I have been freelancing for many years and do much of my work through agencies. I have noticed a growing trend amongst consultants to ask where I am currently working, when I have a booking through someone else. Of course, they are interested in new business but I'm wondering how other freelancers feel about this question.
If I am booked through one agency with a certain client, I can only use this agency with this client. There is a period where I am contractually obliged not to go back to this client through a different agent. So if I tell the second agency where the work is, and they call the client direct, they could attempt to undercut the first agency. Then I lose out.
This has happened to me. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem and how you handle it yourself. Of course I want to maintain a good relationship with my agencies but they are in completion with each other, so there must be a balance between doing this and protecting the first agencies interests and my own work assignment.
In this business, it's important to know your worth. This client knows that anyone willing to volunteer and who lets them send vague briefs can be taken advantage. Unless you are able to stand up to them and say I want what you offered and all briefs must be clear and concise I would chalk it up to experience and move on.
