You know the saying your network is your network sometimes all you need to do is just ask some people instead of seeing it as begging and you will be amazed at how they can really come through for you.
And I must say you need to build a better customer relationship with your customers because if you have a pretty good relationship with a client then even when they are the one strong and for some reasons they get angry you can easily still communicate and then sort things out and they won't have to work away