Reply to Message

1. NEVER forget who sends you your paycheck.
2. Therefore, always tend primary employer first.
3. Therefore, arrange freelance to accomodate this situation. Build in redundancy support wherever possible so that YOUR time during 9-5 is minimized.
4. Email support is usually OK.
5. Cellphone can be problematic.
6. NEVER take excessive time off for freelance work.

I have done this for 10 years when I was in corporate IT and never did I EVER shortchange my primary employer. In fact, in that time I think I took maybe 3 vacation days off for the express purpose of client support visits. Not bad.