The first filter on the 6-point checklist is the simplest. Ask the agency for three current represented creators you can talk to before signing. Real agencies produce references. Fake agencies do not.

Three is the right number for a reason. One reference can be a friend doing a favor. Two might be a small selection of the agency's only happy clients. Three references covering different streamer profiles (different sizes, different niches, different platforms) gives you a representative sample.

What to ask each reference: How long have you been represented? What service lines are you using? Has the agency hit the revenue projections they promised when you signed? How responsive are they to your messages? Have you had any disputes, and how were they resolved? Would you sign again knowing what you know now?

Pay attention to what is not said as much as what is. A reference who hesitates on revenue projections, dodges questions about responsiveness, or avoids the "would you sign again" question is telling you something important. Real satisfied clients answer all six questions easily.

If the agency refuses to provide references at all, the answer is no. Do not sign with anyone who cannot or will not put you in touch with their current clients.