Giles Agis is executive director of Brouhaha International. He has ultimate responsibility for the Brouhaha International Festival that has just taken place in Liverpool. This was his day
6am: Even though I come from a working class background in south London, I’m only up at this time because of the fidgeting class – the two kids.
7am: They are kind of organised now, munching on healthy cereals, so I’ve got both eyes on my laptop while my wife looks out for them. My brain works best in the morning, despite the interruptions.
8am: With a modicum of writing achieved, I’ve just slightly amended some minor detail on the festival programme for Brouhaha’s journeys into Europe this autumn. My two boys are off to school and it’s my duty.
9am: School run over, I’m going to cycle into work. It’s only about 20 minutes on the bike, but I ended up doing a Tour De Liverpool on it via all my appointments.
9.30am: I’m at my desk and already looking at some new acts for future festivities.
Since being a teenager, I have been a qualified actor and musician, but these days I help thousands find pleasure in music, dance and theatre as a director – not quite the same, but it’s their turn.
I’m going to spend the next few hours on tidying matters following the Liverpool Carnival – very much an admin morning.
11.30am: I’m going into an interview with some broadcast journalists, discussing the arts in Liverpool – a great promo for the Brouhaha brand.
12.30pm: I’ve got a meeting with influencers within the public and private sectors talking about future collaborations that will take me into lunchtime.
1.30pm: Bearing in mind I need some headspace, I’m going to get on my bike and nip to the Quarter from our base at the CUC for a coffee and a lunchtime chat with a friend who works nearby.
2.15pm: We’re just running through media coverage and all the positive feedback from our social media page.
It is something we’ve been developing as a strategy for the last three years.
4pm: We hold a team meeting to agree on a number of standard admin issues to resolve following the carnival and the festival.
5.30pm: It has been a day of meetings. That is uncharacteristic, but it’s all about organisation, and that is typical.
6pm: I’m home to be greeted/assaulted by two lovely children.
Thankfully they will simmer down in about an hour and a half.
I’ve got more planning to preside over.
8pm: The laptop is still open, with the sounds of summer as an accompaniment.
10pm: I’m developing cartoon eyelids so it’s time to stop working. I lay on the sofa with my wife thinking about all the local and international performers that have been in Liverpool. Looking forward to a holiday.
