And this week’s surprise news comes from – Louisville?
I was delighted to notice that the Louisville Symphony, an ensemble that has managed to plumb the very depths of ridiculousness the past few years, made the one move that could put them back on the road to respectability by hiring David Hyslop as their Interim CEO.
Louisville, you may recall, had become the laughingstock of the industry by mishandling a serious budgetary crisis (Quick! Let’s blame the musicians for everything, and then once we have screwed them we’ll just shut the whole thing down!), and then advertising for replacement musicians on, of all things, craigslist. That a once proud organization like this could so quickly be brought down so very far was completely unthinkable – unless, of course, you live in the Twin Cities.
But hiring David is a masterstroke, if (and that’s a very big “if”) they have the good sense to listen to him. So, everyone involved with the Louisville Symphony, I am talking to you:
I have known David for 20 years. He was CEO at the Minnesota Orchestra when I got here and I have kept in touch with him ever since. David is one of the great BSers in this field. He can spin stories ’til dawn’s early light. BUT… all those stories have a purpose. Listen to them, absorb them, and see how those situations reflect on the situation you find yourself in today. He’s not telling you these stories to hear the sound of his own voice. He’s telling you so that you get perspective about your current dilemma. Whatever it is, David has been there, done that. Trust him.
This is what he is going to do: he will come in, meet everyone, and get a feel for the situation. Then he’s going to go over the books. Your books have not been gone over like this. He is going to find out exactly what is going on. Then he will devise a plan. He will present said plan to the Board Chair. Board Chair should agree to said plan (if Board Chair has any sense). Then he will present said plan to the musicians.
Listen, my colleagues, I know you have been through hell and back. I know that your trust level is probably at an all time low. But David has no axe to grind. He isn’t interested in self-aggrandizement. He doesn’t need to see his name in lights. Quite the opposite – he just wants organizations like yours to work, and to work well. David will give you the straight dope, and he will work like bloody hell to put your orchestra back on firm ground. The best thing you could possibly do right now is say “yes.” He will make it work.
And, believe you me, if you took a poll of the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra I would bet everything I own that they would much, much rather have David Hyslop still running their shop. They might not agree with everything he says, but they respect him.
So, good luck, Louisville. It will be a long road back but at least you have a good driver.