Picky bastard

I am endlessly recalibrating the terms under which I will and won't accept gigs. It's a formula subject to near-endless variables such as 1) my level of economic security vs. desperation, 2) how busy I am at the moment and, 3) the price of my dignity which, sadly, seems wholly dependent on Factor 1.

How sad is that? I'd love to be able to stand firm on principle and say that under no circumstances will I accept a job under $xxx per day/half-day/hour. But early this year, when things seemed particularly dark I said okay to a job that would have amounted to a little over half of an acceptable day rate. For THREE straight days. It was LIVE trade show work. Ick.

The very same week I booked this incredibly lucrative job that pays like 5o times that rate, which really put things in perspective. Fortunately I ended up not getting the job.

In any case, things are mostly back to normal, economic security-wise, so I felt fine in standing on principle yesterday and turning that job down. Especially since I can make more here at the office doing client work.

But I reserve the right to compromise my principles down the road when it becomes necessary/expedient. Why isn't life black-and-white, like on Leave it to Beaver?