I’ve done gigs for them since I was 16/17 years old. I WAS a kid at the time (almost 20 years ago) and now the client is using it as an excuse to not use me in a higher payed roll, despite doing the job for the better part of a decade.
I put in work and I’m still seen as a kid, I’m bitter because as I grew, my client didn’t. I’m an example that “putting in time” does not always equate to, well anything. Get paid. Your loyalty can be bought, but there must be a down payment.