You’ll miss some parties chasing this. There will be more parties. There might not be more chances.

Some opportunities repeat forever and some have a short window, and they feel identical on a Friday night. The ordinary evening out will come around again next week and the week after. The tryout, the audition, the deadline, the shift that gets you in the door will not. Knowing which category something is in is the whole decision.

Before saying no to something you want, check whether the thing you are choosing instead has a second showing. Miss the repeatable one. Go to the party after.