here. According to town officials, Mr. Jackson has already started work on booking a lineup for the center's opening next year.
Of course, the position requires much more than booking talent, and Mr. Jackson understands that. He is already busy working with the contractor on fitting the renovations to the expected needs. He will also establish a ticketing process and create a website and social media entities for the center. Other duties include soliciting vendors for the center (to sell food and drink) and finding sponsorships for events.
The town needed to fill the position now because a ton of planning and preparation is necessary to make sure when the center does open, all ducks will be in a row for success. That homework and preparation are essential for the center to run as smoothly as possible as soon as it opens.
Crews are now busy with the renovations. The $2.2 million project will transform the former Lynch Hardware building into a 400-seat performance theater, along with meeting rooms and other amenities.
And it's not just for music. Town officials say the agenda will include many different genres as well as comedy acts, dramatic performances, dance and other cultural events. Since Rocky Mount and Franklin County are recognized as the Eastern Gateway to The Crooked Road, though, much of the music will fit within The Crooked Road music purview.
Rocky Mount Assistant Town Manager Matt Hankins said the center will "change Rocky Mount's economy, serving as an anchor for new growth and investment...."
That may very well be the case. As we and others have said all along, the center is an investment in the sense that it will create a destination for people. When they come, they will spend money at various local businesses. It will also help enhance the farmers' market area as the town's focal point for gathering and entertainment, another step in the right direction.
But in order to make this center work, hiring a professional promoter was a necessity. The town did just that, and we are all looking forward to seeing the fruits of his labor. |
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