Contract Renewal - what to do?

[northernladuk]

What's the security worth to you? 12 month contracts aren't easy to come by (unless via extension) and that has value in itself.

Can you afford to go on the bench if you get dumped?

In my mind, these are the two very important questions you need to ask yourself. If the answer to both is "Very valuable and no i cannot afford" then you've answered your question about pitching the raise.

Hmm where you might consider that don't let an agent or client try sell you the length of a gig as a reason to take a lower rate.

[mattfx]

Hmm where you might consider that don't let an agent or client try sell you the length of a gig as a reason to take a lower rate.

I know in an ideal world you should have your war chest built up, ready to rock and roll so that in situations like this you can extract the most financial value, but just starting in contracting not everyone has that or can afford substantial bench time - just thought it'd be a consideration. I'd never let an agent sell me a gig based on duration for a lower rate if it was a fresh engagement, but if I had been somewhere for one stint already, liked where I was and the projects I was working on, its the known versus the unknown and i'd at least mull that part over.