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Question: How to get into an acting Union!?
I have been acting now for about 3 years, and I am very serious about my acting career in musical theatre and stage work!. I have been taking a theatre appreciation class for my humanities credit and also because I want to know even more about theatre!. Well we touched base on a subject that dealt with different kinds of unions in the acting world!. But my teacher really didn't go into specifics on how to join one since its just a just a class most people take to get there humanity credit!. I know you will say just go ask him!. But I have tried asking him about other things and he portrays him self to be very knowledgeable on theatre but when I approach him with important question about the acting world he tells me he doesn't know, or gives me a vague answer!. So my question is!. Can someone please tell me how you go about joining a union!? I do musical theatre and normal acting!. My goal is to get to broadway and I know you need to be part of a union to audition on Broadway!. Can anyone help!? If there any sites you know of could please let me know!? Is there anyone who can tell me of a good union to join for someone just starting out in the big wide world of acting!. Basically any information would be lovely!. Thank you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The Union representing Talents in Theatre/Musicals, is Actor's Equity Assocation!.
The most common way to join AEA, is to be part of an Equity Production!.
There are AEA open casting in New York - and there are times the casting notice will indicate if Equity rule is in effect or not!. If not, the Non-Union Talents can attend the open casting, but will have to wait until ALL the union talents have auditioned, and if there are some time left --- the Non-Union talents will get to be seen!.
Sometimes, a non-Equity production will get 'picked-up' and became a Union Production!. If the production decided to keep the current casts, then all actors became eligible to join!. (Up to the producer, and how well the show is receieved in public)
If you are in AFTRA/SAG, and have done a principle role, and maintain good membership over a year, then you are eilgible to join Equity!.
AFTRA is an open union!. As long as you can afford the Fee, then you can join the Union!. But with a year, you will have to perform as a principle role!. Then you will be eligible to join either Equity or SAG!. (AFTRA over sees Talents in TV/Radio/Hosting/Recording industry)
SAG is a more difficult union to join!. (It's a Union that mostly represent talents in TV, Film, & Commercial)
If you are casted in a SAG production and have a Speaking or Principle role (In Commercial, TV, or Film) - then you will get paid as a SAG Principle!. With the paid-stub that you get from the check, you can clear it with the SAG office and become SAG-Eligible!. Then it's up to you to decide if you want to join or not!.
You can also get your SAG Card by working as an extra and getting three SAG-extra vouchers that are recognized by the union!. Usually, it will specify if the production company is looking for SAG or Non-SAG!. Due to union regulation rule, that for each production, they need to have a certain percentage of Union Actors on set!. If a scene requires a LOT of background extras, and there weren't enough SAG Actors available, they will use the Non-Union talents!. The Non-Union will get paid as Non-Union Talents!.
So, how does a Non-Union Extra get paid with SAG Extra rate!? (Which entitles you to get a SAG voucher)
Here are the two scenarios:
1) The Director asks you to say a line or perform as a stand-in for one of the principles!.
2) Some SAG Extras didn't show up on set!. In order for the production to full-fill the required UNION talents on set, the first few reigstered Non-Union extras will get bumped up!. (For example, the SAG Talents' sign in number is 1-25!. From 26 - 100 is Non-Union!. If #20,21,& 22 did not show up, then #26,27 & 28 will get paid as SAG Extras)
3) The Background/Extra talent agency is in need for a certain type of Backgrounds, and offers SAG-Waivers to those who match the description!. (For exampke, Spiderman 3 has a party scene and are in need of High Fashion Models to full-up the room!. So the background agency offers SAG-waivers to find female talents that match the type!. A non-union model friend of mine worked on the set for 3 days and got 3 vochers!. She became SAG-Eligible right afterwards!.
So, for Background works, it's really depends on Luck - or a casting at the right time, for the right type!.
Alot of people would agree that doing Commercial work is the fastest way to become SAG-Eligible!.
Good LuckWww@QuestionHome@Com
Adding to brucebir's answer:
You can join Equity as a student member if you are a full time member of a training for actors or musical theatre performers!.
You can only join as a full member when you have at least on paid job as an actor or musical theatre performer!.
Details on the website: www!.Equity!.org!.uk
Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
As you spell the word "theatre" not "theater" I take it you are in the United Kingdom or Ireland not the USA!? There is more than one acting union in the USA, but this side of the pond (I am in London) there is really only Equity for the wide range of work you may want to undertake or be offered!.
Film extras (non-speaking roles) are in the Film Artistes' Association, a section of BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinema and Theatre Union) and musicians are in the Musicians Union!. And there is a Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU) of these three plus the journalists (NUJ), writers (Writers Guild of GB) and Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) all six of which are affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC)!.
You can join Equity by producing evidence of professional work in any of the fields which they organise, and having joined, you can then work in all of the fields they organise (if you have the talent to get a job)!. It is not a sectional card, as would be the case if it was the policy that if you joined as a dancer, you could not then work as a singer!.
They are currently recruiting models, so if you have done some modelling work, that would get you into Equity!.
The amount of work you need to show that you have done, varies from one skill to another!. For a singer, performing one song (and proving it with a contract) is enough to get you into the Union!.
The contact details for Equity in England/Scotland/Wales are:
Headquarters address: Guild House, Upper St, Martins Lane, London WC2H 9EG (with regional offices in Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff)!.
Telephone: 020 7379 6000
Fax: 020 7379 7001
E-mail: info@equity!.org!.uk
Website: http://www!.equity!.org uk
This is the page that tells you how to join:
http://www!.equity!.org!.uk/HowToJoin/defau!.!.!.
As you can read there, there is a student membership category!. The annual subscription for Full Equity members is ￡100 a year!.
If you join British Equity and later want to work on Broadway, there are reciprocal arrangements between British Equity and American Equity for Americans to work in England and Brits to work in America!. If a management in some other country offers you work, most Equity unions worldwide are affiliated to FIA (the International Federation of Actors Unions) and you can find out what arrangements exist between the two countries in each case!. FIA has an office at Equity's London offices and you can contact them there!.
In Ireland, Irish Equity is now part of a giant conglomerated union called SIPTU:
Irish EQUITY
Liberty Hall
Dublin 1!.
Ireland
Phone +353 1 858 6403
Fax +353 1 874 3691
E-Mail equity@siptu!.ie
http://www!.irishequity!.ie/component/opti!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
The Actors' Equity Association website has all the membership information you're looking for!.
http://www!.actorsequity!.com/
Both "theatre" and "theater" are correct spellings!.Www@QuestionHome@Com