Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Join or Not (AEA vs SAG-AFTRA)

There are many benefits to being a member of Actors Equity or Screen Actors Guild. But, if you join to soon, you may quickly find yourself not working. What are the signs that you are ready to join either one? What are the differences between the two? How will it be different from being non-union?

Actors Equity Association (AEA)
The union for professional actors and stage managers that work in live theatre. They negotiate minimum wages and the ability to negotiate, along with health and pension plans. More information about becoming a member can be found here.

SAG-AFTRA
This union now brings together two great American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It is a union that represents actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voice-over artists, and other media professionals. More information about becoming a member can be found here.

Signs that you are ready to join AEA
  • More credits at union theatres vs. non-union ones (great roles!)
  • More major roles than ensemble (unless you are a dancer or a specialty dancer)
  • Positive relationshipa (they hire you back) with a variety (more than 3) of professional regional theatres (LORT - League of Regional Theatres) 
  • Have earned a variety of credits beyond the theatre (excluding understudy) that gave you your EMC card
Signs that you are ready to join SAG-AFTRA 
  • Definitely know without a doubt your type and what YOU would play in media
  • Have a reel that includes showcase or unique roles from student films, indies, or web series
  • If you have the above in place, then you can take advantage of background work as a pathway to join
  • Starting to get auditions for union feature films, TV, voice-overs, and commercials on your own
  • Agent or manager are starting to submit you for union projects and you are getting callbacks
  • Are SAG-AFTRA eligible 
  • Selected to be a stand-in for a major character in an episodic or for a major actor
Benefits of being in the either union
  • More pay per project
  • Residual payments for most SAG-AFTRA projects
  • Eligibility for pension and health benefits 
  • In general, you earn one year of vesting service for each calendar year in which you worked at least two weeks in covered employment.You can become vested with 5 or 10 years of vesting service, depending on when that vested service occurred. If you are vested and become totally and permanently disabled, you may qualify for a Disability Pension (AEA).
  • Protections from unsafe working conditions
  • Eligibility for unemployment benefits
  • Legal services
  • Guaranteed minimum pay (option to negotiate most contracts unless All Favored Nations) (AEA)
  • Housing and travel for most contracts
  • Will more likely be considered for TV, film , commercials, and voice-overs by being a member of SAG-AFTRA then if you are non-union
  • Membership dues are tax-deductible
There are many working actors who perform and never join either union, but I do believe if your goal is to be a professional working actor who can live off your earnings, you must consider the pros and cons. It is also important to not join to soon to avoid the pitfalls that often come with the transition. And many of those come with not having enough credits, or enough roles, or poor relationships with union theaters, or even worst not ready to compete with other veteran union members. This information was shared with me when I was making my decision and I didn't have to take a special class. I just needed the correct information and guidance before taking the leap.