Joining a trade union can be a helpful resource to actors looking to make the journey in the entertainment industry, one full of useful benefits, camaraderie, and greater fulfilment.
If you’re an actor in Australia or New Zealand, here’s a complete rundown of how to join Actors Equity, the union now part of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance.
What is Actors Equity?
Actors Equity is Australia’s largest trade union for creative professionals. It is a member of the MEAA.
Established in 1992, MEAA (sometimes also referred to as “the Alliance”) was formed by the merger of three organisations: the Australian Journalists Association, Actors Equity of Australia, and the Australian Theatrical & Amusement Employees Association.
Today, with its headquarters in Redfern, NSW, MEAA comprises four main sections:
- Media: Representing journalists and media staffers
- Actors Equity: Representing screen actors, theatre practitioners, and dancers
- Entertainment Crew & Sport: Representing non-performance employees such as technicians, venue staff and ushers, and sports staff
- MEAA Musicians, including:
- SOMA (Symphony Orchestra Musician Association)
- TOMA (Theatre Orchestra Musicians Association)
- Musicians Australia
MEAA also has international affiliations with bodies such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Federation of Actors (FIA), the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), the global union representing workers in the media, entertainment, arts and sports sectors (UNI-MEI), the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), and the International News Safety Institute (INSI).
In 2005, members of New Zealand Actors Equity voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with MEAA, making Actors Equity the sole home of professional performers Down Under.
What does joining Actors Equity (MEAA) involve?
To be eligible to join the union, you must already be working professionally in the industry. Students, however, are an exception and are eligible for the specialised MEAA Student membership package.
There are two options available for submitting your registration. The first is by calling the MEAA Member Central line on 1300 65 65 13. An operator will help walk you through the process.
The second option for Actors Equity membership is by filling out the form on MEAA’s website. All that’s required is your contact information, specification of your sector of work and desired payment method.
What are Actors Equity (MEAA) rates?
There’s a range of Actors Equity membership tiers, largely based on age and income level. However, membership fees for all tiers are fully tax-deductible.
MEAA’s specialised student membership package is the only tier that allows non-professionals to apply. The current rate for the MEAA Student membership is $1/week ($52/year).
From there, the membership offerings are as follows:
- Juvenile Extras (under 16 years old): $3.76/week
- Adult Extras or Juvenile Performers (under 16 years old): $7.33/week
- Performers (aged 16 and over); income up to $78,999/year: $14.51/week
- Performers (aged 16 and over); income from $79,000 to $103,499/year: $21.72/week
- Performers (aged 16 and over); income over $103,500/year: $27.49/week
- PWD (Performers with Disabilities): $7.33/week
What do I get from an Actors Equity (MEAA) membership?
Members have a lot to gain from joining Actors Equity (not just the fancy, personalised electronic membership card).
Like all trade unions, Actors Equity sets and upholds minimums for pay, working conditions, and performer’s rights. If professional challenges arise for an actor, Actors Equity can even take employers to court on behalf of their members. They also lead a range of campaigns intended to defend and improve the professional landscape. Current campaigns include “Make it Australian” and “Get Real on Rates.”
Under the MEAA umbrella, Actors Equity members have access to:
- Industry events: Conferences, seminars, classes, and other events are organised each year, encouraging members to “meet, network and exchange ideas”
- Benevolent funds: Access to several support funds designed to help members in times of need
- Conference room hire: For those based in NSW, the conference room in Sydney is available for hire during business hours on weekdays at a discounted rate
- Discounts: You’ll be able to take advantage of discounts ranging from cinemas and travel agencies to banking and cafes.
And finally, a range of benefits are available exclusively to Actors Equity members:
- Professional development: Actors Equity offers more than 100 workshops, master classes, and conversations each year. A list of upcoming events (all free of charge to members) is available to view here.
- equity: The quarterly magazine “by performers for performers”
- The Self Test Studios: Located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Auckland, the Self Test Studios are set up for members to film self-tapes in a professional working environment free of charge. Further details on the Self Test Studios can be found here.
- The Self Test Project: Each month, 20 randomly selected applicants take part in a challenge created to test and improve their audition and technical skills by submitting a self-tape. These tapes are then reviewed by a top Australian and/or U.S. casting director who provides feedback to each participant. Further details on the Self Test Project can be found here.
How does Actors Equity (MEAA) compare to other unions?
Like SAG-AFTRA in the U.S. and Equity in the U.K., Actors Equity exists to protect and fight for its members’ best interests.
Unlike the American unions, however, Actors Equity is easier and more affordable to join. SAG-AFTRA is infamous for its complex eligibility criteria, and poses actors with a catch-22 situation; once an actor becomes a member, they’re no longer allowed to take nonunion roles (even overseas). Therefore, timing the decision to join is a far more crucial factor. Further, SAG-AFTRA’s “initiation fee” is currently $3,000 USD, so it’s a substantially larger financial investment.
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