I've noticed that whenever one of the agencies I have signed up with sends me work, they all do. Usually there is only a little overlap, if any, but occasionally I have to turn down work. These leads me to wonder, how many clients/agencies should I have?
On the one hand, more is better. I get nervous if I go more than about a week without work (I'm not saying I never go more than a week without work, that's just about how long it takes me to go from 'ah, a well-deserved break' to 'aah, no one loves me! How will I feed my family?'). I can use this time for professional development or I can spend time with my daughter, but that doesn't make me any money. I also don't want to rely too much on one source of income if I can avoid it. What happens if they experience a quiet period? or shut up shop? or decide they just don't like me that much any more? So, having more agencies/clients is better for my peace of mind and financial security.
On the other hand, I hate having to turn down work. This is not just about turning down money but also about the effect on my long term relationship with the agency/client. If I turn someone down because I'm busy, they're going to think twice before they offer me jobs in the future. So, the more agencies, etc. that I am signed up with, the greater chance that I will get little jobs from all over the place instead of developing a stronger relationship that sees me trusted with larger jobs.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can see a way out of this predicament. I can't just sit out the quiet periods and hope that someone sends me work (If the waiting doesn't get to me, S____ nagging at me to get a real job will). I suppose the situation may sort itself out: those that send me requests more often are more likely to catch me when I'm free and, thus, are more likely to send me more work in a self-perpetuating positive feedback loop, while those who don't are more likely to be turned down because I'm busy. But this doesn't really seem like a solution so much as hoping for the best and it doesn't really answer my question.
