EQUITY MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATES (EMCs) ATTEND MEETING IN NYC

Entry To Equity Committee Member's Melissa Robinette (L) and Liza Vest (R) eagerly await EMC attendees.

An EMC meeting was held in the NYC Council Room of Actors' Equity Association on Monday October 18th, 2010.

The event was hosted by Equity staff member Tom Miller, EMC Program Coordinator. It was a fun, informal event which served as both meeting and Q & A discussion opportunity for Membership Candidates. The meeting featured several speakers and attendees received informational handouts and Membership Candidate buttons.

Guest Speaker Jason Daunter

The meeting's Guest Speaker was Jason Daunter. Jason grew up in St. Louis, starting his career at Stages St. Louis as an assistant stage manager and assistant to the choreographer. He is currently the Assistant Stage Manager for the Broadway production of WICKED. Additional Broadway credits include CYRANO DE BERGERAC, starring Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner, for which he also served as Mr. Kline's personal assistant. Other credits include the Kennedy Center world premiere UP IN THE AIR; Kathie Lee Gifford's SAVING AIMEE; ASKING FOR IT, directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Recently, he received the Educational Theatre Association's 2010 President's Award. In his talk and subsequent Q & A with attendees, Jason shared stories of his experiences as an EMC. He learned that having a "passion" for theatre wasn't enough. To be successful one needs both "passion and drive". Networking and making contacts is vital. Ultimately, you must understand the business and not be afraid to constantly challenge yourself.

Equity Councillor and Eastern Region EPA Chair, Linda Cameron talks about the Do's and Don'ts of NYC auditions.

The subject of Equity auditions was covered by Linda Cameron and Bob Knapp. They each serve on Equity's National Council and Linda is Chair of the Eastern Region Equity Principal Audition (EPA) Committee and Bob is the Committee's 1st Vice-Chair. Linda explained that EPAs and Chorus Calls are negotiated into each of Equity's many Agreements. For EPAs in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, EMCs may be seen before other non-Members (as long as casting personnel want to see non-Members at an EPA and only when no Equity Member is auditioning or waiting to audition).

Linda and Bob offered several audition tips:

• An EPA is not the time to try out a new audition piece

• Audition for things you are right for

• Don't audition if you don't have a picture and resume.

• In NYC, if there are three days of EPAs scheduled - the 1st day generally has the lightest attendance.

John Fasulo, Director of Membership and Kristine Arwe, EMC Administrator, showed attendees the new redesigned Equity Membership Candidate card. They advised that if you have not yet received the new card please contact Equity's Membership Department by email at membership@actorsequity.org or call any of the three Equity Office's and update your contact information and request a new card. They also provided an overview of the EMC program. Here are some reminders:

• The EMC Registration Form must be completed each time you accrue weeks with a participating theatre. Weeks are submitted by the theatre and tracked by Equity. Once you have accrued enough weeks to complete the program you will be notified by Equity and your eligibility to join lasts for five years. During that time, if you are engaged to work at an Equity theatre, you must be signed to an Equity contract.

• If you do not choose to join within the five-year period, your accumulated weeks of credit will expire, your registration fee will be forfeited, and you will not receive the credit toward a future initiation fee.

• When you choose to join Equity, you must complete a membership application and pay the required minimum of the initiation fee. Your $100 EMC registration fee will be credited against your initiation fee. Once you've put in an application to join, you have two years to pay your initiation fee.

• It is your responsibility to keep your contact information current with Equity's Membership Department.

• Although your EMC weeks are tracked by Equity, we encourage candidates to maintain their own work week records. Producers may not submit weeks correctly or in a timely manner.

• Equity policy does not permit the duplication of names among its members. Be aware that the name you use as a Membership Candidate may not be available when you become eligible to join Equity.

• There are no established salaries for Membership Candidates except those agreed upon by you and the producer who employs you.

• Questions? Contact the Membership Department at Equity.

EMCs pose with Guest Speakers Bob Knapp (4th From L) and Linda Cameron (5th From L)