Our band was playing Ravel's "Bolero" once and got lost. Kept playing the "dadiddydadiddyumpdiddydeeupda" over and over and over. Even the Director was hypnotized with it. Finally the First Trumpet stood up and started, LOUDLY, at some place beyond the diddyumpda's. The Director picked it up and we went on, skipping several measures, but the audience never knew.

A friend of mine was acting in "Dracula" and his blocking required him to run across the stage diagonally, falling to his knees and sliding to Drac's feet. He missed Drac and ended up in the first row of the audience on opening night (fortunately the stage was only about 3 feet off the floor). He got a greenstick fracture of a toe out of it, but literally jumped back on stage and continued as if nothing had happened. He said later he was more afraid of the Director than the pain....

I feel for the Alto. She must have been quite embarassed, not to mention bruised. I hope she's okay.