When gigging and contracting it is always worth keeping your contacts within a database (Oracle). The more contacts you have the more chances you have of lining up your next opportunity. The best way I found in achieving this is to keep an email marketing service account such as mailchimp or similar updated with new contacts that you make along the way. 

This database allows you to achieve a number of things whilst on your journey.

• Some sense of security
• It keeps your contacts updated on your availability, this is the backbone of your journey. Some people may look to find if your available but it is always best to put it in front of them.
• Great for an emergency break glass scenario, we have all been there, you are booked for a month and they pull the plug after day 4. Write a quick email and send it to your contacts last thing Thursday by Friday you stand a greater chance of landing something for the following week.

A database is only as good as it is current, always make sure to cleanse your database every quarter. You may be in a 12 month contract which is great, but if you can touch the people within your database about every quarter, once the 12 months are up you will stand a greater chance moving into your next opportunity. 

Cleansing

By sending emails every quarter you will get automatic replies that people have moved on, use this information to update your oracle. Find the replacement contact which usually appears on the Automatic email that you have received and grow your database. Use LinkedIn to find where your contact has moved on to and request an invite.

Please note that some recruiters may not be able to book you from 6 months onwards due to constraints within clauses of their new employment contract.

Divide

You may find that you can divide your database into a number of lists, like the following.

• Direct contacts. (This agencies / employers direct).
• Top 10 Recruiters who you stay in contact with
• The full list

Be direct and meaningful

You may need to tailor the content of these emails to suit the list that you are sending to, you may have a client that could be interested in the sector/product type of work in which case send an isolated email to that contact. 

The biggest thing about this list is keeping your contacts updated on your availability and your whereabouts, and when you will be available next.

GDPR

Please be aware that you need to get approval from the person that you are adding to your database, although almost all recruiters will welcome this, direct contacts may frown upon it. The good thing about using an email marketing service account is that anyone can unsubscribe at anytime.

The sign-off

The advice above has no relevance to anything but my own experience and is a working practice that has worked for me over my 6 years of freelancing/contracting.