Actors Equity Association is offering experimental procedures in the Los Angeles area for Equity Principal Auditions (EPA) to make it more convenient for those auditioning to plan their day. This experiment allows a limited number of Equity members to sign up in advance for EPA time slots; it will be conducted over a six-month period beginning May 3. Specific rules have been proposed and will be adhered to strictly.
The new procedures were approved by the Western Regional Board at a February meeting, based on the recommendations of the Auditions Departments of all three regions. The proposal was also approved by the Auditions/ Monitors Committee, chaired by Michael Dotson and AEA staff member Laura Waterbury.
The new rules are as follows:
1. All national EPA procedures will be in effect, except:
2. For one week prior to each EPA, actors may come in person to the L.A. AEA office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and sign up with the receptionist for one of the designated "pre sign-up" time slots. Two of the six slots in every 20-minute block of appointments may be used for this procedure. The rest of the spaces in those time slots will be left for performers to sign up as they would normally, beginning one hour before the official start time on the day of the audition. You may only sign up for yourself. At the office you must show your Paid-Up AEA Membership Card per EPA Procedures, after which you will be able to choose your time slot, as available.
3. You must also bring your paid-up AEA membership card or written verification from the AEA Membership Department of your current paid membership status with you on the day of the audition to show the monitor when checking in. There are no exceptions to this rule.
4. Following normal audition procedures, on the day of the audition you must arrive no later than 10 minutes prior to your assigned time slot, based on the monitor's official timepiece, and show the monitor your current paid-up AEA membership card to check in. If you are late, you will lose your audition time and an alternate will be given the appointment, time permitting, per EPA Procedures. Therefore, Equity strongly suggests that you arrive before the required 10-minutes prior to your audition to allow for any AEA or producer paperwork that may need to be filled out and to receive new or additional information.
5. If you cannot honor your pre-sign-up time, you are responsible for canceling by calling the Equity office.
Dotson and Waterbury urged members to remember that this is an experiment, have patience, and follow the procedures. For more information, contact Laura Waterbury at (323) 634-1750.