I was taft hartley'd about a year ago, but have yet to go SAG due to a very tight budget. I'll do it if someone can convince me that it's a lot easier to get background work when you're SAG than when you're non-union. I've been trying to do it non-union with Central Casting but it's relatively a lost cause. Does anyone have experience with this?

Do NOT join SAG just for the sake of doing extra work.

Do it when you are ready as an ACTOR to take that next step.

It's a question of priorities. Do extra work if you like of- course- but it can't play a part in defining your goals as an actor if that is what you want to really do.

Are you an actor or an extra? Either is fine if it makes one happy but that's what it boils down to.

For example, if one wishes to make a steady living indefinitely as an extra, it makes sense to join as the jobs pay more.

HOWEVER, if you ultimately wish to ACT, it can be a real hinderance to join too soon as you need to be taking the opportunity to do as much non-union work as possible to get experience, credits, build a reel and network. The moment you join, you will find that this all becomes a lot harder to do. When you are competing for PAID union gigs, the competition is fat greater.

Pro bono stuff is necessary for everyone in the beginning but you can not do any non-union work once you join and that can be very detrimental for a new actor's beginning years.

It's not "easier" to get SAG bg work than non-union, not by a long shot. There are so many SAG members competing for so few jobs. There are not many big movies shooting. The quotas are not high enough on TV, and so many of those spots are spoken for with stand-ins, photo doubles, and regulars. It's tough to get consistent spot extra work as SAG. Because of the quotas there is generally more n/u bg work because of big crowd scenes.

However, depending on how the numbers play out, there may be more SAG work available than non-union at a given time. I've seen a lot of TV shows that use exactly 20 extras on some days-so all are SAG. There's just not a lot of work out there right now, period-SAG or n/u.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't join SAG just in the hope of getting bg work. I'd make sure you have a gig lined up(like a stand-in for the duration of a film for the top star) that would cover the initiation and more. Joining SAG also has other drawbacks as well as others can point out.

Hmmm, I have friends who aren't "SAG" as of yet and some of them make darn good money not being in the union. Sure being a member has it perks. However, being "non-union" has its perks as well.

I think as one told me in the past you have to treat this craft as a BUSINESS. And it is a business. One has to be creative at obtaining work within this industry. Another friend once said to me "If they want you, they will hire you". With the rumor of SAG initiation dues going up to the "3" grand mark...will many have the means to join? So, there are several things you might want to keep in mind.

YOu mentioned Central Casting, there are other casting companies you can work with. And being on the set as a union actor, I have seen more non-union than SAG. My non-union friends work more days than I do per week and do well at it. So, depending on what your ultimate goals are you might want to adjust the methods in which you obtain your work and spread yourself out with other casting companies.

Central Casting may be the main company with most of the jobs, but there are others out there that employ actors union or non-union.

Good Luck !

quote:

Originally posted by fyi:
One has to be creative at obtaining work within this industry...

I had this idea...one with a helium balloon...