In my opinion, it's always better to do what you can, give it your best effort. Then at least you know you tried. And if someone doesn't think it's good enough, that's their problem, not yours. If you're doing your damnedest, then it shouldn't matter what other people think anyways.

You'll only regret the action you don't take.

-Rourkie

I've regretted many actiosn I took.

I weigh the consequences of not doing it against the consequences of doing it poorly.

I think if there's anyone I could ask to help me do the thing so that the outcome will be what I want it to.

It's ok to do things badly.

wait for someone to tell you you're not good enough to be doing it
Now you have me intrigued. I'm trying to think of situations in which someone says "you're not good enough at that". Sometimes people say "Let me try" or "do you want some help". Can you give an example?

Job interviews where you get turned down are one example that comes to mind.

Job interviews, performances, a specific position of resposiblity.

In this specific case, it's playing the flute for a taiko gig.

Re-define what I want, such that my skill in X is acceptable for what I'm trying to accomplish.

"There is no spoon."

That usually ends up with me doing nothing.

Usually (well, mod my standard lameness that has nothing to do with my ability) I'll just do it.

If people don't like it, too bad.

If they can offer useful criticism, cool.

If they just want to bitch, fuck 'em.

(If there's someone I know who has the right skills, well, cool. I'll ask for help.)

Give it a try.

*HUG*

Work or hobby? I usually decide if I want to give it a try, and if I do see how things turn out. At the end, it's usually pretty apparent if it was good enough or not. If it wasn't, I either try again or find another way to make whatever it is happen.

In the situation that you seem to be asking about, I would ask the Person In Charge to give me an opinion - ie, specifically audition for him/her and see if it's good enough. Or just discuss it with them "I would like to do this, but I don't know if I'm good enough, so can you advise me?" Or something like that.

I think many people are intimidated by a possibility to a greater extent than is warranted by their actual level of experience; thus the obstacle often appears to be getting past a reluctance and the question of qualification enters into it so seldom that they can proceed with the activity in blissful ignorance of their actual skill level, attributing any failures to being scared rather than unable.

I will usually hunt down someone a trust who I think knows more than me about that subject and ask for help. I try to learn as much as I can about what I'm trying to do, first, and maybe give it a good attempt, but I like being taught. Unfortunately, I'm also very sensitive to being criticized, so there's a fine line between finding someone patient and kind to sit with me and be helpful and NOT do it for me, and sitting and working on it myself.

If there is someone you trust, then ask for their opinion. If they don't give you a straight answer, do what you would like to do. Are the negative consequences on yourself and your taiko group worse if you don't play at all, or if you play badly?

In my experience, I find that many people would rather simply criticize someone's way of doing something than are willing to actually do the thing. If you are interacting with those people, then you should just not listen to them - they are not actually improving the situation by making you feel bad.