Wake Up Actors Equity LA

I voted for change. This is NOT WHAT I MEANT. I meant I wanted a union that will make it EASIER for me as an AEA actor to have my rights protected. A union that makes it HARDER for theatre companies to abuse those rights, by making it EASIER to get on a contract in the first place. (Raise your hand if you are an AEA member who has been duped into thinking you were in an AEA show, and then learned they never actually got Union approval because it was "too complicated" or "took too long"?) This plan means MORE ACTORS will be working without protection from the union. Rehearsals without regulated break periods or hours, in spaces that might be dirty or dangerous, and they won't be able to do anything about it. Just THIS MORNING I advised a friend to call AEA because her rehearsal space is covered in bird poop and they burn incense to hide the smell. Imagine her surprise when AEA told her that the show had not been approved, and neither had the space. With this new "company/self-produce" b.s., these are situations that we might all face, and can't call the union to fix. Why do I say that? Because theatres that try to go on the 99 Contract are going to be doing 2-character plays to save money, and "safe" shows. So to do the things that an artist CRAVES, we're going to end up doing them under shitty circumstances. And that's awful. I joined the union because I decided I was WORTH it. I deserve to be in a theatre where I'm not asked to wash the blood off of my own costume between shows, and where I'm not asked to work for four hours without a bathroom break, and where I'm not packing up the set with my own hands into a van every night and putting it back up every day. THAT is the reason I'm in a union. It's not about the paycheck. How dare AEA leave me unprotected from abuse just because I want to do interesting, inventive work with small theatre companies. Preserving safe and fair working conditions is what I wanted from AEA in the first place, for union actors and n

I am non-Equity but an actor/director/producer under 99 - seat agreement. Don't diminish opportunities for LA actors.

I earned my union status in 2003 at Lincoln Center working under the great Mark Llamos. I've also been a company member of a 99 seat theater for 5 years now. I supported changes be made by Equity with respect to actors benefitting more from the greatest value of LA small theater: its new content and affordability of risk. All Actors' Equity Association needed to do was create stronger mechanisms for talent to stay with and benefit from new work that moves onto stages with tiered contracts. Our jobs as actors have always involved investing in work that may not compensate in the short-term, but hold potential for compensation in the long-term. This kind of proposal shows me two things: #1. AEA does not view 99 seat theaters as venues that provide this kind of content. #2. AEA would rather force its membership to EAT each other clawing for the same work that in the short-term has a chance to cover its shaky pension status. The former tells me Equity hasn't bothered to watch some of the new amazing work in LA small theater (many of it as a result of transient artists priced out of the New York/Chicago markets. ‪#‎irony‬). The latter shows me an amazing lack of foresight as to how future members might use these venues to grow as craftsmen and forge relationships that lead to more lucrative union work. While I applaud the union for wanting to help its members make a living in the short-term, please look at how this will greatly inhibit our (and by "our" I really mean "those who will come after me") ability to make an even better living in the long-term. ‪#‎WeNeed99Seats‬

Equity was my parent union - went on honorary withdrawal and when I wanted to come back 2 years ago they said they had no record. Hmm. They will kill small theatre and thousands of opportunitys for actors to practice their art and the whole theatrical team. So many writers, with new exciting voices to be heard will fall by the wayside. I have produced small theatre and have performed in 99 seat for 32 years in LA. No one is in it for the money - if you feel slighted by the tiny honorarium in the agreement as it now stands, don't do small theatre. Audition at the Taper and the Geffen and the South Coast Rep etc - that is if you can convince those theatres to local hire [apparently the percentage is low] - but please do not cut the lifeblood of so many artists out here.

I am an Equity Member.

Member of Equity

Non Equitu Actor BUT producer under the 99 seat agreement

AEA member. Demanding 99 seat theaters pay actors in LA, will only increase an already powerful non union base.

I forgot to include with my signature that I've been a member of AEA for 23 years, working in theatres large and small.

Equity member based in Los Angeles.

My union, which I love and am devoted to, will pry the 99-seat plan out of my cold dead hands. (An actor said something like that, right?)

Save 99 seat theatre

I am an Equity member in good standing...who used to be proud, but I am currently reviewing that sentiment after this proposal was put forward. This proposal is not representative of what the majority of members who spoke at the meeting in January were asking for. I am against most everything this puts forth and urge the councilors to revisit the issue and not pass this through.

Restricting union members and attempting to destroy the community so many have worked so hard to build is not the "change" that was asked for. This new plan is bizarre and spits in the face of artistic integrity.

i am an Equity Member

Card-carrying fully paid up Equity member since 2001 who proudly works under both full Equity contracts and the 99-seat agreement. Your proposals are a mess. Please listen to the membership who pays its dues.

I am an Equity actor and I strongly oppose the proposed changes to the 99-seat agreement, which would be financially ruinous to most companies, remove incentives for companies to hire union members (or for actors to even JOIN the union in the first place), and does not even remotely address the concerns as expressed at the recent Town Hall meeting, or take into account the common-sense ideas that were supported there (a tiered system of incentives towards growth for successful shows, and a budget cap on use of the 99-seat agreement).

I have been here as a working actor since 1990. Theater is my first love but I don't know a single actor here that looks to the Theater for his living.

I am an LA based producer who first hand can tell you..NO I am not financially benefiting from the plan and two, it is going to hurt AEA actors.

Please listen to the artists of LA - do not make this mistake on limiting art!!