<p>Obviously, my comments about taking gigs and such is always going to have caveats to it, obviously if something would hurt the musician physically, or for example they took a gig that required they play for hours the day before their juries or something, there are always valid reasons for not taking a gig. My point simply was that gaining experience performing is invaluable, and the contacts you make through this kind of thing can be important. Help out a friend who had someone cancel on a gig, and they may very well remember you for future gigs, etc. When I spoke of hurt, I meant the old attitudes that somehow a classical musician can only do classical and so forth, and that the world is changing a great deal:)</p>