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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - Singapore/Fling 08:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| One aspect I have not seen mentioned in this thread - I feel like this will open up opportunity to join the Union at one’s own pace, and not at the first offer of an Equity contract, or to be automatically “in” once you earn enough EMC points. I realize that my own experience is anecdotal, but I do feel it’s relevant: I was offered an Equity contract after a few years touring non-Equity. I was apprehensive about joining, and not 100% sure I was ready to jump into the next talent pool. But, I wasn’t sure if the opportunity to be given my Equity Card would come again any time soon, so I went for it and joined the Union. I was not ready- my career suffered. I would have benefited from a few more years working non union. If the opportunity to join Equity at my own pace, and when I felt like my career was in the “right place,” I would absolutely have waited to join. A personal experience, yes, but I think so many people are discussing the eagerness of new members to join, but aren’t assessing the other end of the spectrum - many actors joined the Union at an inopportune time simply because that’s how the system worked. |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:14 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| yes but... as I understand it, this is a 2 year window so if you pass on it now, you have no guarantee the opportunity will present itself when you are ready. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 09:52 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 09:51 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - kess0078 09:45 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| Many years ago, I called Equity inquiring about requirements for joining, and the kind lady I spoke to actually told me it was sometimes worthwhile to wait to build up a resume with some good acting roles before jumping into the Equity audition pool with more experienced actors. I believe it was good advice. Many folks who worked quite a bit in non-Equity roles found that work slowed down significantly after joining Equity. I can understand the eagerness to join, as it seems to be a natural progression in a career to want to become more established as a professional and to go out for bigger shows in better theaters though. | |
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| re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership | |
| Last Edit: Snowgrace 01:19 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
| Posted by: Snowgrace 01:12 am EDT 07/22/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Actors’ Equity Association Announces ‘Open Access,’ Expanding Eligibility for Union Membership - PlayWiz 09:51 pm EDT 07/21/21 | |
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| All this is fascinating...for several years in the 80s & 90s, if one earned a certain amount at a theatre, including a non-union one, one could become what I think was called an "eligible performer" & attend AEA calls (btw oh how I wish someone had told me back then how many of those were held merely because they were required by the union), but one couldn't join the union. So many members protested the increase in actors competing for audition spots that AEA put an end to that for us. It took a lot of us years to earn the points/contracts to ultimately join (with 4 points left, mine was thanks to a principal SAG contract which gave me eligibility first for THAT union), & it felt like a huge achievement when we did...That said, it's in huge part to the years of non-union tours & other productions that so much good came along during them & later. Maybe more theatres, including community, will all become union ones to accomodate all the new union members...time will tell. The world is changing... | |
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