| Well for me, I try and honor my commitments. Throughout your career you're going to have to turn down work for things that you already agreed to.
These days I try to take work that I know I won't regret taking if something else comes up, but it's still impossible to run your schedule and keep everyone happy including yourself. You're a musician, and you need to work. So you take work as it comes in. Then people call you at the last minute for other things, and you may have to turn them down. It's just part of the scene.
Sorry I don't have any groundbreaking news about this question, but you will always be remember as someone who honors commitment when people are thinking about hiring someone if you do the gigs that you take. It's not a bad way to be at all. And things will always come up again, there's rarely ever just one chance to do something. And if it really is just one chance to do something, you'll find a good way to get out of what you're doing and make it possible.
I've just taken a gig with Peter Cincotti, a singer on warne brothers records who's about to leave on an 8 month tour through the end of the year. I also have a trio gig with Mike Stern and Dennnis Chambers on the books in June which I have to honor. So it's a juggling act no matter who or where you are.
Easy,
Janek | 
