My personal experience with “spreading yourself thin” is, that while you spread your risks, you slow your growth. Going full focus 100% for one thing will usually get you to that spot sooner or show you that it’s the wrong direction sooner.
Not sure what “retail” gigs are, but I know wedding and corporate gigs are well-paying ones.
You can always make a deal with them where you offer to go exclusive with them, but expect more gigs if you do. To achieve this you want to be more actively involved in marketing, sales or whatever.
I started my professional career with Juliana’s of London, who put me in 5-star hotels around the globe in 4-month rotations. Those were residencies. Personally I have never belonged to a “group” of anything for my gigs after my stint with Juliana’s, I always got my own gigs. Obviously organizers that know me would call me from time to time to offer a gig they needed/wanted me for.
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