I hated being in the orchestra for operas, but always LOVED being in the pit for a ballet. The music is often terribly boring to perform, but you get such a close-up view of what's going on, especially seeing the sweat running down the danseur's face and neck, watching his muscles flex... and I know I'm strange, but I also enjoyed the sound when the women dance en pointe. Your average audience member is not close enough to hear things like this, but the little wooden blocks in the toes of their shoes, against the wooden stage, can be mesmerizing. I even heard a prima ballerina and her danseur hissing insults at each other, all the while smiling and dancing. The audience never knew, but the corps and the orchestra sure as hell did!