I need help, how do you join an actors union. what is the union for? easiest way to join it?

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You join an actors union by being awarded a union principal role and being Taft-Hartleyed or having been a member of another sister union for over a year and securing a principal role thus making you eligble to apply to a sister union. HOWEVER, you do not want to join without having some sort of resume that shows you have a certain level of competitance as an actor since once you join a union you cannot work nonunion. The object is to do the nonunion work to build up the resume and prove you are worthy of union membership. Too many people join a union thinking it will open up more union work which is far from the truth. Noone wants to hire a union actor without a resume.....

I noticed on your site that you do not have a resume. You are moving to NYC? Get involved with community theatre and off off Broadway groups. Do student films. Lots and lots of schools that cast for student and independent shorts to put on your resume. You have to build a resume before thinking of joining any union.

Buffalo is sort of out of the way for any work, nonunion included. I don't know how many student films UB does but that is worth checking out. (My oldest kid graduates this spring after 5 years at UB)