Entertainment venue benefits from eye-catching LED advertising display

The Radlett Centre is a popular local venue offering a diverse programme, including children’s theatre and plays as well as special performances by leading celebrities, art exhibitions and music events. Exterior displays provide a vital mechanism for informing audiences on arrival about current shows and timings, as well as advertising upcoming features.

Originally the theatre used printed posters, moving to a single colour LED display about eight years ago.  With the old LED display reaching the end of its life, The Radlett Centre turned to Messagemaker to recommend a replacement solution. Developments in LED technology in the last decade have seen the price of digital displays drop significantly, bringing this technology within reach of small to medium venues.  Lower materials costs meant that Messagemaker was able to provide not just a like-for-like replacement but an upgrade to a full colour screen, at no additional cost (compared to the original).

Mounted 3 metres above ground for maximum visibility, the 1.3 metres high by 2.75 metres wide lightweight LED display allows multiple lines of coloured text messages and/or images to be displayed as required. A lightbox with the theatre name and logo completes the 48 x 128 pixels high resolution full colour display.

The new electronic display allows a number of shows to be promoted at the same time, with a built in function enabling the sequencing of screens and messages.  Additional effects can also be introduced to add movement, including video clips and animations. The result is a highly dynamic communications medium that immediately captures attention. See a video of the LED display system in action here.

Comments Alana McKenna, Assistant Theatre Manager:  “The screen has proved very reliable and we have already used the live countdown facility to great effect for our Christmas Panto.  The system is simple to use requiring virtually no training.  A number of staff are now proficient in uploading and changing the messages and it is easy to scan in full colour images or input text, choose colours and special effects to add extra visual interest. We have even been able to incorporate the special font used by our in-house café!”

The purchase was funded by a donation from a local theatre supporter, with Messagemaker supplying a free resolution upgrade, using a 20mm pixel pitch compared to the original 27mm for sharper definition.

While the cost of purchase is dependent on individual requirements, early payback is assured.  Reductions in monthly administrative and printed collateral costs combined with the potential to increase box office revenues (just three or four extra visitors a month are enough) will more than justify the cost of a technology upgrade.

The new displays have also provided the Radlett Centre with an additional source of revenue, offering custom displays, to include themes, names and logos, for private parties and events.

For venues with limited resources, Messagemaker also offers a full rental service scheme with a monthly rental cost as low as £250.  This compares favourably with the alternative of erecting weekly posters or vinyl banners, which can cost up to £400 over the same period.

Please contact us for further information, and to discuss your specific requirements.