Yes, it is quite hard to start off at the moment, I've read through a lot of posts from 2011 and back then it was obviously easy to get decent bookings.
However, I've updated my profile on AW, punterlink, punternet etc. and the bookings are coming in slowly, I am more than happy with that. I have also started to take calls again, which I didn't want to do because I only got weirdos who called in the middle of the night or wanted sex talk, so stopped doing that. I just ignore them now and 2 of the calls I had since yesterday, turned out to be decent and I got 2 bookings
That proofs that even though it's hard at the moment, it can be done with some effort in updating profiles and being more flexible in how to take on bookings (mail, text, calls etc.)
xx
Chloe