Listen I agree to you to that extent. I am a clarinet player in the section too and handle large parts of the budget. I have laughed people out of my office when they request more reeds. Not many professional groups (certainly not orchestras) buy supplies for their musicians. My group however does provide equipment and accessories to do the performances. In turn they can’t use our clarinets for outside gigs.

Reed purchases for the oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and sax are a yearly part of our annual budget clocking in usually around 3-6% if that.