Equity card

United States

History

Edwin Booth founded the "Players" in 1888 Actors' Society of America was dissolved by vote of members in 1912.

The Actors' Equity Association was founded in New York City on May 26, 1913.

Joining Equity

One method for an actor to become eligible to join the union is being under an Equity contract.

An actor may also apply for membership if they are a member of any of the sister unions in the performing arts. These unions are the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), and Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

The third way one gets an equity card is through the "Equity Membership Candidate Program" (EMC). In this program, actors are allowed to work in Equity productions as credit towards eventual membership. An actor is eligible for membership once he completes fifty weeks of work at theatres that are a part of the EMC program.

Once a member, the actor is required to pay "yearly dues" of $118 plus "working dues" which are 2.25% of the gross earnings through an equity contract.

Member benefits and privileges

The first major benefit to having an Equity card, as an actor, is that many professional auditions are Equity-only calls. Non-members are allowed to attend, but with no guarantee of being seen. Equity members are allowed to attend these Equity-only calls without these restrictions.

Contract benefits for members include minimum wages, work rules such as length of work day, health insurance, pension, and workers' compensation insurance.

Once an individual is a member of Actor's Equity, they may not rehearse or perform in a non-Equity production without written permission from Equity. The rule does not apply to children under the age of 14, who may temporarily withdraw membership in order to perform in a non-equity production such as a school play.

References

References

1. Bordman, Gerald. (6 May 2006). "The Oxford Companion to American Theatre". Oxford University Press.
2. "THE SECRET HISTORY: Actors' Equity Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary in the Place where (shhhhhh!) it all began.".
3. "AEA Membership Information and Procedures".
4. "ASK PLAYBILL.COM: Equity Cards".
5. "Benefits Overview".
6. "Equity Principal Audition Procedures New York".
7. "Equity Chorus Call Audition Procedures New York and Los Angeles".
8. "If I'm a member, may I work on a non-union contract?".
9. "May a juvenile member be in a school play?".