The Pits

There's a certain camaraderie that comes from sitting in the dark, in what is effectively a pen, for roughly 16 hours in one week. It's cramped with metal stands and chairs, with papers and empty water bottles littering the ground, and instruments aiming in every direction. Its too hot or too cold, there's a shattered black light releasing it's fumes into the trumpet section, and a box of cookies has spilled somewhere by the mellophones. It's the pit, and at least twice a year, it's the dining room table, the homework desk, and the band/orchestra room to the many musicians involved in student musical productions.

This past week was STUNTS, the student-orchestrated talent show, which includes sketch comedy, musical theater numbers, original acts like magic and bands, and of course, the pit. We play familiar popular tunes like Day Tripper and the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean and when we're not playing we're watching the show. Again and again and again. Sometimes we're doing our french or calculus homework, or grabbing a quick bite of Chipotle, but most of the time, we're sitting, watching, and waiting for our chance to play. Sometimes, however, the pit comes to the rescue. When an act has a glitch, when technical difficulties arise, the pit is there to play Mah Nah Mah Nah and Baila Me with enough fervor to distract the impatient audience.

Though we may not always receive the appreciation we deserve, the pit is the place to be for any production. It's the best seat in the house, with music, magazines, and cookies, and of course, a whole lot of fun.