Never pay an agent upfront for your work. A reputable agent will market your piece taking a commission after its sale. I just signed with an agent myself and signed a contract. It was very straightforward. I did a lot of reseearch before signing, I found plenty of good information on the internet. You can find all you need to know about the good, the bad and ugly. Your project IS of value to the world--don't let it sit and wither by putting it with someone who doesn't care about it. Take the time to find a good agent to represent you.