How To Get A SAG Card (easy To Understand)
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How to Get a SAG Card in 2024 (simplified)1/11/2024 On the surface, getting a sag card can seem extremely complex. But in this guide, I'll simplify it so it's super easy to understand! There are four main steps to getting a SAG card:
How to Get a SAG Card SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It's the union for actors and performers who work on screen and radio. SAG and AFTRA used to be two separate unions, but combined into one entity called SAG-AFTRA on March 30th, 2012. Joining SAG-AFTRA is something most actors aspire to because they'll be guaranteed higher wages, health benefits, strictly enforced protections on set, pension plans, and plenty of other benefits. Ready to learn how to get a SAG card? Let's dive right in. Step 1: Decide Whether You Should Get a SAG CardMost new actors look at SAG-AFTRA and think to themselves, "If only I could get my SAG card... then tons of new opportunities would open up to me!" But is that really true? Will tons of opportunities actually open up the moment you join? Sadly, the answer is no. In fact, most actors find it harder to get auditions once they join because of something called Global Rule One. Global Rule One: "No member shall render any services or make an agreement to perform services for any employer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the union, which is in full force and effect, in any jurisdiction in which there is a SAG-AFTRA national collective bargaining agreement in place. This provision applies worldwide." Basically, this means that once you join SAG-AFTRA, you're no longer allowed to work in non-union jobs anymore. You're going to find much more difficult to get acting work because your competition will be WAY more fierce – you'll be competing for jobs with the best of the best actors – union, high-level performers who have been acting for many years and are competing for roles in bigger, higher-budget projects. You'll no longer be able to submit yourself for independent internet projects, student films, and even industrials anymore. And joining SAG-AFTRA does NOT make it any easier to get an agent – in fact if you join the union without an agent, you'll probably be in the worst place possible because most self-submission audition opportunities (those found on Backstage and Casting Networks, etc.), are for non-union jobs. For that reason, I recommend you read the below questions to determine whether you should realistically begin trying to get a SAG card:
Step 2: Become Eligible to Join SAG-AFTRAOnce you've decided you're ready to join, you need to actually become "eligible" (called SAG-Eligible). SAG-AFTRA actually has a real-time eligibility checker you can use to see if you're eligible to join: Check your SAG-AFTRA eligibility status here If you're not yet eligible, here's a list of all the possible ways to become eligible:
Step 3: Gather Paperwork & Submit Your ApplicationOnce you're eligible to join SAG-AFTRA, it's time to submit your application! Here's what you'll need to do:
Step 4: Join and Pay the Initiation FeeOn the scheduled call, you'll be able to ask any final questions you have before joining, and then they will instruct you on how to place payment to join SAG-AFTRA. All new members pay an initiation fee of $3,000 when joining SAG-AFTRA (this amount is subject to change). In certain states, the initiation fee might be a bit lower. There are also semi-annual dues required, which are usually a few hundred dollars plus a percentage of your earnings. These dues slowly increase over time. Payment can be made with cashier's check, money order, or any major credit card. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. To see the most up-to-date dues and initiation fees, please click here.How to Get a SAG Card: Think StrategicallySo as a summary, how do you become a member of SAG? Well here's the most strategic order I recommend you go about it:
3 Numbers All Actors Should KnowKnowing how to get a SAG card is important, but it's just one small part of growing your acting career. If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:
The Actor's Toolkit
Some Additional Q&ACan I Do Non-Union Work When I'm a Member of SAG-AFTRA?Unfortunately, no. SAG-AFTRA has a rule called the Global Rule One, which means no matter where you are in the world, you MUST only act in SAG-AFTRA productions. If you try to work on a non-union project and SAG-AFTRA finds out, you'll get fined, suspended or even expelled from the union. This is why it's important to only join the union when you're ready – or in other words, when you're competitive. If you're still building your reel and resume and don't have much experience yet, I highly recommend waiting to join, otherwise you're going to find it MUCH harder to get work. Remember that when you join, you'll be competing with other extremely experienced union actors for every single role.What does a SAG card cost?How much is a SAG card? If you are eligible to join SAG-AFTRA, a SAG card costs about $3,000 plus semi-annual dues. This amount is subject to change. Click here to see the most up-to-date fees.Do you have to have a SAG card to be an actor?You do not need a SAG card to be an actor! You can act in non-union productions for as long as you like, but if you eventually want to perform in bigger projects, like network-level film & television, joining the union will be a must.How to get a SAG card as an extra?To get a SAG card as an extra, all you need to do is perform as an extra (background actor) for three full days on set and make sure to ask for your SAG vouchers each day. Then, follow the instructions in the rest of this guide and you'll be able to join! Can I get a SAG card? Instant Eligibility Checker Personal Note: I do NOT recommend you go this route, because you'll constantly find yourself struggling to get acting work if you join the union before you have a decent amount of experience. Read the section towards the beginning of this article titled "Decide Whether You Should Join SAG-AFTRA" to learn more.Additional Helpful Links:
Further Reading:If you enjoyed this article (How to Get a SAG Card), you might be interested in some of these:
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How to Get a SAG Card SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It's the union for actors and performers who work on screen and radio. SAG and AFTRA used to be two separate unions, but combined into one entity called SAG-AFTRA on March 30th, 2012. Joining SAG-AFTRA is something most actors aspire to because they'll be guaranteed higher wages, health benefits, strictly enforced protections on set, pension plans, and plenty of other benefits. Ready to learn how to get a SAG card? Let's dive right in.