Actors’ Equity Association EPA Auditions

December 28, 2009 by Dennis Baker 

Does AEA require producers to hold auditions for role that are not available, as Paul Russell states below? There are numerous AEA auditions postings I have seen online that tells actors when certain roles are not available.

Or as Paul Russell points out, what seems even more weird, is AEA requiring chorus auditions for productions that do not have a chorus? In New York, equity actors wait in line very early in the morning to sign up for an audition time slot, schedule around their day jobs, and pay for transportation. Why hold auditions for chorus roles, when the production will not have a chorus?

If you’re still idealistically holding onto the ‘audition-even-when-jobs-are-not-available’ folly then I challenge you this: Tell me the contents of the Val-Pak mailer (or similar) you received in March 2008. Or better still; name me the last time you filled out an application for a civilian job knowing that there was no available employ. (While you’re muddling in mental gymnastics the rest of us will plow forward.)

A lot of money is being wasted. And not solely from the pockets of producers. Actor dollars are being depleted without purpose as well. If an actor (AEA or non-union) has to take time-off from a survival job to attend an audition for which there is not opportunity for work; there’s money lost.

And at those required calls the producer and their casting representatives are not allowed by AEA to declare that, “Yes, Virginia there are no jobs.” An observer might find that to be a rather dishonest practice by a union that continually touts protection of its members.

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Filed under: Acting, New York

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