#46: Leave your name with the girl
Monday 9/2/24
Happy Labor Day! Insert something about strikes and labor unions…. Lol. I’m a member of one - Actors’ Equity Association. Let’s talk about it.
If you are reading this, you already know that AEA is the professional actor and stage manager union. By “being AEA” you have to only work under a contract with the union. “Work” for AEA even includes volunteering for community theatre or low budget/no budget theatre projects. If you want to do community theatre - AT ALL - stay nonunion.
Now, I CAN participate in concerts, or some readings, but anything with costumes/props/audience - for the most part - needs to be done so through actors' equity. The union is usually willing to figure out pay and such with the organization - even community theatre has something called a Special Appearance or Guest Artist contract - but they are not cheap. There is a weekly fee, plus health and pension, which are non-negotiable. In some cases, equity actors want to do a show and work it out with the theatre to donate the pay (after taxes) back to the theatre, but they can’t do that with health/pension as it goes into a pool of money. The company needs to be willing to absorb that as a budget item. There are negotiations to be made around this too - start date and some others which could make the cost lower. But there is no such thing as a contract that is for 1-2 rehearsals and a weekend of shows or even one show. You are always having to contract someone for at least a week.
All this to say it’s been one full year since I’ve been in a book musical. As soon as I took my card, I worked the whole year. Xanadu at the Mac, then right into Spitfire Grill at Vanguard, and then 6 months later started Spring Awakening at Vanguard. 3 union contracts in a row with very little break. 2 of which were down the road from where I live. Now, I’m not disillusioned - I know that one of those theatres I'd worked in for years and the other two were simply very right fits for me.
I knew it was going to be harder to get a job as a non-broadway credited actor once i joined the union. But, at this point in my life, I want the protections of the union, the money and the health/pension. It’s worth it to me to have sporadic jobs as opposed to grinding as non-eq in questionable housing, low pay, and zero protections. Now, that’s not always the case… but I’ve done the legwork. I am over 40 and want to know, for sure, without asking, that I have a single room lol.
It’s a weird time in the industry. Beanie Feldstein, who may not be a household name, is certainly famous. She’s playing a supporting role at the Kennedy Center this year in …Spelling Bee. Alongside Taran Killam who is certainly more well known globally. This show could always transfer to broadway, it’s low cost, low overhead, and has the name recognition to do well for a bit. This could be another Into The Woods 2022 revival where they can get broadway people in and out constantly.
All this to say - the industry has not bounced back and if theatres all over the country think someone with one broadway show will attract more ticket buyers than someone without, then work for the rest of us will be low. I’ve been at EPAs and ECCs (required auditions, usually for actors who may not have another way to audition for the show via relationships/appointments/their name), where actors with significant names are attending. Like, performed alone at the Tony’s. And here they are at a dance call with the rest of us.
I’m happy to be in a labor union and understand that it comes with a lack of work. I’m pickier these days. I don’t audition for everything. I have a whole-ass business to run. BUT, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it so much. I’ll get back there, but the job/role/show has got to align with SOMEthing in my life - the timeline and location work, the role is one i really want, or the show is one i really want. If it doesn’t hit any of that, it’s a no for me.
Joining the union is a personal choice. Only you know - really - the level that you are at and if that level aligns with being in a dance call with Tony nominated performers. If not, wait it out a bit.
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie