Equity membership?

[JTBmum]

If ds is 17 and gets an acting job, should he become a member of equity? At what stage do actors join equity and is it voluntary or should an agent sort it out?

Thanks

[paulears]

In panto each year, we have a visit from the Equity rep, who targets everyone in the company who is not a member. It is very rare for anyone to sign up. £100 a year for something that is not really needed any longer seems to put people off. They do have a casual contribution pension scheme, and access to various insurance products - but nowadays not many contracts are Equity contracts, although many use the Equity terms and conditions. My own view as a lapsed member is that they really don't offer very much at all, are very reluctant to make waves, and really have very little influence any longer. The Technicians have BECTU and the Musicians Union - which is the strongest union now, but even the MU is backing off and although the MU used to be almost 100% of your band, now it's perhaps 50-60%. Equity in my panto company was about 10% - mostly the older members of the company who'd been in for years and just remain in.


Agents are not worried about Equity membership, neither are the employers. membership is really down to your own personal beliefs. Do you wish to belong to a union, or not? My own view is that unless you work in the higher arts, such as Ballet or Opera, then Equity membership means very little. Most of my contact is in light entertainment - where the newcomers work long hours, get low pay, and rotten conditions - and Equity never do anything for them whatsoever. Many are actually working for below the minimum wage when you do the hours/pay maths - but Equity seem uninterested, concentrating on getting better rates for the Opera chorus.

When I was in Equity, I had one invite to a regional meeting 30 miles from home, which I couldn't attend. That was my entire contact with them. many young people have better uses for £100!

[geordiegirl]

My son was invited to join Equity a couple of years ago having had a part in a successful British feature film. We joined up but when it came time to renew a year later, we decided not to bother. It was quite expensive and we felt didnt give value for money.

[pg]

I treat my Equity membership as paying an insurance premium. Indeed, it is precisely that in a way, as I do have insurance cover as part of my subscription. Like many unions (or insurance policies), you only need them when you need them... They can help with disputes over pay and contracts and can offer advice on other aspects of the business.

A union is really only as strong as its membership, and I would have to say I think Equity seems irrelevant to many performers. I do think actors would be worse off without them though (and that's saying something). Actors are bottom of the pile most of the time; at least Equity is there as some sort of voice for them - though I find them woefully out of touch with those at the beginning of their careers or working on the fringes of the profession (I entirely agree with Paulears there!). I find the "official" Equity attitude to no/low pay incomprehensible - it seems to consist of either ignoring the fact that it goes on or trying not to offend those people who are ripping off badly paid (or unpaid) performers!

If you intend to try to make your living as an actor, I would suggest that you should try to find enough to pay your Equity subs, though I understand why many people don't bother.

If only Equity were as strong/pro-active as the M.U. and BECTU

[paulears]

I tend to agree - Equity really ought to think about the new members just starting out - and if they were crafty, they really try to mop up these people and make membership attractive. The meetings I have to arrange tend to make me cringe. At last years, one junior member of the company asked what they got for the membership fee. The answer was the rep! In fact the insurance deals and that kind of stuff are sadly what many members join their union for - same applies to BECTU and the MU. They want to 'belong' and use the benefits rather than want to actually take part in union activities. I remember very well explaining to the musicians that they were not going to get their traditional extra holiday pay at Christmas - and as expected were quite cross, until I pointed out that their union had actually negotiated this. The few in the union didn't seem to know, and went to check to discover the pay was correct and the system had changed and they just didn't know. I think this is what all the arts unions are doing badly - communication with their members. I very nearly rejoined, but the paperwork just left me a bit confused so I didn't do it in the end.

[Irishdancer]

Ds joined this year because every year be gets repete fees for program's he has been in from Becks equatys branch which collects money that agents would not know about if you are not a member you pay 20% commison if member think its 8% to 10% commission as ds earns a between £2000 to £3000 a year is worth it for us. If you do work and are haveing trouble getting paid there legal team will send out a letter for you and as no one wants to be black listed by Equaty it works.