Just under four years ago, I made a post on whether or not to join the union(s). Since then, SAG and AFTRA have merged into SAG-AFTRA. I currently remain in the pits of union-eligible non-union hell, but now I have another four years of experience and opinion tacked onto this post.
So what has changed since then?
SAG-AFTRA
Initiation Fee: $3000 (in California)
Annual Base Dues: $201.96
(source: SAG-AFTRA's official website, visited 8/26/15)
The methods to become eligible remain exactly the same as they were for SAG.
General Benefits of Being a SAG-AFTRA Member:
1. Being paid a guaranteed minimum rate on acting jobs. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts for its actors. Non-union jobs can pay whatever they feel like!
2. Union protection on SAG-AFTRA productions. There are union regulations on how long you can go without a lunch period (six hours), how long you can be kept on set, how long before you can called back the next day to shoot again and various other rules. If you're non-union on a non-union production, you won't have protection and could potentially, but hopefully not, be abused in terms of getting your lunch break or how much time you spend on set.
3. Having the option of union health insurance - but only if you qualify by making the minimum amount through union acting jobs. It's unfortunate and true to say that a fair amount of SAG-AFTRA members don't make enough to qualify for their own union insurance. I don't have the exact statistic, but earning money as union actor can be difficult if you don't have that booking charm.
4. Receiving screeners for films during awards season. Basically, you'll be given the opportunity to watch screeners for major films up for awards that year. You'll only receive the screeners if you're a full member of SAG-AFTRA and haven't gone Financial Core (Fi-Core, to be discussed below). You're supposed to destroy the screener after you view it.
5. Being able to join the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory. You enroll for a $35 fee and have access to industry workshops.
6. Being able to attend SAG Foundation events. The SAG Foundation is a non-profit that is not paid for by SAG-AFTRA dues. They hold a number of useful workshops and events.
7. Various discounts. As a SAG-AFTRA member, you can get a discount for services like IMDBPro...and also on UFC gym membership.
Many actors in LA have been in the union for years - but of course this blog is geared towards the beginning actor. You shouldn't be in a rush to join the union if you don't have a pressing need to. Because once you're in the club...well, join the very large club. Just because you're a SAG-AFTRA card carrying member doesn't mean your acting career will explode over night.
SAG-AFTRA jobs will pay better most of the time. In fact, all actors really just want to be booking union jobs. However, sometimes there just isn't enough work to go around to all actors, and that's why so many don't qualify for health insurance. That's why sometimes I'm at an audition for a non-union gig and I see a union actor I know stroll in and audition as well.
Technically, SAG-AFTRA members aren't supposed to work non-union jobs because that is effectively crossing the union line. But, sometimes these members really need to pay their bills and will audition for non-union jobs. I once had an LA veteran ask me why I hadn't joined the union yet. He told me the most the union would do if I worked a non-union job while being a union member is a slap on the wrist. True, if you're a small potatoes actor doing some small gig no one will hear about, you might be able to get away with it. You probably will. But you would be going against what your union is fighting for - higher wages and regulated conditions for the working actor.
Some union members end up becoming Fi-Core, which allows them to work both non-union jobs and union without being penalized by the union. Fi-Core members end up giving up their voting rights and become "Fee-Paying Non Members."
All right, so now that I've laid that all out - what is the advantage of remaining non-union if you're eligible already?
It's of my opinion that if you're new to Los Angeles, it'll be much easier for you to find a COMMERCIAL agent if you're SAG-AFTRA-Eligible and not a full member. The fact of the matter is that there is a ton of non-union commercial work, which is bad news for us actors as the commercial world was much more financially lucrative in the past (or so the old-timers will tell us).
