I was a member for almost 15 years and then gave up my card in 2013 after moving to an area with very limited Equity work and wanting to stay put and not constantly travel for work. After years of working day jobs paired with non union work and being thoroughly exhausted, I'm seeking out resident jobs and will re-join if the right one comes along.
I’m a non-union actor based in San Diego where there is a lot of Union and non-Union work! Some theaters exclusively cast Union and others have open calls for both Union and Non-Union. However, Union actors seem to have more opportunities, better pay, and seem to be more respected when they walk into audition rooms. I’ve been on the fence about joining for awhile
I just want to act consistently enough to where I can support myself and my wife! 😭 All of the theatres in my region are community theatres. I'm doing a professional show in Texas but i can't keep the ball rolling.
Yeah, it didn't make the sound when I played it in my editing software but somehow got into the final video no matter how many times I rendered... so confusing/frustrating!
My understanding is those are just for statistics. Like a census. Nothing that impacts you individually! Informs number of council seats for each region and such.
@@HalfHourCall Wow, thank you so much! That's what I had hoped. I do both-- I am mainly stage managing professionally at the moment, but didn't want to do anything to limit my options in the future. What you said makes sense, though! :)
$1700 initiation, $88 semi-annually (not annually?), and 2.5% of your salary goes to the union. Interesting. Is any of those payments tax deductible as a donation or work expense? Do the deductions come pre or post tax?
Great question. Currently, you cannot deduct any work expenses from W2 income, but a few years ago that was not the case. Back then, and hopefully again in the future when deductions are allowed, you could absolutely deduct union dues as work expenses. But for context, I spend more on hosting my website than I do on union dues, and I get way more value out of a union than a website.
Probably is! It's a different union completely (though they both use the word "Equity" in the title). There's also a vastly different industry as a whole - West End gets a lot more government funding than Broadway, but the wages are often so low performers have to have part time jobs while IN a show!
What was/will be the deciding factor in whether or not you join the union? Let me know!
I was a member for almost 15 years and then gave up my card in 2013 after moving to an area with very limited Equity work and wanting to stay put and not constantly travel for work. After years of working day jobs paired with non union work and being thoroughly exhausted, I'm seeking out resident jobs and will re-join if the right one comes along.
I’m a non-union actor based in San Diego where there is a lot of Union and non-Union work! Some theaters exclusively cast Union and others have open calls for both Union and Non-Union. However, Union actors seem to have more opportunities, better pay, and seem to be more respected when they walk into audition rooms. I’ve been on the fence about joining for awhile
One of my favorite things I was told when making the decision - "If you work half as much but are paid twice as well, you still come out ahead"
I just want to act consistently enough to where I can support myself and my wife! 😭 All of the theatres in my region are community theatres. I'm doing a professional show in Texas but i can't keep the ball rolling.
I love your content so much! The information that you share is so wonderfully helpful and easy to follow, thank you!
Thank you so much!
I just want to join to get a membership card to be a part Judge Judy actors in the background
Great video! I think you may have some audio troubles in transitions. Sounds like at times the audio jumbles up. Especially during transitions.
Yeah, it didn't make the sound when I played it in my editing software but somehow got into the final video no matter how many times I rendered... so confusing/frustrating!
A question: when I fill out my membership application, what are the implications of checking off both boxes for "actor" AND "stage manager"?
My understanding is those are just for statistics. Like a census. Nothing that impacts you individually! Informs number of council seats for each region and such.
@@HalfHourCall Wow, thank you so much! That's what I had hoped. I do both-- I am mainly stage managing professionally at the moment, but didn't want to do anything to limit my options in the future. What you said makes sense, though! :)
$1700 initiation, $88 semi-annually (not annually?), and 2.5% of your salary goes to the union. Interesting. Is any of those payments tax deductible as a donation or work expense? Do the deductions come pre or post tax?
Great question. Currently, you cannot deduct any work expenses from W2 income, but a few years ago that was not the case. Back then, and hopefully again in the future when deductions are allowed, you could absolutely deduct union dues as work expenses.
But for context, I spend more on hosting my website than I do on union dues, and I get way more value out of a union than a website.
its intresting it seems to be diffrnet in the uk
Probably is! It's a different union completely (though they both use the word "Equity" in the title). There's also a vastly different industry as a whole - West End gets a lot more government funding than Broadway, but the wages are often so low performers have to have part time jobs while IN a show!