Yes they do. I'm a cornet player, but I have had a go at percussion for a couple of contests and it is a bit of a pain when test pieces such as the areas don't have much percussion in, because it is difficult to keep them interested while the other parts are being rehearsed. But at the end of the day, if someone chooses to go on percussion, they have to accept the fact that there will be some occasions when there isn't much to do.
I have known percussionists in the past that have had it really good. Endless pieces of music with excellent percussion parts and pleanty to play and all the gear and he still moaned and threw his sticks out the case when it came to rehearsing slower music without all the 'banging and clanking'. :roll: It's about having respect for the other parts in the band that need rehearsing.
Having said that, I do understand that it can be really difficult when there is next to nothing to play and when that happens, it is understandable that it gets a bit boring.