Happy Clappers

If you are around in Liverpool City Centre this Saturday 28th October at 4pm, at the bottom of Bold Street in the area between the old Lyceum Post Office and Waterstones bookshop, why not join one of my friends Sean Hawkridge

{from the sidelines} is a new commission by Sean Hawkridge for Liverpool Live, the live art strand of Liverpool Biennial 2006 coordinated by Bluecoat.

The performance will involve a number of people gathering in the space at 4pm and on cue bursting into spontaneous applause for a couple of minutes before dissipating back into the crowds.

The work is intended to be subtle and spontaneous - lifting peoples heads a little, cheering them on from the sidelines, like the Dads at all those football matches, like the end of the marathon, like the lap of honour...

If you want to be involved contact:

Sean Hawkridge
live@from-the-sidelines.com
www.from-the-sidelines.com

Question time at 7am!

I am a huge fan of Question Time and yesterday morning I was up bright and early to be on the panel of the Merseyside Economic Forum for The North West Business Insider.

The event created a platform for discussion on key regional issues: Regeneration, governance, transport, finance and commercial property.

My fellow panellists included:

- Lesley Chalmers, chief executive, English Cities Fund
- Dave Moorcroft, director of economic development, The Mersey Partnership
- Matt Johnson, managing director, Mando Group
- Vici Ladeji, director, Eventa Management

We debated topics including:

Branding: "Merseyside" v "Liverpool City Region"
Business support - Is there enough? Is it the right kind etc?
Attracting business to Liverpool - which industries and how to attract corporate HQs

A early start but a good way to start the day discussing issues that matter to Liverpool.