Equity
Editors Letters || Saturday, 6 January, 2007
I have been in this wonderful business of performing arts and contemporary dance working professionally for the last 3 years. I know I'm one of the lucky ones and of course I've come up against a number of hurdles, thousands of auditions and an abundance of bad practice.
I have always prided myself that I would remain honest to myself and stand up for both my own rights and the rights of others with whom I've worked - of course this isn't always met favourably by those in positions of power and I have to confess has prevented a couple of people calling me back to work for them again, but anyone worth their salt is willing to discuss the issue at hand and come to a compromise.
Anyway, my point is that over the course of the last 3 years I have also been paying a great deal of money to Equity without ever really understanding why - yes I did fall into the trap of doing that blonde as a child thing of paying because I was told to be a member at college!
I am now a little more well informed of its benefits particulary as I had to call on them recently when dismissed from working with a company, and I have to re-iterate that they were most helpful. I spoke to normal people who were willing to tolerate any questions I had to ask and [they] really did want to stand up for me and inform me of my rights - I know some might say it’s their job, that's what they're their for but I don't think I really understood that [until now], and I'm sure a great number of performers aren't members!
So I guess my point was to inform others that although I hope no-one else should have to deal with a situation like I had to, I will never have any qualms in paying my membership again and would advise others to become join. I know it’s a lot of money but one day you might just need it and you can write it off as expenses anyway!
A word of advice from a seasoned audition goer who wishes under these circumstances to remain anonymous!
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