I’m working on an arrangement for vocal group and big band right now, and as I write it, I regularly remind myself, “You don’t have to fill every bar.”
Sections can take breaks. There can be extended rests.
In fact, most players would get pretty mad if their parts were top-to-bottom music. It would be taxing on their chops, and the timbre would get mundane with everyone always playing. Use their particular colors when they’ll be most meaningful, and the arrangement will be better, and better appreciated.
That’s an orchestration lesson that can apply to life, too. Don’t fill every bar. The playing will be more meaningful, powerful, and appreciated if you sit out now and then.