There's no sour grapes here, just an observation. I gig quite heavily and play more instruments than I care to admit at a high level and my list of instruments to buy is shrinking fairly quickly.
When I am playing an instrument - any instrument, it doesn't matter which one, people think that is my main instrument. I was a working percussionist for 3 years after moving here, and nobody thought to ask if I played anything else. Then the principal clarinet from the local orchestra had to miss a number of rehearsals for a concert set that involved timpani/perc on only 2 tunes, so I offered to bring in my clarinet and fill in. Fast forward 2 years and I have gone from alternate to bass, to principal clarinet. Which is fine by me because I do not own a set of timpani, and the ones I was in charge of, were occasionally loaned out - and brutalized by idiots.
Then I was asked to play clarinet in the local concert band. I agreed on Bass, because it is generally low key and rather fun. Up pops a tune with a string bass solo, so it goes to the tuba. They can't get what the conductor is looking for in the sound so he passes it to me on Bass clarinet. I ask does he want it on bass clarinet or bass? He says , essentially WTF??? more or less. So in comes the bass and I play the solo. Day after the concert I get a call, and I have been working steadily as a bass player ever since.
I am comfortable with my playing and considered an A list player and on the short list for subs on many instruments with a few regularly performing groups which I don't care to be a regular member of, but find the random gig with quite enjoyable. Did I mention that Violin is my main instrument? I haven't mentioned it much here either.
I also work in a music store and see folks with no ability buying up the latest and greatest instruments available, and then trying to gig on them. Some are passable while others should stick to playing the radio. I could tell tales, but that's negative and I don't care to dwell on that.
My thoughts were prompted by the hacks out there who never had much talent, but have a line they continue to sell about their achievements and so forth. But they borrow from folks who can play well to go and play at a mediocre level, while never giving thought to how their actions affect others - like the person they borrow from. I don't loan instruments out, except on rare occasions in extreme circumstances.
A friend of mine with exceptional ability has gotten to the point where he just isn't interested anymore. He has decided not to play out anymore and sold off a trailer full of equipment. He is a great guy and one of the most talented musicians I have ever worked with, but just got tired of the game.
In viewing the thread about what your doubles are, I got to thinking about the various levels of players out there. Most are doing fine in their circles - high school, college, community, pro, but all doublers are not created equal. More often than not, folks who consider themselves intermediate are often more in the beginner camp than true intermediate players, and the instruments they claim to double on means they can honk or plunk out basic tunes, but haven't spent the time learning the craft associated with playing these secondary instruments.
The thread contains true professional doublers, like Merlin; true intermediate doublers, like myself - I am a violinist who plays other instruments too, but I am primarily a violinist; and then the guys who noodle around on many instruments for their own entertainment - often playing tunes quite well, but not able to do any new pieces without large amounts of time to learn the music.
Though not to the extent of my principal instrument, I get around quite well on my doubles. Well enough that I can pass as a true doubler in 90% of the professional gigs out there - by anyone's standards. The extreme technical stuff is beyond me, and I'll tell anyone who wants to hire me when the part is beyond my skills.
I was asked to play the guitar serenade for some opera by the musical director. He was a friend and knew I played more than just the violin. He sent me the part and I looked it over and practiced it for a few days. I could easily nail 98% of the part, but the 2% was beyond me, so I called and declined the part. Fast forward 6 weeks to the first rehearsal - playing my regular violin. I asked about the guitar part, and he said he had hired a fellow who said he could easily play it. Guess what - he sucked. He couldn't play the conductors tempo, couldn't play in tune and missed more notes than I had ever heard missed in the complete run of any show I had ever done with that group in just his first read through with the group.
He was fired at break. I was asked again and declined, I wasn't going to stink up the pit. We ended up having the harpist come in to play the part.
I'm not out to get gigs, steal gigs from others, and have no sour grapes that someone got a gig I wanted. I have my off nights where things are harder than they should be, or I am distracted by something happening outside of the gig, but am generally considered a rock solid player.
I was just thinking about the two questions and wondering if others had thoughts on the subject.