Something that often gets overlooked a little bit when it comes to explaining the renaissance our city is currently undergoing in live music, the arts, food, the outdoors, tourism and creative people moving here is that folks have figured out that none of those operate in a vacuum. In fact, they are very often related.
Barry CourterIn the past, the guys who were really interested in mountain climbing, for example, tended to stick to themselves, and the people who marketed and promoted things related to mountain climbing stuck to that sport in their pitches. The same went for music or food or art.
A few years ago, smart people in our city figured out that the mountain climber very likely also is into good food, good music and entertaining art. It seems like an obvious thing, but it makes a difference. When you can package all of that together, as Chattanooga can now do, it makes selling the city as a whole a lot easier.
It’s really not a new concept, this idea of bundling things to appeal to more people. Tim and Johnny Hennen first mentioned it to me as one reason they closed Yesterday’s and opened Big River Grille & Brewery years ago. Not everyone in a party of four or six, for example, wanted to just dance or just listen to music. They also wanted to eat, talk, listen, play pool, etc., and have a brew. They wanted choices.
Successful music festivals offer more than just music. They have great food, comedy, film, interesting vendors selling textiles, art and jewelry. Basically, things for people to see and do in addition to music.
It’s a new way of marketing things, and it seems to be working.
* The Lookout Wild Film Festival held last weekend at Memorial Auditorium was by all accounts a rousing success. In fact, it sold out before it started and was so popular with fans, the scheduled opening night event on Thursday was moved from the Chattanooga Public Library to the larger Robert Kirk Walker Community Theatre at the auditorium.
Winners in several categories were announced earlier this week. They are listed below, and the ones with links can be watched online.
* Best Timelapse Film: “Zion” https://vimeo.com/ 155008424
* Best Adventure Film: “Dodo’s Delight”
* Best Exploration Film: “Wasfia” www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMqu-nRM-Uc
* Best Conservation Film: “Great Lakes, Bad Lines” https://vimeo.com/180350618
* Best Feature: Sea Gypsies: “The Far Side of the World”
* Best Documentary: “Chasing Niagara”
* Best Short: “Mile 19”
* Audience Favorite: “Dodo’s Delight”
* Director’s Award: “Edges” https://vimeo.com/198875141
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.