I found myself in a minority of one in the City Talk studio when I went in to review the papers on Rob McLoughlin's show.
Setting the alarm clock for 6am on Sunday is not my idea of fun, but Rob is such a professional it's a pleasure to watch him work!
I was on the back foot as the only person in the studio prepared to say that spending £1.8m on La Princess was not huge value for money.
Rob sat on the fence (as he is duty-bound to do) but an architect named Maggie who was also reviewing the papers, and Rob's guest Ian McCartney MP, both thought the spider was the best thing since sliced bread.
And the weekend's adulation by huge crowds shows they were not alone.
Yes, there have been concerns expressed about the crowd safety and control measures in place for the spectators. Disabled people or the elderly certainly were not catered-for.
But I suppose all that has to be classed as the event being a "victim of its own success".
It still amazes me is that so many people were prepared to turn out in tight crowds to see "eight JCBs welded together and mounted on a fork lift truck".
I mean, I don't think it was even very well publicised and there are still complaints that no proper timetable was ever available and the finale was terribly late.
However, it WAS a public relations success and I have come to the conclusion that what La Princess shows is that the psyche of the crowd at the Coliseum in Rome is alive and well in the 21st century.
There is clearly a huge public appetite for a free show... the BIGGER and more bizarre the better.
This is why the firework displays in the city are always so popular. Stage a big show and they will come!
So... perhaps I am a convert to the spider phenomenon after all.
Bring it on! Let's have MORE free spectacles.
We can make Liverpool the Fun Capital of the UK with a series of the most bizarre and spectacular events that can be found.
The Culture Company could stage a competition to ask the public for ideas.
How about a sky writing competition? High wire bike races between the two Liver Birds?
Whatever... more FUN... bigger shows... that's what this city needs!
Closure of the CUC in Liverpool - sad day
(Tue 03/01)
Banksy the religious bigot
(Thu 29/12)
The Big Yin is on his way... I can't wait
(Thu 10/11)
A tale of two museums
(Tue 30/08)
Rosie Cooper - we need more politicians like her
(Mon 06/06)
Post a comment