Commercial agencies need non-union actors to send out on non-union commercial auditions. These non-union commercials may be low paying most of the time, but going out on these auditions allows you to be seen by commercial casting offices. By auditioning and working on non-union commercials, you're building up experience in the audition room and on set. Casting directors will see your face, your work, and if they like you - it's more likely you'll be brought back for other auditions. Now, it's always possible to skip this step and come in blazing and booking union commercials left and right - but that's slightly unrealistic. You see, there have been union actors auditioning for years in LA and those union commercial audition time slots are more likely to be given to someone the casting director, ad agency, commercial director, or whomever already knows and trusts. Of course, everyone is always open to seeing new talent, especially if it's for a really rare look or skill that not everyone has. But if you're new to LA, just some average joe with no special skills and already in the union - your competition will be fierce. How many other average joes will you need to beat out to get on an agency's roster and then into a busy casting office's audition room? It'll definitely help you if you have special skills or something that will set you apart. So whatever is your selling point, work it!
No one wants to stay in the world of non-union commercials forever because there are a bunch of low-paying buyouts. Union commercials that air on network television will pay residuals each time they air (but not on the internet, unfortunately. Correct me if I'm wrong). You especially should avoid any non-union commercial that tries to buy you out in perpetuity and makes you hold a conflict. What that means is that you might earn $1000 for the day, but that's all you'll ever get and they can keep playing that commercial 10 years from now. If a commercial holds conflicts, that means you can't be in a commercial of a direct competitor.
And as more and more commercials become non-union, there is less money for actors to take home. So, it is in all actors' best interest to keep SAG-AFTRA commercials coming.
In any case, I just went on a whole commercial tangent - but basically the only advantage of remaining non-union is being able to work on non-union jobs guilt-free and being able to find a commercial agent a little easier. There is a slight possibility and murmuring that some directors will be less likely to hire you if you're still just eligible and not fully joined, but the fact is if you're really what they want for the role - they'll hire you.
All that being said, I haven't joined the union yet because my life won't drastically be different if I do. I already audition for union commercials and television as a union-eligible actor. By joining, I'd take away my non-union job opportunities. I would be able to attend cool workshops, and get discounts - but I'd become $3200 poorer without a union job lined up. Of course, when the time comes I book a real paying union job, I'll fork it over. Until then, it's not necessary.
So what has changed since then?
SAG-AFTRA
Initiation Fee: $3000 (in California)
Annual Base Dues: $201.96
(source: SAG-AFTRA's official website, visited 8/26/15)
The methods to become eligible remain exactly the same as they were for SAG.
General Benefits of Being a SAG-AFTRA Member:
1. Being paid a guaranteed minimum rate on acting jobs. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts for its actors. Non-union jobs can pay whatever they feel like!
2. Union protection on SAG-AFTRA productions. There are union regulations on how long you can go without a lunch period (six hours), how long you can be kept on set, how long before you can called back the next day to shoot again and various other rules. If you're non-union on a non-union production, you won't have protection and could potentially, but hopefully not, be abused in terms of getting your lunch break or how much time you spend on set.
3. Having the option of union health insurance - but only if you qualify by making the minimum amount through union acting jobs. It's unfortunate and true to say that a fair amount of SAG-AFTRA members don't make enough to qualify for their own union insurance. I don't have the exact statistic, but earning money as union actor can be difficult if you don't have that booking charm.
4. Receiving screeners for films during awards season. Basically, you'll be given the opportunity to watch screeners for major films up for awards that year. You'll only receive the screeners if you're a full member of SAG-AFTRA and haven't gone Financial Core (Fi-Core, to be discussed below). You're supposed to destroy the screener after you view it.
5. Being able to join the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory. You enroll for a $35 fee and have access to industry workshops.
6. Being able to attend SAG Foundation events. The SAG Foundation is a non-profit that is not paid for by SAG-AFTRA dues. They hold a number of useful workshops and events.
7. Various discounts. As a SAG-AFTRA member, you can get a discount for services like IMDBPro...and also on UFC gym membership.
Many actors in LA have been in the union for years - but of course this blog is geared towards the beginning actor. You shouldn't be in a rush to join the union if you don't have a pressing need to. Because once you're in the club...well, join the very large club. Just because you're a SAG-AFTRA card carrying member doesn't mean your acting career will explode over night.
