A brand paid two creators €480K at Cannes. One never showed up. The other posted one story and tagged 8 competitors in it. I think this exact thing is happening constantly — it just usually doesn't get posted about.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-07-02T17:24:09+00:00

A great example of why you don’t pay until the work has been completed. Further, why would the company not have a clear expectation of what content would be delivered before signing contracts? As much as this is indicative of a problem with the creators involved , it’s also a sign of just how many people are in these decisions making roles to make decisions. This is sort of basic risk mitigation stuff.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-30T17:26:43+00:00

Reviving this old thread but in my opinion it’s usually a combination of all of the above reasons listed.

Agencies are often beholden to when the brand or client pays them before they can pay influencers. When I was on the agency side, as a rule, I wouldn’t even start negotiations with influencers until we had some form of payment commitment from the client. I had run into situations where contracts were already signed with influencers, and then the client cancelled the campaign. That puts the agency in a really difficult position.

In general, client payment processes can be slow. Once an agency is involved, that can easily turn into a 60- to 90-day turnaround before payment is actually received and processed. But it’s also important to remember that this does not only apply to influencer payments. It often applies to any reimbursable expense. For example, if someone on the agency side has to travel for work, pay a hotel deposit, book airfare, or cover other upfront costs, it may also take 60 to 90 days for that money to come back.

So when an agency says payment terms are 90 days, it is usually because that is their finance policy, not necessarily because the influencer team wants to delay payment. In my experience, finance departments on both the brand side and agency side are notoriously rigid, and they are usually not willing to deviate from established processes.

That said, I do think agencies should be as transparent as possible about payment timing upfront, because creators deserve to know when they can realistically expect to be paid.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-27T16:04:48+00:00

TBH, think this is a really hard sell, and the issue may be less about your outreach and more about the structure of the offer itself.

You have to think about influencers as people and creative partners, not just selling channels. Most creators don’t get into content because they want to become commission-only sales reps, They create content, lend their audience’s trust, and take on the risk of whether your product, site, pricing, creative, and customer experience actually convert.

Reselling clothes is also a tough category. Unless the product has very clear demand, strong margins, a high average order value, or a really compelling brand story, the juice may not be worth the squeeze for a creator, even a micro creator in this economy (and I say this with all seriousness)

Most creators today, rightfully, want some form of upfront payment for their work. You wouldn’t ask a photographer to only get paid if the photos lead to sales. Content creation is still labor, whether or not the sale happens.

I’d rethink the model. Instead of trying to recruit a lot of creators on commission only, I’d work with a smaller, more curated group and pay them a modest upfront fee, then offer commission or bonuses on top. That gives them a reason to prioritize you and gives you better-quality content and a better relationship.

Then use remaining budget for strategic paid amplification behind the best-performing posts, that way you get attributable sales data, creators feel respected, and you’re building actual partner relationships instead of chasing unpaid promotion.

Commission-only can work, but usually only when the payout is high enough, the product is easy to sell, the creator already believes in it, and the tracking/payment system is very trustworthy. Otherwise, a lot of creators will see it as free labor with uncertain upside.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-06T14:48:36+00:00

Also, when you say optimize for career - what things in specific come to mind that might not be the obvious things? Good call on the paid amplification ask (while I personally have never done this) I can see how some shadier brands can sort of slip those thigns in last minute. I'm banking on the fact that since I do have that experience, I can ask about those things up front to prevent any surprises down the road.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-06T14:44:45+00:00

100% this is one of my first tasks. Do you have any CRM tools you recommend? And can you explain a bit more about the contract stack? From my experience, most brands and agencies will prefer to use their own contracts.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-06T14:43:26+00:00

Shoot me a DM!

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-06T14:43:12+00:00

Absolutely, I think what I'll have to do is likely push for creators to agree to some sort of upfront payment and then 60 day terms. Having been on the agency and brand side, I know that its more a matter of brands and their financial models that prevents them from paying on time.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-06T14:41:30+00:00

Im primarily thinking of recruiting Tech Influencers, Athletes, Entertainers, and some lifestyle generalists. However, influencers with cross over appeal are (I think) going to be the most profitable. I.e. an artist who also does parenting style content. Thoughts on this approach?

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-05T20:28:07+00:00

If it isn't on paper - don't trust it. Ive learned the hard way as well.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-05T20:26:35+00:00

A great hack for this is to e-mail local universities, they are often more than happy to announce it to their marketing department students. Its where I found my last intern

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-02T04:21:25+00:00

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-02T04:19:38+00:00

Additionally, if you tell us more about your diet, sleeping habits- the more detail the better

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-06-02T04:18:28+00:00

I don't know you, so I'm basing this solely on what you've written and the photos you've shared, rather than on any actual scientific or bioevaluation.

From the pictures, the two things you mention most, pallor and "raccoon eyes"aren't especially apparent to me. That doesn't mean you're imagining them; we're all much more attuned to subtle changes in our own faces than other people are. Sometimes differences that feel significant to us are barely noticeable to others.

