I spent yesterday afternoon at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton where I had been asked to be a judge at the 59+ Talent Competition.
The contest replaces the popular national Silver Stars competition which ran until last year.
There were a lot of disappointed older performers when Silver Stars folded, so Margaret Cox and Fred Lloyd, who helped produce the Liverpool heat of the competition, decided to organise their own event.
Their hard work paid off with an audience of more than 300 people and 12 finalists who were all very different but who together put on a good show.
I do a lot of reviewing for the paper and I’m used to casting a critical eye over people’s performances.
This was, however, one of the most demanding jobs I’ve faced - making a decision on who should win, and who shouldn’t, is a huge responsibility particularly as the competitors put their all into their performances.
There were ‘boy bands’, ‘girl bands’, soloists, musicians, musical cabaret, and the redoubtable Bobby Kay at the helm compering the event.
My fellow judges soon abandoned the scores-out-of-100 way of ranking the contestants in favour of little observations written in the spaces instead.
I did both - in belt-and-braces fashion - but in the end it was gut reaction that led us all to agree on the top three.
Hopefully the 59+ contest will continue.
I know there was some behind-the-scenes help given by the Culture Company.
But next year I would like to see it stand up and be counted in a more overt fashion - maybe by underwriting the cost of the venue or the prizes?
After all, Capital of Culture is supposed to be about engaging the community and here is an ideal opportunity.
