When Should You Join SAG-AFTRA? What Actors Need to Know

There are a few early goals any young actor has. Get work, get representation, and, of course, get into SAG-AFTRA.

Regarding that last one, if you’re wondering when is the right time to join the union, the easy answer is, “As soon as humanly possible.” But of course it can be far more complicated than that.

Emmy-nominated casting director Seth Yanklewitz, known for such mega-hits as The Hangover and New Girl, has some advice. He spoke to us from Los Angeles.

Key Insights

Know how eligibility works: Actors can become eligible through qualifying principal work, three days of covered background work or certain employment through an affiliated performers’ union.
Prepare for the transition to union work: Joining SAG-AFTRA comes with new rules around the projects you can accept, so understanding your responsibilities as a member is an important part of deciding when to join.
Understand your responsibilities as a member: SAG-AFTRA members are subject to Global Rule One and must work under a union contract where SAG-AFTRA has a collective bargaining agreement in place.

When Should an Actor Join SAG-AFTRA?

There are a few ways an actor can become eligible to join SAG-AFTRA. One of the most common is working in a principal or speaking role for at least one day on a production covered by a SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement.

Actors can also become eligible after three days of work as a background actor on a covered production, or through qualifying membership and employment with an affiliated performers’ union.

For a non-union actor hired for a covered role, the production may need to file what is commonly known as a Taft-Hartley report with SAG-AFTRA. Becoming eligible, however, does not always mean you have to join immediately.

SAG-AFTRA has rules governing when an eligible performer becomes a “must join,” so actors should check their current status with the union before accepting additional covered work.

“We do Taft-Hartleys all the time,” Yanklewitz says. “It’s an easy way to get someone to the next step.”

How to Get Into SAG-AFTRA

Actors can also become eligible after three days of work as a background actor on a covered production, or through qualifying membership and employment with an affiliated performers’ union.

Actors should check their current status with the union before accepting additional covered work. “We do Taft-Hartleys all the time,” Yanklewitz says. “It’s an easy way to get someone to the next step.”

What if You Can’t Afford Dues?

Joining SAG-AFTRA also comes with financial considerations, including an initiation fee and ongoing membership dues.

“That has been an issue,” Yanklewitz acknowledges. “I think in the last bunch of years I’ve heard of a number of people who say, ‘At scale, $890 for the day or whatever it is, $1,064, I can’t afford that initiation fee. I will make no money, and I still have to pay my reps and all my expenses.’ It’s why it’s so important to save money at the beginning, in anticipation of this.”

In other words, if your goal is to join the union, you should be ready to join that union when the call comes. Planning is key, and that includes the financial part.

Can You Keep Working Non-Union Once in SAG?

Once you become a SAG-AFTRA member, the projects you accept need to follow the union’s rules. Under Global Rule One, members must work under a SAG-AFTRA agreement in areas where the union has a collective bargaining agreement in place.

That applies to more than major studio productions. Independent films, short films, student films and other lower-budget projects can work with SAG-AFTRA performers through agreements designed for those types of productions. Before accepting a project, actors should confirm that it is covered under the appropriate SAG-AFTRA agreement.

Working in violation of Global Rule One can result in disciplinary action from the union, so checking a production’s status before accepting the job is an important part of being a member.

What About Verticals?

Verticals have quickly become another area for actors to consider. The short-form format has grown rapidly, with productions appearing across dedicated apps and streaming platforms, and SAG-AFTRA now has a Verticals Agreement covering qualifying independent vertical productions.

For SAG-AFTRA members, Global Rule One still applies to work in this format. Before accepting a role in a vertical production, confirm that the project is signed to the appropriate SAG-AFTRA agreement and that your work will be covered.

As the format continues to grow, checking the union status of a project can help actors understand exactly what they’re signing up for before they step on set.

Join When You Can

Gone are the days when you can do any kind of production without union attachment. Even the smallest indies are covered, which only protects you, the actor. That is ultimately what it’s all about, being able to do your work and be protected while doing it. SAG-AFTRA does that for you, and that’s the biggest reason why you want to join.

“You want to get in,” Yanklewitz reiterates. “That’s the most important thing.”

Joining SAG-AFTRA can be a major step in an actor’s career, bringing access to union protections, negotiated contracts and other benefits that come with membership. Understanding the eligibility requirements, costs and rules that come with joining can help you prepare for that step before the opportunity arrives.

As Yanklewitz puts it, “You want to get in. That’s the most important thing.” For actors working toward a career in film and television, knowing what membership involves can help you decide when the time is right for you.