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Name: Karl Chapman Job title: General Manager
Company: Usher Hall
When did you start your job? October 2001
So what does your job actually involve? I provide strategic and operational management for the Usher Hall’s programmes, marketing, operations, finance, staff and customer experience. These mainly relate to a) Developing the Usher Hall’s overall programme. There are partner
organisations that hire the space and events that we promote ourselves. We’re the principal venue for the Edinburgh International Festival and are the home for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the capital. We work with rock and pop promoters. We select, programme and promote high quality classical music concerts, jazz, world, folk and other intriguing music events. b) Developing and managing the quality of the Usher Hall ‘experience’. We attract the world’s best artists and we want the service to reflect that. We’re aiming to be a 5 star venue and I have spent a large proportion of the last 10 years working on the major refurbishment which has improved customer and artist facilities. c) Increasing our income streams through various sources – attracting conference, commercial, civic and other non-music related activity, bars and catering. Our turnover is nearly £4 million so I also need to manage the Hall’s financial performance. d) Managing the day-to-day operational issues that arise from running a Grade A listed building that is nearly 100 years old – there is mile upon mile of piping connecting the organ’s pipes and it needs to be kept within specific humidity ranges, and we have 2,200 seats that are used regularly and need maintaining. Best / Worst Aspects? I get a real thrill out of seeing people have a great
time and being able to say ‘we did that’. There is a specific spot in the hall where I can stand and see the artists on the stage and the whole of the audience. When I see that all come together it represents everything I love about my role. I sometimes compare the service to a swan – what (I hope!) people see is a graceful, beautiful, moving experience. Underneath the water there are many people paddling away to make it look like that.
Looking back, what advice would you give to a young Karl at the start of his career? Keep at it, hold your nerve, try working in different aspects of the industry (I’ve done most things from humping PA systems around to managing famous artists) as it gives you a good overview. Stay positive, keep your mind filled with fresh music, look at what others do well and learn from them and you’ll arrive at a personalised business success. And finally . . . what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Lots of wonderful music but in particular an exciting project that I’ve been working on with other venues – Tindersticks: a night of music and film performing Claire Denis film scores 1996–2009, Sun 16 Oct.
26 Aug–22 Sep 2011 THE LIST 141