How do you obtain an Equity Card?

[sabrelady]

You just compared an actor to an electrician..... do you realize how stupid that comparison is?

Ab sol ute leee!

Electricians make a better rate AND work more frequently!

[ThankstoPhantom]

You just compared an actor to an electrician..... do you realize how stupid that comparison is?

It's statements like this that continue to perpetuate a lack of respect for the crafts of the theatre. AEA AGMA SM was comparing them because they are jobs that should require skill and experience. It's too bad so many have forgotten that.

[singtopher]

I've had this discussion with several members of AEA (of which I am a member) and there are compelling arguments on both ends:

If it were easier to get your card, there would be far more members paying into the union, generating more money for the union, giving the union more leverage not just in terms of money but also since a higher percentage of actors would be AEA which the union could use as leverage.

However, more actors would cheapen the status of the actors within the union. At least by having to earn a card, there is an assumption that you have to be at a certain level of talent to have earned the job(s) that got you to that point.**

Additionally, to all those non-eq actors who just wish they had their card just so they could get seen at an Equity audition, it's hard enough for us AEA folks to get seen sometimes. We sometimes get there at 7am too to get seen, and if there are suddenly twice as many members, it will just be twice as difficult to get seen.

**Necessary caveat saying there are phenomenally talented non-equity actors out there, and phenomenally cringe worthy equity actors. Equity and talent do not go hand in hand. Sort of a problem for the union that I goes unchecked.