From the perspective of an industry player.
Here is how the influencers are duped, used and dumped by agencies.
▪︎Agency approaches or is approached by Company X for a gig in social media marketing or event management etc.
▪︎Company policy is 30 days credit on invoice

▪︎The invoice is upon completion of the work but based on an LPO the agency commences the work.
▪︎The agency calls Osama and they agree on 10 influencers to maximise the engagement
▪︎Osama based on the goodwill of his friends floods the TL with the campaign.

▪︎The agency is most likely newish, has existed but the business is new, the company insists the agency needs to proof their work before payment.
▪︎It& #39;s at the end of the campaign that the agency invoices the company
▪︎Plus 30 to 60 sometimes 90 days

▪︎The Company& #39;s finance team was not on board with the idea and it takes convincing for them to allocate a payment date 120 days from invoice https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤣" title="Lachend auf dem Boden rollen" aria-label="Emoji: Lachend auf dem Boden rollen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤣" title="Lachend auf dem Boden rollen" aria-label="Emoji: Lachend auf dem Boden rollen">
▪︎during this time the Agency on the basis of expected payment starts accruing debt expecting to be paid soon.
▪︎ 3 months down

▪︎ They finally get paid but they& #39;ve not gotten any other gig since the last one and their fuliza already exceeds the cheque and the influncers are on their neck and the marketing manager wants a cut in order to release the next LPO https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤣" title="Lachend auf dem Boden rollen" aria-label="Emoji: Lachend auf dem Boden rollen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤣" title="Lachend auf dem Boden rollen" aria-label="Emoji: Lachend auf dem Boden rollen">

Si kupenda kwao ni Fuliza

Anyway bottom insist on a contract,anything signed between you and the agency with clear terms of engagement. The agency being a business like any other should have capital to take care of their business before the get paid for their current business.
My take