ENTERTAINMENT CAREER ADVICE

UNIONS  

Actors' Equity Association


Actors' Equity Association is the labor union representing over 45,000 American theatre actors and stage managers working in the professional theatre. For 90 years, Equity has negotiated minimum wages and working conditions, administered contracts, and enforced the provisions of the union's various agreements with theatrical employers across the country.

Equity is a member-driven, self-governing and self-supporting labor association, funded by members' dues and initiation fees. The union acts as the collective voice of its members. Its goals are to secure and protect the rights of members in their business relations with employers, to govern members democratically, and to foster and stimulate theatre, according to the union.

Equity supports freedom of speech and thought and action, is against discrimination of any kind, denounces blacklisting, and declares firmly that employment should and must depend on ability alone. Strongly opposed to participation in politics, Equity's primary concern is the welfare and protection of its members in the business of theatre.

According to the union, theatre actors and stage managers as members can never work on a nonunion contract. In certain cases, a member may arrange with Equity to work in a non-Equity theatre or production on a Guest Artist contract or under Showcase code.

For any questions regarding membership and working under contracts, contact Actors' Equity Association directly.

LINKS

Actor's Equity
The union's national website.

Casting Calls for Actor's Equity Members

Equity Looks to TV
The new four-year Production pact between Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the League of American Theatres and Producers contains new fiscal formulas including paying a standard on-camera principal rate to all performers appearing in a commercial.

Equity Okays Production Pact
Actors' Equity Association's Broadway and touring actors have approved a new four-year Production contract that will increase wages and producers' health-fund contributions and create a new experimental program for tours that the union hopes will increase jobs.

Equity - The British Actors Union
The British trade union representing performers and artists.

Canadian Actors' Equity Association
Involved in member protection and promotion and in fostering the growth and development of professional theatre and actors throughout Canada.


BACKSTAGE BULLETINS
Where Do You Find Background Work?
May 08, 2008
Back Stage wants to know what casting companies you use for background work and which you think are a waste of time.


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