3 Critical Ways To Join Actors' Equity Association

Have you ever heard of Actors' Equity Association?

Founded in 1913, Equity is the United States performing arts union representing more than 51,000 professional stage actors and stage managers across the country.

The unions seeks to "advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society," by negotiating wages and working conditions for its members, providing a wide range of benefits, etc.

There are currently 3 critical ways an actor can be eligible to join the union.

Actors’ Equity Association, NYC

1. By receiving an Equity contract.

Membership is available by virtue of employment under an Equity contract. According to AEA’s website, “certain contract types also have a length-of-employment requirement before a membership application becomes valid; the Membership Department will advise you at the time of joining.”

If a theater offers an non-equity actor their card, this is what that means!

2. As a member of a sister union.

The four A’s, Associated Actors and Artistes of America Affiliation, include

AEA: Actors’ Equity Association

SAG-AFTRA:  Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

AGMA: American Guild of Musical Artists

AGVA: American Guild of Variety Artists

According to Actors’ Equity, membership is available by virtue of prior membership in a performing arts sister union.

So if you’re already a member of SAG, AGMA, or AGVA, you may be eligible to join Equity!

Applicants of a sister union must be a member of good standing for at least one year and must have worked as a performer under the union's jurisdiction on a principal or "under-five" contract or at least three days of extra ("background") work.

3. Through the Equity Membership Candidate Program (EMC).

The EMC program allows actors and stage managers earn points towards eventual membership. By performing at participating Equity regional and summer stock theatres, actors can collect points toward their membership. Each week worked at a qualifying Equity theater equals one EMC point or credit. Actors currently need 25 EMC points to join Equity.

To learn more about the EMC program, click here.

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Maggie Bera is a NYC-based actress, entrepreneur, and founder of Actor Aesthetic.