I was forever cured of pick up gigs by the last one I did with a local long running band. We had one rehearsal the night before, and I learned that I came better prepared than the regular players were.
The gig was a disaster. It was an unorganized outdoor multiple band event with no stage or stage lighting. We played a tiny set for a tiny crowd because we were last and everything was late, but we still had to stop at dark.
During this short set, the drummer bandleader was yelling at the bass player for losing the beat during What Is Hip, and the horn section was so bad cracking notes and playing sloppy that the drummer actually stopped the song to yell at them before starting it again.
Needless to say I never answered my phone again when he was calling.