An individual is eligible to join if he/she is offered an Equity contract by a management operating under Equitys jurisdiction in theatre, opera or dance as a performer, director, or choreographer. If you are a member of another performing arts union or association, such as ACTRA or UdA in Canada, or SAG, or AGMA in the United States, you must become a member of Equity to work in a theatre which operates under Equitys jurisdiction. The principle is that you cant be a professional in one part of the business and a non-professional in another.
Read more about our Reciprocal Agreements here.
Membership may also be secured through the apprenticeship
program. Anyone who plans a career in the professional theatre may credit
his/her work toward an Equity membership, by agreement with a Management operating
under Equitys jurisdiction. An acting apprentice must complete 3 shows for
2 different companies in a 3-year period. A stage management apprentice must
complete 6 shows for 2 different companies, or 8 shows for 1 company in a 3-year
period. Then the apprentice has 6 months in which to join Equity.
This program was created to allow the young artist more flexibility in his/her choice of engagements. At the beginning of a career, a non-Equity engagement can very often provide as important a learning experience as can an Equity engagement. Working on apprentice contracts for 3 years gives an individual the opportunity to keep a foot in both the professional and in the non-professional camp. This opportunity is not open to an artist who has become a fully paid-up member. A registered Equity apprentice is also eligible to audition in Equity auditions, a privilege not open to other non-Equity artists.
Initiation Fee
When you join Equity, you pay an initiation fee. Essentially this is the cost of being able to take advantage of the gains made by those who have fought before you. If you join Equity by the first method (via contract), the current initiation fee of $750.00 is paid, usually spread over the duration of the contract. Under the apprentice method, the apprentice pays $125.00 per show as an acting apprentice, or $62.50 per show as a stage management apprentice. A portion of these apprentice fees are credited to the initiation fee when the apprentice becomes a member.
Equity has reciprocal agreements with the following associations or unions:
AEA (Actors Equity Association), UdA (Union des Artistes) and ACTRA. If you
are joining Equity, and you are already a member of either AEA or ACTRA,
you may deduct the amount you paid as an initiation fee to a maximum of 50%
of Equitys initiation fee. This 50% reduction in initiation fees may or may
not apply when joining other artists associations or unions. It depends upon
the kind of reciprocal agreement between the organizations. It is always good
to check in advance.
Dues
See also Equity membership categories
There are two types of dues:
Basic Dues: $135.00 payable by everyone regardless of earnings. Members are billed $67.50 twice yearly on May 1 and November 1.
Working Dues: In addition to the basic dues, members pay 2% of their contractual weekly fees.
A Word of Advice
It is important to realize that becoming a member of Equity is a big step in your career. So it is equally important to know when to take that step. Membership opens up opportunities, but at the same time it closes off others. Membership gives you certain rights and protections, but it also means certain responsibilities. Becoming a member at the first available opportunity may or may not be to your advantage. So take advice. Think about it. Make the decision that serves your interests best. Remember Equity will always be there. If you dont join today, you can tomorrow. And if tomorrow is better for you, then in the end it is better for us. We want to help, not hinder.
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