PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN….RICHARD KARON.
HERE ARE A FEW IMAGES OF FORMER MUSKOKA ARTIST, RICHARD KARON, THAT WE WILL BE RE-PUBLISHING IN THE UPCOMING BIOGRAPHY, COMMENCING ON MONDAY, APRIL 16TH, BEGINNING AT 8:30 P.M. THERE WILL ALSO, AT THIS TIME, BE A YOUTUBE LINK, TO A TRIBUTE VIDEO, CELEBRATING MR. KARON'S ART WORK.
THE MUNICIPALITY HAS TO WEIGH OPTIONS - AND FIND SOME
DEMOCRACY IS NOT JUST AN ELECTION THING - OR IS IT?
WHAT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL HAS TO THINK ABOUT, IN REGARDS TO THE OPERA HOUSE, IS HOW TO RIP ITSELF AWAY FROM THE PRESENT, REMOVE THE TANGLES OF OLD BUREAUCRATIC PROTOCOLS, AND THEN FOCUS ON THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF OPERATION. RELYING ON RECENT HISTORY TO SET ANY STANDARD OF OPERATION WOULD BE A MISTAKE. THIS IS, OF COURSE, IF COUNCIL BELIEVES IT HAS ANYTHING TO REPENT ABOUT, IN THIS REGARD.
THAT'S ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE, TO RE-POSITION OUR OPERA HOUSE, BACK IN THE GOOD BOOKS OF ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT FOLKS, WHO HAVE GIVEN UP ON US. YOU SEE, THE PROMOTERS, MANAGERS, PRODUCERS AND EVEN ROAD CREWS, DEVELOP ATTITUDES THAT ARE, FROM THE GET-GO, HARD TO IMPRESS WITH GOODWILL, YET AMAZINGLY EASY TO DESTROY. THE WORD GOES AROUND, YOU SEE, AND BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE LOOP FOR SO LONG, AND THE LIKELIHOOD SOME ENTERTAINMENT FOLKS HAVE GIVEN US THE THUMBS DOWN, IT WILL TAKE A MAJOR PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORT, TO START REBUILDING SOME BRIDGES. IF TOWN COUNCIL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW EASILY TRUST CAN BE BROKEN, DUE TO NEGLECT, THEY NEED TO ASK THOSE IMBEDDED IN THE INDUSTRY, REPRESENTING MAJOR ACTS, WHY THEY WON'T BRING THEIR SHOWS TO THE OPERA HOUSE. THIS MAY REQUIRE PULLING SOME HEADS OUT OF THE SAND. THE PROBLEM AT OUR OPERA HOUSE, AND THE SHOWS IT DOESN'T GET, EVEN AS RENTALS, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ROOTED HERE…..TO BE A PROBLEM HERE.
AS TOWN COUNCIL IS THE ULTIMATE BOSS OF THE OPERA HOUSE, THE PROVERBIAL BUCK HAS BEEN "STOPPED" THERE FOR YEARS, WITHOUT MUCH MICRO MANAGING INTERVENTION, TO MAKE ANYTHING BETTER, OR WORK MORE PROFITABLY. I'M JUST GOING TO WING IT HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERTISE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS ON TOWN COUNCIL. IF THERE WAS, THIS STATUS QUO SITUATION WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH YEARS AGO. THE STALEMATE DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. RATHER THAN ADMIT THE TOWN SHOULDN'T BE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS, IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE HAVE WATCHED AS THE OPERA HOUSE HAS BECOME LESS OF A PERFORMING ARTS VENUE, AND MORE OF MEETING HALL WITH EXTRA OFFICE SPACE. A VOLUNTEER BOARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE A DECADE AGO, TO ASSIST THE MANAGER, BUFFER WHAT ARE IMPORTANT ENTERTAINMENT PROTOCOLS, FROM WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS DAY TO DAY BUSINESS BY THE TOWN BUREAUCRACY. THE WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH OF COUNCIL HAS JUST MADE US ALL VERY MAD. SURELY THEY COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING, WHERE ONE DAY, CITIZENS WOULD MAKE SOME SERIOUS DEMANDS ABOUT WHAT THEY OWN IN THIS TOWN. WITH ALL THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING A NEW ROOF ON TOWN HALL, AND OVERSPENDING ON THE RECREATION CENTRE, IT HAS OBVIOUSLY IMPACTED THE OPERA HOUSE…….AND THE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THIS, IS THE CONTINUING LACK OF PROMISE, ANYTHING WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. AND THIS IS WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT. WE CAN'T HAVE THOSE YEARS BACK. WE WILL PAY FOR THIS INDIFFERENCE FOR THE NEXT DECADE, EVEN IF WE START MAKING AMENDS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NOW.
It is no shame that Gravenhurst Councillors, are not entertainment-savvy. It's not a condition of running for election, to have five years experience in the entertainment field. What is unfortunate, is that Council did not step up, and admit they have been failing us, at the Opera House, because they didn't know the intricacies of the business…..which is precarious and demanding, to even the most experienced concert promoter. Just ask one. The general lack of expertise has hurt the legacy of the Opera House. You don't have to believe me. I am not the ring-leader of rebellion. The rebellion, friends, had begun long before these blogs, which at best, are well after the fact. There has been serious grumbling by citizens for years, and Town Council has either not been listening, or thought it would all go away if they just ignored it. If they had decided, on their own, that it was time to refurbish our reputation, as a good place to put on a show a big show, based on what they have been hearing, this might be a congratulatory blog about a job well done. The critics to fear, are not those with blogs. The citizens, at a little more than arm's length from the council chamber, who are upset about this, are ones who appreciate the potential that has been lost, by indifference to its decline. If councillors are truly on the ball, how is it possible they could have let this carry on so long, without asking for help? This is really what it comes down to, and I made this a criticism of the mayor's recently launched newsletter. Put something in it, that is important and relevant, and clearly shows what transparency means. It does not mean tightly managed communication. That's a way to mask the truth. Beware of any one in the public service, who might think "managing" information, is a good thing for us commoners. It suggests that we can't handle the truth…..so it should be managed. Wrong concept. So my suggestion for the next newsletter, is to ask residents of our town, for submissions about how to correct this Opera House conundrum. Do they support, and wish to volunteer, for an Opera House overview committee? Do they believe the Opera House can be saved? What are their ideas to help regain its prominence? In this case, I trust the townsfolk to want their voices to be heard.
The town is in the uncomfortable bed they made for themselves. As they have been previously mired in Recreation Centre upgrades, with intrusive police investigations, getting a new roof on our recently acquired town hall, and dealing with the BIA's economic woes, they should have, by now, "moved-on" as they say. This then, may afford some quality time, to study the problems at the Opera House, from all angles……not just from the comfy chairs at town hall. They need to do a proper assessment of the building generally. They need to ask the folks imbedded in the entertainment community, in Muskoka, how to change our fortunes……how to attract and maintain a standing in the industry, as we had for many, many years. The roof? Seems to me I read something about this. Did the town hall get a new roof at the expense of the one needed at the Opera House? I sure home not! If they are told their rental prices are too high, they need to pay attention….not fob-it-off on the realities of town policies…..where there are no do-overs. Town policies can be changed to reflect new realities. There are new realities every day, for every citizen, and some times, we simply have to admit, that what was an adequate policy once, has proven inadequate and outdated today. The town may wish, or think it can deflect, or defer responsibility, but it can't and it wouldn't work anyway. There is no hiding from the truth, that problems have been ongoing for so long now, that some critics may rightly argue, it is irreparable. When it is used for wedding receptions, funerals, wakes, meetings, parties and as office space, one might logically assumed, the town has simply resigned to having this historic building, in its rainy day file, as a place we own with added rental space, and not much more. When does the plywood get fastened over the windows? Don't shoot the messenger. I'm not the first to have asked this question, and I dare say, I won't be the last.
