<p>Waaay back in HS, I played violin in the pit for our musicals. Our rehearsal schedule matched the cast’s. We started off in the band room on our own learning the music, and spent the last few weeks in the theater. No doubt about it, we were second class citizens. Maybe even third class, after crew, who were considered “cool.” We had long rehearsals, but I always had snacks and something to read, and when I couldn’t sit anymore I would stand and stretch during the dialogues. Our acknowledgement consisted of a wave from the cast and our names in the program. Pretty sure no one ever verbally thanked me for my time. After my first show, my mother wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper about how great we were and called the orchestra the “unsung heroes” of the show. I think I still have that clipping.</p>
<p>Then the summer after 10th grade I was CM for a G&S, which meant you never got a break. We worked our fingers to the bone and no one cared. Meanwhile the kids in the cast had breaks during the scenes they were not on stage and had plenty of opportunities to socialize, get a drink, chat, laugh. Bottom line–they were having fun and I was not. So that was my last pit and since I could sing (probably better than I could play), I started auditioning. Man, was there ever backlash. I had teachers berating me the hallway about why I wasn’t playing. I had other violinists stop talking to me. I told them all the same thing, that I didn’t like playing in the pit because it was no fun.</p>