A post I made a while back during a debate about joining the SAG-AFTRA actors union, that I thought Id share: I dont particularly agree with joining SAG-AFTRA right away in regards to Los Angeles. Rushing to join the union (and pay the hefty $3,000 initiation fee) simply because of the intent of pursuing a career here or even if already here working into the industry is usually a mistake. Yes, it is a hurdle that can be gotten out of the way, but it means nothing if the actor isnt professionally ready. I am very pro-union, but I find that actors focus too much on the union membership, almost to exclusivity of all the other things they need to do to move their career forward. I meet actors with union memberships who arent even close to being camera ready. Whether its their look, need for on-camera training, or simply lack of experience, actors need to focus on getting themselves to a professional level before applying the professional union stamp on themselves. I know actors with a SAG-AFTRA card that dont even have any acting reel, let alone the solid one an actor needs to market themselves properly. Even if an actor attains union eligibility, its best to stay at that eligible status. Dont join the union until you have to. SAG-AFTRA even has a window during which an actor can work union jobs before paying the initiation fee. So why rush? Yes, being in the union gives a certain amount of cred, in that it shows an actors investment in their career. However, an actor never gets representation simply on the basis of union membership. If an actor has all the goods (talent, look, personality, intelligence) professionalism (solid marketing tools) to introduce himself to the industry, the lack of union membership is a minor factor. Join the union when you HAVE to, not just to check a box on the to-do list.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 06:36:30 +0000
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