Comments on: An Update… http://www.rickdesloge.com/2009/04/24/an-update/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:27:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: admin http://www.rickdesloge.com/2009/04/24/an-update/comment-page-1/#comment-23 admin Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:15:11 +0000 http://www.rickdesloge.com/?p=313#comment-23 Hi Dennis- Thanks for continuing to follow the blog. TI has been an amazing experience and I'm excited by the interest that fans like you have expressed! Actors' Equity Association or AEA is the only union for professional stage actors. Equity provides several huge benefits for it's members including minimum pay, health insurance, and fair work conditions. In order for a producer to hire an AEA actor, the producer enters into a contract with Actors' Equity that stipulates how many Equity actors must be hired for a show, how much they have to be paid, etc. Sometimes producers are forced to hire all Equity actors (as in the case of a "Production Contract" aka Broadway or Equity National Tour), and sometimes AEA will decide how many Equity actors must be hired using a ratio that is called the Professional to Amateur ratio (Pro-Am) based on cast size. The Pro-Am ratio is used by numerous regional theatres across the country including Beef & Boards as well as other Indianapolis theatres such as IRT. For example, in a cast of 18, Equity stipulates that at least 6 of the actors used must be AEA. Often times, this means that only 6 AEA contracts will be issued. It is less expensive for many producers to hire Non-Equity talent, so they opt to use as many Non-Equity actors as possible - and who can blame them if the Non-Equity talent is on the same level as the Equity talent? That being said, Equity members are professional artists and membership in the union is exclusive - it's not as easy as just signing up. There are three ways an actor can join Equity: 1. Get offered an Equity contract by a producer. 2. The Equity Membership Candidacy program. 3. Through a sister union such as SAG, AFTRA, etc. I'd like to add that in an industry where there are so many aspiring performers, our union is essential. Without AEA's protection, actors are sometimes forced to work for unreasonable salaries and hours, simply because if they don't work, someone else will. For more information on Equity, check out www.actorsequity.org. Hope that answers your question. Oh, and the picture should work now! Thanks again for your continued support. -Rick Hi Dennis-

Thanks for continuing to follow the blog. TI has been an amazing experience and I’m excited by the interest that fans like you have expressed!

Actors’ Equity Association or AEA is the only union for professional stage actors. Equity provides several huge benefits for it’s members including minimum pay, health insurance, and fair work conditions. In order for a producer to hire an AEA actor, the producer enters into a contract with Actors’ Equity that stipulates how many Equity actors must be hired for a show, how much they have to be paid, etc. Sometimes producers are forced to hire all Equity actors (as in the case of a “Production Contract” aka Broadway or Equity National Tour), and sometimes AEA will decide how many Equity actors must be hired using a ratio that is called the Professional to Amateur ratio (Pro-Am) based on cast size. The Pro-Am ratio is used by numerous regional theatres across the country including Beef & Boards as well as other Indianapolis theatres such as IRT. For example, in a cast of 18, Equity stipulates that at least 6 of the actors used must be AEA. Often times, this means that only 6 AEA contracts will be issued. It is less expensive for many producers to hire Non-Equity talent, so they opt to use as many Non-Equity actors as possible – and who can blame them if the Non-Equity talent is on the same level as the Equity talent? That being said, Equity members are professional artists and membership in the union is exclusive – it’s not as easy as just signing up.

There are three ways an actor can join Equity:
1. Get offered an Equity contract by a producer.
2. The Equity Membership Candidacy program.
3. Through a sister union such as SAG, AFTRA, etc.

I’d like to add that in an industry where there are so many aspiring performers, our union is essential. Without AEA’s protection, actors are sometimes forced to work for unreasonable salaries and hours, simply because if they don’t work, someone else will.

For more information on Equity, check out http://www.actorsequity.org.

Hope that answers your question.

Oh, and the picture should work now!

Thanks again for your continued support.

-Rick

]]> By: Dennis L http://www.rickdesloge.com/2009/04/24/an-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Dennis L Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:12:33 +0000 http://www.rickdesloge.com/?p=313#comment-22 Rick, Thanks for the peek behind the curtain of the fabulous show that is Treasure Island. I followed your link to Eddie's blog - what a trooper. Your blog is super. A question - can you provide some insight on the Actors' Equity Association. I have noticed on cast listings for many shows that some cast members are AEA "members" and others are not. Is this like a factory union where application is made for membership? Do some shows require membership? Also - the picture of the Easter Egg hunt seems to need a UserID and password. Intentional or Accidental? Thanks again - Rick,
Thanks for the peek behind the curtain of the fabulous show that is Treasure Island. I followed your link to Eddie’s blog – what a trooper. Your blog is super. A question – can you provide some insight on the Actors’ Equity Association. I have noticed on cast listings for many shows that some cast members are AEA “members” and others are not. Is this like a factory union where application is made for membership? Do some shows require membership?

Also – the picture of the Easter Egg hunt seems to need a UserID and password. Intentional or Accidental?

Thanks again -

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