Retainer vs per-project: creator engagement model

Retainer vs per-project: creator engagement model
Same creator, two contract shapes. Pick with this checklist:
— Need 4+ assets a month, predictable volume? Retainer. Lock a monthly rate at 10 to 15 percent below per-asset, in exchange for guaranteed slots.
— Testing a new creator or a one-off launch? Per-project. Don't marry someone you haven't worked with.
— Creator is your top performer and getting poached? Retainer with a soft exclusivity window on your category.
Tradeoff: retainers smooth your pipeline but eat budget in slow months; per-project flexes but loses you priority.
Rule: retainer the proven, per-project the unknown. Save this engagement router for onboarding.