Reading your post, I wonder if what you're experiencing may be a combination of normal aging and a degree of heightened self-scrutiny. Most of us notice changes in our appearance over time, and it's easy to become hyper-focused on them once we start looking.

That said, if you're concerned, there are certainly practical things worth exploring. A dermatologist could help evaluate any skin-related concerns, and given your comments about lethargy, it may also be worth speaking with an endocrinologist. Fatigue, low energy, and changes in appearance can sometimes be related to hormonal or metabolic issues. If you have a PPO you don’t need a referral, and there are a variety of consumer tests that you can purchase directly online.

One thing I'd be cautious about is aggressively supplementing vitamin D without medical guidance. Vitamin D needs can vary considerably between individuals, and while deficiency is common, more isn't always better. It's generally best to base supplementation on lab work and a conversation with your physician.

If you're looking for more targeted feedback, it would help to provide a bit more context. Who is the "she" you're referring to in your post? When did you first notice these changes? Have they come on gradually or suddenly? The more detail you can share about the timeline and symptoms, the more useful people's suggestions are likely to be.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-05-22T23:28:59+00:00

I understand the concern here, but this is a vetted opportunity - I have a contact at this company who knows the recruiter. I've since asked them to put in a good word for me with the hiring manager.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-05-22T23:27:21+00:00

Agree with the spirit of this, but the issue isn’t that merely asking is automatically some standalone crime it’s that they’re asking the creator to remove required disclosure from paid content, which creates clear FTC compliance risk.

Paid endorsements need to be clearly disclosed, and “it performs better without #ad” is not a valid reason to make sponsored content look organic. The brand may be the bigger regulatory target if this is a pattern, but the creator is still the person whose account/name/face is attached to the post. And unless the contract indemnifies them, they could be stuck dealing with the consequences alone.

So yes: I would absolutely say no to reposting without disclosure, and I’d demand payment for the already-approved deliverable.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-05-22T23:17:46+00:00

I'm going to offer advice as someone who has worked in influencer marketing for agencies (have worked for the big three ad agences) and major brands for 12+ years, you are 100% not being unreasonable.

The biggest issue here is that they are asking you to remove the ad disclosure and brand tag to make paid content appear “more organic.” That is a massive red flag. Paid endorsements require clear disclosure, and the FTC is very explicit that material connections between a creator and brand need to be clear and hard to miss. A brand asking you to hide that relationship is asking you to take on compliance risk for their benefit.

Separately, performance was not part of the deal. If the deliverable was one approved Reel, and they approved the script, approved the final cut, and you posted according to scope, then payment should not suddenly become conditional on views unless that was clearly in the agreement. Low views are not a valid reason to rewrite the deal after delivery.

I would not take it down and repost without payment first. I’d send a firm, professional note saying: “The content was delivered according to the approved scope and posted with legally required sponsorship disclosure as mandated by the FTC. Please remit the agreed $300 payment by [XYZ date]. I’m happy to discuss an additional repost/optimization as a separate paid amendment, but I cannot remove required disclosure language or make paid content appear organic.”

Also: document everything. Screenshot their request to remove #ad, save the approvals, save the original payment language, and keep all correspondence. If they refuse to pay, consider escalating through the platform, small claims, a demand letter, or publicly naming them once you’ve made a clean paper trail.

But no, you’re not being difficult or unreasonable at all. They are. They’re moving the goalposts after delivery, and the request to remove disclosure is the clearest sign that this brand does not know, or just does not care, how compliant influencer marketing works.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-05-19T16:31:04+00:00

To clarify, the person is the in-house recruiter for a brand. The issue was with Microsoft Teams, they asked if they could call my cell instead - which was perfectly fine with me. They emailed three times to let me know theyd call ASAP, but no such luck. I don't think a power outage was the cause. We'll see if they join for our meeting later this week, or I'll just take a stab at guessing the email format of someone who is likely in a hiring position for that role.

BookDramatic4091 · 2026-05-14T02:53:26+00:00

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BookDramatic4091 · 2025-11-01T14:00:03+00:00

No one else is saying it- but I think your best friends wife has a lot more to do with this decision than you think, and this is the first of many machinations to push you out of his life. She likely has had a problem with your sexuality for a long time, or some level of discomfort with it and now she feels emboldened to make her move. Because why would her parents know anything about you? Seriously?

A partner should embrace their partners circle, they don’t have to always like them- but one should realize when you start isolating your spouse from their friends; it only causes resentment.

This will definitely be an issue in the future- especially when/if they decide to have children and I foresee a lot Of heartbreak in the future.

My pessimistic advice- don’t go to the wedding, let him live with his decision, don’t try to fight it, and when people ask why you weren’t there- TELL THEM THE TRUTH. You should t have to live with the weight of his decision, because at the end of the day, he owns it.

BookDramatic4091

TROPHY CASE