Work as often as you can.
You never know what will come of doing a show. You may get new joke that kills...or even better...a whole new routine! You might even learn how to defuse that heckler who just can't seem to shut up. On top of that, constant exposure to audiences lead to MORE GIGS! Speaking of which - some gigs may pay more than others, but always working is a good thing... with a caveat:Unless it's a charity you really believe in, always get paid.
There are countless people out there that need you to perform at their event gratis, but if you rely on your show to pay the bills, it's your obligation NOT to fill that need.People don't value what they don't pay for.
For example:
Do you know what you got for your birthday two years ago? How about the present given to you on your second wedding anniversary? Now...how much did you spend on the last car you bought?
It's an eye-opener when you examine the difference between the value we place on what's given free of charge, and what we INVEST money in.
This is an excellent Washington Post article that uses a real-world experiment to illustrate the phenomenon quite well.
Think about how your client will view you and your services before you give yourself without asking anything in return. To take that point even further... what will those people that see the performance think, knowing that you are working for free? Pretty much that you're not good enough to make an actual LIVING doing what you do.
You've put blood, sweat, and innumerable hours of your life into your product. Be sure it pays you back!
