Considering a "mental" career step

deviladvocate

Okay, I'll explain this as best I can...
I'm in a job that I got straight out of uni. It's not bad work, but the company does have a rather high staff turnover rate, and the pay is pretty bad for my qualifications. They do expect a lot at times, and can be very unreasonable at times, putting a lot of stress on people. I have gotten to a stage I've really considered quitting a few times but being just 2 years out of uni I'm sticking at it to gather experience. I do not see myself in this job in 5 years!
I have impressed a number of clients, one company in England in particular, to the point my name has been mentioned in meetings involving multi million pound contracts. (Yeah I'm based in the North)
I haven't taken any holidays all year (bar 3 days) because I've been saving them, as usually around this time of year I get called to film a very popular TV show filmed in the North, They were well aware this was my plan. I got the call today to do 2 months solid on the show, which is much more than I was expecting. I asked if it was possible to work it, but got a very quick no (as I expected)
Now, I have other ventures outside of my job where I make pretty decent money, and this 2 months will get a lot, so I have some comfort there but it will be a huge drop financially if I were to leave my job. But I also have some comfort in that I have a number of clients who have been so impressed with me that I'll get great references. So I'm not really sure what the best course of action is. I really wanna do the show, it's the best work I've ever done!
At the minute I'm thinking my options are
1. Quit and do the show and hope for the best after, relying on my other income,
2. Sit them down and say, look I've saved these holidays for this reason and you know this, If you don't let me take them I will quit.
3. Forget the show, but use it as a bargaining chip to get better pay. ie, I would earn this much on the show, Give me at least that as a pay rise or I'll go do it with my holidays (or a longer version to that effect)
Filming doesn't start for a few weeks so I have time to give my notice, but I need to let the show know by tomorrow!
Thoughts??

Mrs OBumble

Assuming no kids or mortgage, I'd do 1.

You're only young once, make the best of it.

Wesser

Option 2, but actually go ahead and quit if they say no.
Offer to Take the extra weeks as unpaid leave obviously.

deviladvocate

Yeah, no kids and no mortgage.. it's a really really cool opportunity and it's something I feel ill regret not doing when I'm older, especially as I don't see myself in this job long term

However, it does leave me in a rough position for a while if I have no job.. not sure if it's worth it overall! Liking the opinions so far though

endacl

There'll always be jobs. There won't always be chances for mad. Go with mad while you're still young enough to blame it on youth.

Old Perry

winter is coming, option 1.

deviladvocate

Just popped into my head that I never updated people on this.... Yes, all 3 people that responded!!!
I did it! Excellent decision!!
And when I put it to work that I was gonna do it regardless, suddenly I was able to take my holidays, so I do have a job at the end of it!
Not a bad Winter at all!!