Joining an entertainment industry union gives a performing or acting professional validation on some level. It means that you are exposed to performing or acting jobs that allow you to work with, conceivably, the best of the best.
But joining a union is not a guarantee to every employee. Unlike some unions, you must fulfill various work requirements and pay fees to join an entertainers or actors union.
To get you started, we put together a primer of the different unions that people in the entertainment industry will deal with.
For instance, film actors need to join the Screen Actors Guild if they want to work acting jobs in most Hollywood movies. To work in network or cable television, an actors union you may need to join is AFTRA, more properly known as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. And producers for Broadway and many larger theatres across the United States require performers to be members of Actor's Equity.
But that's not all. There are unions for musical artists, variety artists, musicians, tech staff, and much more. Knowing about the various unions, and who they represent, will help you better understand the day-to-day workings of the business.
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» When to Join a Union
To act on Broadway, on TV, or in big movies, you'll need to be a member of one of the performer unions. Getting in, though, is not always easy.
» SAG
The Screen Actors Guild represents nearly 120,000 actors in film, television, industrials, commercials and music videos.
» AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists represents more than 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists.
» Equity
Actors' Equity Association represents more than 45,000 American actors and stage managers working in the professional theatre.
» AGVA, AGMA and AFM
These three unions have jurisdiction over variety artists, musical artists and musicians.
» Tech Unions
The various craft unions have jurisdiction over the behind-the-scenes work that drives film, TV and theatre.
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