Joining equity.
Joining equity.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#2Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:19pmAs I said in your other thread: Get cast in an equity production.
#2Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:21pmThe confusion I have is how do you get cast in an equity show if there is no garuntee you will get seen?
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#3Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:25pmYou have to hope that you will be seen. If you don't, then try again next time. If you do, then maybe you will join equity.
ARTc3
Broadway Star Joined: 8/5/13
#4Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:25pm
There are whole books on this very subject.
You get your Equity card by being in an Equity show. Its a Catch 22: you have to be Equity to be in an Equity show; you can't be in an Equity show unless you're Equity.
Well, its not quite that impossible, but close. There are several ways, you can join a sister union and buy your Equity membership. You can take your chances at an Equity audition (mentioned in a recent thread) and if you're seen and casted, you'll be required to join. You can be cast in a show that moves to an Equity theater and be given the opportunity to join. Years ago, you could get "points" for doing summer stock. (Does this exist anymore?) You can "convince" a Producer who is casting an Equity show that you are the only person capable for the role.
There are a several other entrances, but know that it can be extremely difficult.
ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
Updated On: 3/29/14 at 04:25 PM
oasisjeff
Broadway Star Joined: 11/15/07
#5Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:33pm
The real issue is whether you are ready to be auditioning. I know a lot of people who say they want to write books but aren't sure about getting an agent, or how to get published, etc., etc.
But a lot of that is procrastination from the part you can control, which is writing the book. They focus on all of the parts after they will have written a book, but aren't doing the single thing they can control, which is the writing.
So if you're vocally ready, dance trained, and ready to jump in and do scene work, then that's cool. But if you still need to build up your skills, how to get into equity is irrelevant.
Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.
Updated On: 3/29/14 at 04:33 PM
#6Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:40pmWell I have been training in dance, voice, and acting for the past 5 years and have 5 more until I graduate so really I need to learn about how to audition.
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#7Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:53pm
You don't actually have to be in Equity to be in an Equity show in most cases. Obviously for Broadway and most national tours you do, but most regional theatres and even a lot of off-Broadway productions cast non-Equity actors in smaller roles. Those actors then earn points for being in the production (typically one point per week of rehearsalperformances) and once you get to 50 points, you are eligible to join the union.
Of course, the easiest way to get in Equity is just to get cast in an Equity role in an Equity production, as other posters have stated. But there are other ways as well.
#8Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 4:54pm
"Its a Catch 22: you have to be Equity to be in an Equity show; you can't be in an Equity show unless you're Equity."
This is not true.
You cannot be forced to join.
You can work an Equity contract without joining the union. You will stay have working dues deducted, and you won't enjoy the other privileges of the Union's protection, but you will be protected by the Equity contract. Plenty of actors decline Equity membership while working Equity contracts.
There are three ways to join Equity: being offered an Equity contract, being eligible through one of the sister unions like SAG-AFTRA, or completing the Equity Membership Candidacy program, which is specifically designed for young/new professionals to accrue experience. You can't "buy" your way into Equity: if you are joining from a sister union, you need to have been a member of that union for at least a year AND have worked on their contracts.
The majority of people join from Equity contracts.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 3/29/14 at 04:54 PM
#9Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 5:25pm
I got my card through an EMC program, doing summer stock. I was an apprentice for two seasons and signed an Equity contract my third season. Then I joined the union.
That was 3,200 years ago.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 3/29/14 at 05:25 PM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
bobs3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
#10Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 6:10pmIf memory serves, when Joan Jett played Columbia in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at the Circle in the Square she never joined Equity and she didn't record the cast album because she had a contract with a different record company that wanted too much money to release her from her contract to record the album (similar to when Ethel Merman had a contract with Decca but RCA? recorded the OBC album with Dinah Shore singing Ethel's part because Decca wouldn't let her out of her contract).
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#11Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 6:13pmWhat Ethel Merman show are you talking about? I have heard about that, but don't recall what show.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#12Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 7:10pm
Equity membership Candidacy program: Equity regional theatre are allowed to hire a certain number of non-equity actors in each show. You join the Membership Candites program, and once you have accumulated 50 weeks of work in Equity theatres, you can join.
The downside: I know dozens of actors who used to work constantly when they were non-union. Then they joined Equity, and never got hired again. In other words, they were good enough to work non-union for $300 a week, but not good enough to work Equity for $500 a week (typical regional salary).
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#13Joining equity.
Posted: 3/29/14 at 7:30pm
The Merman show was Call Me Madam.
From what I recall hearing concerning Joan Jett it was a case of her contract was never truly finalized. Her management team was basically continuing to negotiate certain terms and conditions even while the show was in performances, and closed before they ever reached a final agreement with the producers. Basically she couldn't join because she never had a completed contract to file with the union. And the cast recording issue was indeed the same situation as the Merman issue regarding Call Me Madam where there were issues between record labels.
As for the OP, I would question the readiness if anybody who couldn't do a quick scan of Equity's website to find he information they are looking for.
http://www.actorsequity.org/membership/howtojoin.asp
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#14Joining equity.
Posted: 3/30/14 at 10:11amOr you can get hired as a stage manager for an Equity production, and probably never be able to book work as a performer again.
