You already know Backstage is the go-to for any and all information pertaining to your craft. But now, you have the chance to get in on the action with the Backstage Community Forum. Here, you can engage with others in your industry, as well as teachers, experts, and, yep, even agents and casting directors. Below are some of this week’s most interesting new topics; drop a reply or post a new thread. Either way, fire up that keyboard and get involved right here!
Representation?
“I'm 16 and in the middle of my performing arts course. I have experience in entertainment as I currently have a job as a part time kids’ entertainer. Is there any way I can get acting work now or do I wait until professional training? Would I be able to find an agent willing to represent me?” —happyactorgirl
Equity vs. Non-Equity?
“Hi all,
“I see that a play in the NYC area is auditioning ‘Equity Actors’ for a play. My daughter is 11 and is new to the industry. As I understand it, Equity is essentially Union and Non-Equity is non-union. Can she audition for a ‘Equity Actor’ show? I'm reading that one of the few ways to become Equity is to be hired into an Equity show. Thanks very much for your help!” —NoviceDad
SAG-E versus “must join”?
“Hoping to get this clarified once and for all. I was taft-hartlied into a web series a few years ago and have been SAG-E ever since. I want to join SAG eventually but when it's the right time. I have a commercial agent who sends me primarily on non-union auditions, so he likes me being SAG-E versus union. Also, many people have said it's not worth paying the $3000 to join until I book another SAG role that requires me to join. That said, I don't want my ‘SAG-E’ (still technically non-union) status to compromise my chances of, say, booking a co-star.
“There seems to be some conflicting information about whether casting offices will cast someone in a co-star role if they are SAG-E versus fully SAG. I just did a workshop today and the casting associate said I am essentially a ‘must join’ already, even though I was under the impression I was SAG-E. He said I'd have to be willing to pay the $3000 almost immediately after shooting a co-star or the production will get penalized. He said, for this reason, casting would be hesitant to book someone in this situation. He said they'd be taking a risk. I'm very confused now because everything I heard before was that SAG-E was a ‘good’ place to be and that I could still book tv shows and become a ‘must join’ after the first co-star. (I'm pretty sure I remember other casting people at workshops saying this!) This casting associate just told me that's not the case, so now I'm lost. By the way, another actor at the workshop mentioned that he was in the same situation as me, had already spoken to SAG several times, and they told him he is not a ‘must-join’ until after he books his next SAG role.
“Please weigh in if anyone knows the REAL answer to this. I'm going to call SAG myself next week, but I'm curious what info people might have.” —actingarebelongtome
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