<p>lmhk, what you are describing is nothing like the music industry. If a musician did not show up to a rehearsal (barring a pre-arranged absence), they would be out of the job, particularly in a pit orchestra. Each musician is hired for a particular role/job, so there is no trading back and forth on solos.</p>
<p>At my daughter’s school, NO ONE gets free tickets for musicals. They need the money to pay the professional musicians they hire.</p>