Why are some agents not part of AAR?

Some agents don't think it's worth their while joining: they have more than enough clients, and are doing fine without the AAR.

Other agents might not meet the AAR's membership criteria: I've not read them so can't be sure, but it's possible, for example, that if there's a requirement for an agency to have been in business for a minimum length of time, when an established agent leaves their agency and sets up shop on their own they could have to wait until that time has elapsed before they can apply; or they might have to sell a minimum number of books, or something.

Being a member of the AAR isn't necessarily a good thing: I've known some agents I wouldn't like to work with who were members of the appropriate organisations; but it's not a bad thing. And I wouldn't decide against submitting to an otherwise reputable agent just because they weren't in the right club. Sales record, established reputation, loving my work and personality are far more important.

Old Hack said:

Sales record, established reputation, loving my work and personality are far more important.

Click to expand...

I'll admit that it hasn't occurred to me to research agents based on professional affiliations because what OH said is the most important criteria for me at this time.

Yeah, professional organizations aren't really a deal-breaker. Most (not all) require little other than you "do" that profession and produce a healthy check each year. I'd rather know "how" one does their chosen profession.

I'd never use an agent who wasn't a member. I've found no good reason not to be a member, and many reasons to be a member.

My agent decided a long time ago that it just wasn't worth paying the membership fee; he'd been around long enough and had/has a solid enough record that it seemed an unnecessary expenditure.

AAR is a good place to start an agent search, but it's not the ONLY place.

For a long time AAR didn't allow agents to do anything similar to book packaging, so some agents didn't join cause they were also doing packaging.

And frankly some agents are cantankerous old farts who just don't give a rat's ass. They're busy selling like crazy so taking them off your query list is crazy.

I find my AAR membership very valuable but it's not the only benchmark for finding reputable agents.

J.Reid said:

And frankly some agents are cantankerous old farts who just don't give a rat's ass. They're busy selling like crazy so taking them off your query list is crazy.

Click to expand...

I'm telling my agent you called him names.

... maybe some mistake the organization for the AARP.

Stacia, actually he paid me to say that.

J.Reid said:

Stacia, actually he paid me to say that.

Click to expand...

That would not surprise me.

I believe you also have to sell a certain number of books within a time frame. Boutique agencies, who handle just a few titles, would probably not qualify, even if they sell all of them.

The simplest answer is probably the right one:

Full membership costs $150 per calendar year, with a one-time $150 initiation fee.

Click to expand...

Per agent...

If you're already playing by the rules, why pay for the privilege just for people to KNOW you're playing by the rules?