I have a lot of respect for public opinion in Gravenhurst. If I could muster any criticism, in this regard, it would be that residents are far too polite, reserved and respectful, to write blogs that seem hell bent on provoking rebellion, and civil disobedience. This is the problem in a nutshell. We have waited too long to have a say in this matter, and even then, it has been a forced issue. There is a reluctance to object, until it becomes impossible not to make comment. Then we make angry personal attacks, out of sheer frustration, and a lot more feelings are hurt. I've heard the outbursts, and maybe you have too. It is quite true, that there are far more armchair critics here, than for our own good. As I believe Gravenhurst citizens are well informed, and keenly aware of new developments, and current events, they shouldn't be reluctant to speak up, and pursue their rights and privileges afforded by democratic governance. It is also understandable, that many are unable to pursue these issues with the fervor that is often demanded, to make change in local policy. There are millions of Canadians who feel the same, that democracy is a seriously encumbered right, these days, when federal and provincial governments pay less attention to civil liberties, than forwarding party agendas. I couldn't blame anyone today, for feeling that they can't affect change in government. Is it any wonder, so many Canadians have given up voting in elections altogether? I find this appalling, but I know how it as all come to this point. No one in government should be surprised by rebellious actions, because they planted and watered the seeds of dissension themselves. Having a public meeting, and inviting input, is a good plan. When limits are imposed about what can be said, and what questions can be asked, it is as undemocratic as any dictatorship…….and should not be tolerated.
My suggestion to Gravenhurst Council, is to drop pre-conceived notions, about how the Opera House should be managed. It's time to go back to school on this one. Start from the ground up, and talk to experts in the field, who can provide information free of charge. Don't dismiss their advice just because it doesn't meet the standards that have been set….the budget that have been voted on, and the ticket surcharges that have been adopted to make more money……but in reality, has actually cost the town money, because promoters can't afford the financial risk. There is a necessity to negotiate. Whether councillors believe me or not, they will have to negotiate. If they choose to ride this out until the next election, and allow the neglect to fester a little more, it will be an election issue, should they decide to take another run at municipal office. It comes down to stewardship. If councillors truly believe they have been good stewards of our Opera House, then they shouldn't worry about having a public meeting on the issue…..and inviting comments from the floor…..not by submission, to be vetted free of controversy, such as at the last pre-election Q.&A. that clearly indicated "transparency" doesn't mean the same to us, as it does to cronies and elected officials.
I have no intention of carrying on with this issue. I have it on good authority, that many new initiatives and proposals are being hatched, at present, and all, that I am currently aware of, have as the foundation timber, a willingness to co-operate and assist the town, develop a more equitable, profitable, and sensible future for the Opera House. This can't be achieved by reckless criticism, anger, or negativity. What these friends of the Opera House want, in fact, is for Town Council to agree with them, that solutions can be found by willing, enthusiastic partners; comprising inclusively, all those who want to improve our town, and restore the rich luster we've always had as a hometown. We've had a rough couple of years, but there are good signs out there, we're rounding the corner. If we all pitch-in, we can get to where we want to be, just a little quicker.
One final note. Several years ago, when neighborhoods, in our community, were slammed by a little something "wicked" that dropped from the sky, the first question out of our mouths, that early August evening, was not…… "Was that a tornado?" Rather, it was the question, "How can I (we) help?" What you saw in our "home" town, was good neighborliness. Folks unaffected by the storm, pitching in to help those who had been seriously impacted, by the sudden and violent storm. In the critical moments after the storm, when folks were making sure there were no serious injuries, there was nary a thought of municipal government protocols, beyond what we expected of first responders. You didn't worry about bylaws, variances, zoning regulations and town protocols…….like "You can't touch this!" We were all just citizens helping citizens, and the common denominator, was that we were from Gravenhurst, and there was a crisis that needed to be dealt with. The same has happened in our community when we have suffered major fires. We lose the sense of rank, and position, and we become mortals. We're all in this together. We have to count on each other to survive. But make no mistake, we will come together, when there is a need.
Thank you for joining today's blog. Please visit again soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment