It's a group that isn't for the weak-hearted. It's an ensemble that takes a lot of patience, stamina, and discipline -- the musical pit orchestra. It's definitely not made for everyone. But if it's something that's up your alley, once you do one show, you can't stop. Being in a pit orchestra is unlike any other music ensemble experience; and if you're one of the few who've caught the fever, you know that these things are true -- no matter what show you've done or where you've done it.

1. Tacet = Naptime

If a song in your music is marked tacet, it means you don't have to play a single note in the whole song. Which means you can take a nap, go get some coffee, or do some underwater basket weaving, basically.

2. You're probably going to have over 50 measures of rest at some point

Having a ridiculous amount of measures of rest can be a drag, because you have to come back in at some point during the song. And if you don't diligently count the measures of rest and instead take a nap, go get some coffee, or do underwater basket weaving (see above for "Tacet"), you're going to miss what might be a very important cue. No bueno.

3. Pit black

You know what it means. Proper attire for a pit musician on a show night is always all black, so that the audience can pay more attention to the stage. Except to everyone else, it means that you've decided to become Wednesday Adams.

4. Your performance depends on the people onstage

Every song that you play is usually cued by something that happens onstage, and it can be quite a headache if an actor misses an important line and the pit orchestra is left waiting. Awkward times a bunch.

5. ...But the people onstage also depend on your performance

What's a musical without a pit orchestra? Usually a really awkward, uncomfortable version of a play. It's called a musical for a reason! Without you, the show could go on, but definitely not as well as it does with you. And that's pretty cool.