Actors Equity.docx

Actors Equity Association (AEA)Actors Equity Union or Equity is an american labor union that protects Stage actors and Stage Managers. Founded in 1913 by 112 working actors in the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel in New York City where they created the associations constitution and elected Francis Wilson as the first president. Until the official establishment of the union, some of the founding members also known as The Players held secret meetings at Edwin Booths The Players in Gramercy Park. In 1919 Actors Equity joined the American Federation of Labor after a strike in which the majority of working actors and stage managers in the city of New York made a stand to be recognized as a legitimate labor union. Any professional Actor or Stage Manager can apply to Equity. Equity is very avid in many causes to protect its large amount of very versatile members. Equity has stood against issues such as Segregation, McCarthyism, The Hollywood Blacklist, Communism, The destruction of historic theatres, as well as the AIDS epidemic. Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS was specifically found to help people that have been infected by the HIV/AIDS virus. BCEFA puts on many benefits throughout the year to raise funds, such as Broadway Bares, BCEFA Grand Auction/ Flea Market, The Equity dues for this union are taken in different ways, such as Intro Dues and Working Dues. The Introduction Dues are taken out as a primary $400 fee and then you have two-years to pay the $1,100 dollar fee. If the fee is not paid in full in the two-year period, all money previously paid would be forfeited and you would have to start the introduction all over. Working dues are taken out of your weekly wages and come to 2.5% of your pay. This is taken weekly although the maximum amount of dues allowed to be taken is $300,000; after that no dues can be taken for that year. Equity provides benefits such as health insurance and pension plan after a specified period of active working, base salary for an equity contract, priority at auditions, and specific schedules, so the actors are not unfairly overworked. Disadvantages of the union are yearly dues, even if you are not employed as an actor, no audio or video release of performance, no health insurance unless you are working, and not being able to perform at a non-equity house.Where the standard for working stage actors is to be a member of Actors Equity Association, it is not at all necessary because there is a wide array of non-equity jobs regionally, nationally, and internationally. Equity is a large asset to every stage actor, but it has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Equity keeps The Business at a very high standard and keeps professional guidelines for all actors, equity and non-equity.

Micah StanekCasey BurkeCaleb Grochalski