Does Anyone Here Know Anything About Actors Equity?

[scanne]

For example. If I went to an audition that was posted as being for members of Actor's Equity and I am NOT a member, would I get turned away? Would they let me sing?

Just wondering...

 

[Beca]

It depends on whether you are in a "right to work" state or not. For example, Texas is a right to work state. In Texas, Equity auditions are "open" because they have to be. However, they do not make it convenient for "non-eq" performers to audition.

With AE performers, you get a time for audition scheduled. You MUST be allowed to audition within 15 minutes of your appointment. Auditions only have certain times of the day where they can take place (like 8-5). Non-eqs audition whenever the producers get around to it. Often, auditions will be scheduled to start at, say 2PM, but there will be AE auditions scheduled to take place until 5PM. Then, the producers will break for dinner, and come back to hear non-eqs...that means non-equity auditions often do not start until 7PM, and some of those people will have been waiting since 2PM. Then, producers will sometimes call people in "in groups", and cut you before you even get the chance to sing, just based on looks. Being non-eq, and auditioning at equity auditions CAN be a total nightmare!!

However, it depends on what type of contract the producer has. If they have a LORT contract, and are only required to hire 1 or 2 equity performers, they will be ACTIVELY looking for non-eqs because they can work them harder and pay them less. If that is the case, your audition process will be much better.

Of course, I don't know if Jersey is a "right to work" state. If it is not...then, you will not even be let NEAR the door to audition. Equity would be all over the producers' butts if you were allowed to audition at an equity call, and you were not a member.

 

[CheshireVal]

Equity is a pain-- it's really taken all the fun out of community theatre here. Every time I see an audtion I want to try, it's all Equity (or at least the major parts are).

I don't want to be a pro-- I just want to do it for fun, like I used to!

 

[scanne]

Sheesh - that all sounds so complicated! Is there any way to get around that? I mea, it IS a catch-22. You need an equity card to work but you can't get work unless you're equity. Crazy. It's all about luck and timing.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Beca]

Sheesh - that all sounds so complicated! Is there any way to get around that? I mea, it IS a catch-22. You need an equity card to work but you can't get work unless you're equity. Crazy. It's all about luck and timing.

Thanks for your replies.

The only really reliable way to get an AE card w/o acting in an equity theatre is internships. You can get a "stage management" internship at a regional theatre and get enough points for your card. Stage Managers and actors share a union. Many, many actors get their cards via stage managing internships.

Of course, if you go to an open Disney call in New York, or if you catch the audition tour when they come thru...you can get your card. WDW has some equity shows...such as Beauty and the Beast. If they cast you as a dancer, they buy you your card. It is harder for singers to go that route...there are just SOOO many singers willing to work, and so few singing roles. I have also known people who have gone to work at WDW in the college program as characters, "graduated" to face characters, auditioned for shows, and have gotten in that way. Then, they are eligible for their equity cards.

Of course, I also knew people who found favor with producers or directors who would cast them in an equity production just to get them their cards.

If you can go to a "right to work" state and get lucky, you can sometimes get yourself cast in enough commercials to get a SAG card, and then you can get your equity card via the reciprocity agreement between the two agencies.

Basically, you either have to luck out, know someone, or work VERY hard.