There are three essential unions for professional actors. Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). All three unions have a one-time initiation fee, plus annual dues, which are calculated based on your earnings under that union’s jurisdiction. When you join the union you are no longer allowed to take a non-union role, so when you are just starting out it is usually wise to remain non-union for a while to gain experience by doing non-union roles.
Working in summer stock or at a dinner theater is a professional job, even though the theater does not work under union rules or offer union contracts. But all Broadway theaters, major Off-Broadway productions, and the best known regional theaters, operate according to Actors’ Equity Association rules, so in order to act in such productions you will have to be a union member. All studio produced, and most independent feature films, as well as television soap operas, series, and movies, require that you be a member of a different union, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has some overlapping responsibilities shared with SAG, but represents a wider range of professionals in various entertainment categories, from newspersons to magicians. SAG is primarily concerned with wages and working conditions of performers working on film.
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
AFTRA is the easiest of the three performers’ unions to join, merely requiring you to fill out an application and pay the initiation fee. The membership includes actors, announcers, news broadcasters, singers (including royalty artists and background singers), dancers, sportscasters, disc jockeys, talk show hosts and others. In addition, AFTRA is:
- A national labor union affiliated with the AFL-CIO,
- AFTRA represents actors and other professional performers in TV, radio, sound recordings, commercials, non-broadcast/industrial programs and interactive programs such as CD-ROMS.
5757 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036 213-634-8100 |
260 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor New York, NY 10016 212-532-0800 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.aftra.org/
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Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
Actors’ Equity represents over 40,000 theatre performers and stage managers. The way you become a member of AEA is:
- Auditioning for and being hired on an Equity contract;
- Being a member in good standing of another performers’ union for at least one year and supplying proof of work under their jurisdiction.
- Going through the Equity Membership Candidacy Program which allows you to join Equity if you have completed 50 weeks at an Equity theatre which offers the Candidacy program.
165 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036 212-869-0358 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.actorsequity.org/
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Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
The Screen Actors Guild is organized into three governing divisions, and each division is governed by its own Rules of Procedure. Essentially SAG negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for performers. SAG has jurisdiction over movies, television and commercials produced on film. You can join SAG in one of three ways:
- By being cast and hired to work in a principal or speaking role for a SAG signatory producer.
- After a minimum of one year’s membership in an affiliated performers’ union, with proof of principal work under that union’s jurisdiction.
- Three days covered SAG extra work.
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Other vital unions and guilds for the performing artist
ACTRA ACTRA Toronto Performers 625 Church Street, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2G1 Phone: 416-928-2278 National Organization of Canadian Performers Working in Film, Television, Video and all other Recorded Media. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.actra.ca
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AFL-CIO 815 16th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20006 Phone: 202-637-5000 Fax: 202-637-5058 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.aflcio.org
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American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) 4400 Mac Arthur Boulevard NW Suite 306 Washington, DC 20007 Phone: 202-337-9325 Fax: 202-338-3787 Union that represents professional musicians. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.afm.org/
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American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) 1430 Broadway, 14th Floor New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-265-3687 Fax: 212-262-9088 The labor organization that represents the men and women who create America's operatic, choral and dance heritage. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.musicalartists.org/
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American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) 184 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010 Phone: 212-675-1003 or 363 7th Avenue New York, NY 10001 Phone: 646-674-0135 Represents performers in Broadway, Off-Broadway, Cabaret productions, night club entertainers and theme park performers. Email:
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Artists Rights Foundation 7920 Sunset Boulevard, 6th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90046 Phone: 323-436-5060 Fax: 323-436-5061 Send Email from this webpage: http://www.artistsrights.org/contact/default.htm
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Directors Guild of America (DGA) 7920 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90046 Phone: 310-289-2000 / 800-421-4173 Fax: 310-289-2029 Represents members in theatrical, industrial, educational and documentary films, as well as television live, filmed and taped radio, videos and commercials. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.dga.org
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Industry Labor Guide 11693 San Vicente Blvd., # 206 Los Angeles, CA. 90049 Phone: 310-440-5800 Toll free: 800-820-7601 Fax: 310-440-5812 Comprehensive resource, covering Union & Guild contracts for all major Production Centers. Entertainment Publishers, Inc. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.laborguide.com
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International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) 1430 Broadway 20th Floor New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-730-1770 Fax: 212-730-7809 Represents technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live theater, film and television production. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.iatse-intl.org
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NABET/CWA Local 57 3210 W. Burbank Boulevard, Suite D, Burbank, CA 91505 Phone: 818-567-9935 Fax: 818-567-9968 Communications Workers of America. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.nabet57.com/
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Professional Musicians, Local 47 817 Vine Street, Hollywood CA 90038 Phone: 323-462-2161, x150 A 100-plus-year old labor organization representing over 9,000 local members. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.promusic47.org/
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Writers Guild of America, East 555 West 57th Street, Suite 1230 New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-767-7800 Fax: 212-582-1909 Negotiates Minimum Basic Agreements with major producers of motion pictures and television programs as well as contracts for staff members at radio and television stations. http://www.wgaeast.org/
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Writers Guild of America, West 7000 West Third Street Los Angeles, California 90048 Phone: 323-951-4000 Toll Free: 800-548-4532 Is the sole collective bargaining representative for writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, interactive and new media industries. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.wga.org/
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Relevant Associations & Organizations
Actors' Fund of America 729 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor New York, New York 10019 Phone: 212-221-7300 Fax: 212-764-0238 A nonprofit organization founded in 1882, committed to helping show business professionals in times of need with programs in health, human services and work programs. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.actorsfund.org
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AFTRA-SAG Federal Credit Union 12711 Ventura Blvd. #200 Studio City, CA 91604 Phone: 818-487-6400 Fax: 818-766-9552 Financial services that benefit members of AFTRA, SAG, AGVA and other Select Employee Groups. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.aftrasagfcu.com
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American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) 405 Lexington Avenue, 18th Floor New York, NY 10174-1801 Phone: 212-682-2500 Fax: 212-682-8391 Along with the Association of National Advertisers, it is officially recognized by the National Labor Relations Board to negotiate labor union agreements with commercial performers affiliated with SAG, AFTRA, and the AFM. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.aaaa.org
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National Association of Talent Representatives (NATR) c/o The Gage Group 315 West 57th St., #4H New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-262-5696 -or- 212-541-5250 Fax: 212-956-7466 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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SAG Pension & Health Funds Burbank Plan Office 3601 West Olive Avenue P.O. Box 7830 Burbank, CA 91510-7830 Phone: 818-954-9400 or 800-777-4013 (outside the Los Angeles Area) Fax: 818-953-9880 This site provides you with the most current information regarding your health and pension benefits Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.sagph.org
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Dramatists Guild of America 1501 Broadway, Suite 701 New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-398-9366 Fax: 212-944-0420 The website of this association of Playwrights, Composers, and Lyricists holds information about membership, copyright, contracts, events & seminars, ways to contact playwrights and their agents, and articles from The Dramatist. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. http://www.dramaguild.com
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For a full listing of helpful associations and organizations click here
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