There is a strange phenomenon within the band community where anytime an assistant director badmouths their head director, they are immediately labeled as difficult, a gossip, and then blacklisted.

Even if it’s true, keep your mouth shut until you get a new job, and then only tell those you are close with. Directors from other schools will tell you ‘you can complain to me anytime… I know how you feel’ and then will immediately tell anyone who will listen that you’re trashing your former colleagues. I’ve seen it happen over and over.

Those who are truly terrible and toxic will eventually get what’s coming to them. It just may take some time.