As I've mentioned before, my late friend was, an addition to being a violinist, a symphony orchestra conductor. Over our lifetime of friendship, I attended many rehersals and performances of his various orchestras around the world. As we had grown up together, I always knew that I could poke fun at him as I felt he needed. One time, I complained, after a rather boring concert, that all the violin bows, sawing in unison had put me to sleep. He carefully explained to me, with complete dead pan, while dressed in his formal tails backstage, that the reason they do this is, is to keep the conductor in proper time!
True story! CHEERS and again, what a great thread!