Just back from ushering at the symphony. They did Mahler's Second and the performance was genuinely thrilling. I had goosebumps in the last five minutes and they kept growing until the end.
I was up in the balcony, the only usher for 400 or so seats, which were not supposed to be sold. I was told there were five tickets sold, but it was actually almost filled. I did a lot of running. But I did manage to get a box seat to sit in. During the third movement I looked up and saw someone at the back with a green light. Thinking it was someone using an iPad to tape the show -- a no-no that we're supposed to watch for -- I quietly made my way up there only to discover that they had positioned the four French horns who are supposed to be off-stage up there.