SAG-AFTRA jobs will pay better most of the time. In fact, all actors really just want to be booking union jobs. However, sometimes there just isn't enough work to go around to all actors, and that's why so many don't qualify for health insurance. That's why sometimes I'm at an audition for a non-union gig and I see a union actor I know stroll in and audition as well.
Technically, SAG-AFTRA members aren't supposed to work non-union jobs because that is effectively crossing the union line. But, sometimes these members really need to pay their bills and will audition for non-union jobs. I once had an LA veteran ask me why I hadn't joined the union yet. He told me the most the union would do if I worked a non-union job while being a union member is a slap on the wrist. True, if you're a small potatoes actor doing some small gig no one will hear about, you might be able to get away with it. You probably will. But you would be going against what your union is fighting for - higher wages and regulated conditions for the working actor.
Some union members end up becoming Fi-Core, which allows them to work both non-union jobs and union without being penalized by the union. Fi-Core members end up giving up their voting rights and become "Fee-Paying Non Members."
All right, so now that I've laid that all out - what is the advantage of remaining non-union if you're eligible already?
It's of my opinion that if you're new to Los Angeles, it'll be much easier for you to find a COMMERCIAL agent if you're SAG-AFTRA-Eligible and not a full member. The fact of the matter is that there is a ton of non-union commercial work, which is bad news for us actors as the commercial world was much more financially lucrative in the past (or so the old-timers will tell us).
Commercial agencies need non-union actors to send out on non-union commercial auditions. These non-union commercials may be low paying most of the time, but going out on these auditions allows you to be seen by commercial casting offices. By auditioning and working on non-union commercials, you're building up experience in the audition room and on set. Casting directors will see your face, your work, and if they like you - it's more likely you'll be brought back for other auditions. Now, it's always possible to skip this step and come in blazing and booking union commercials left and right - but that's slightly unrealistic. You see, there have been union actors auditioning for years in LA and those union commercial audition time slots are more likely to be given to someone the casting director, ad agency, commercial director, or whomever already knows and trusts. Of course, everyone is always open to seeing new talent, especially if it's for a really rare look or skill that not everyone has. But if you're new to LA, just some average joe with no special skills and already in the union - your competition will be fierce. How many other average joes will you need to beat out to get on an agency's roster and then into a busy casting office's audition room? It'll definitely help you if you have special skills or something that will set you apart. So whatever is your selling point, work it!
No one wants to stay in the world of non-union commercials forever because there are a bunch of low-paying buyouts. Union commercials that air on network television will pay residuals each time they air (but not on the internet, unfortunately. Correct me if I'm wrong). You especially should avoid any non-union commercial that tries to buy you out in perpetuity and makes you hold a conflict. What that means is that you might earn $1000 for the day, but that's all you'll ever get and they can keep playing that commercial 10 years from now. If a commercial holds conflicts, that means you can't be in a commercial of a direct competitor.
And as more and more commercials become non-union, there is less money for actors to take home. So, it is in all actors' best interest to keep SAG-AFTRA commercials coming.
In any case, I just went on a whole commercial tangent - but basically the only advantage of remaining non-union is being able to work on non-union jobs guilt-free and being able to find a commercial agent a little easier. There is a slight possibility and murmuring that some directors will be less likely to hire you if you're still just eligible and not fully joined, but the fact is if you're really what they want for the role - they'll hire you.
All that being said, I haven't joined the union yet because my life won't drastically be different if I do. I already audition for union commercials and television as a union-eligible actor. By joining, I'd take away my non-union job opportunities. I would be able to attend cool workshops, and get discounts - but I'd become $3200 poorer without a union job lined up. Of course, when the time comes I book a real paying union job, I'll fork it over. Until then, it's not necessary.
Great read! You should put more info in your about me. Or are you just a masked vigilante that helps actors. Haha
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