Which do you think matters more in the long run, the roles you have played or getting EMC points? Is it better to take an offer of 2 excellent lead roles and several nice supporting roles at a summer stock theater that is non-EMC, or go wit an ensemble track with maybe a supporting role or two at a theater that offers EMC points. I am curious about what people who have kids that are out there working have found - are the EMC points that valuable or is it better to have great roles on your resume?
Reasons to consider prioritizing EMC points:
Having at least some some EMC points is pretty critical if you want to consider moving to NYC in the near future. If you have no EMC points (and, hence, are not EMC), then you go to the absolute back of the line for Equity Principal Auditions, In NYC, this makes life pretty brutal unless you are a stand-out chorine. You may still not get seen as EMC, but at least you will be ahead of the all the non-eq people. Plus, you will generally have a much more pleasant waiting list experience (the non-eq line can be plagued with “unofficial” competing waitlists and other problems, google to read about what goes on…).
Since they have lowered the bar on EMC points for Equity membership, its probably going to get harder and harder to been seen if you are not full Equity, so, getting the minimum number of EMC points is also pretty important if you are considering a move to NYC and don’t want to face the horror of the non-eq line and attending Open Calls. Plus, with the advent of online EPA sign-ups, you can avoid a line altogether if you are quick enough at noon on the day the list opens. So, even without an agent, you can avoid the line altogether if you are AEA.
As I understand it, you have five years to decide if you want to take your card after you accrue enough points. So, if you are interested in non-equity work in the years immediately following graduation, you can still do so while retaining the option to take your card when you decide that you want to jump into full-on NYC auditioning.
The process for Equity auditions can be found here: http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/auditions/AEA_Principal_Auditions.pdf
If you don’t get into the room, then your resume won’t be seen…
D took a Summer at a non EMC theater with principal roles on the advice of her program director. Turned out to be a good decision. The following summer she booked EMC work.
I agree with everything @EmsDad said, but I also think you need to consider the resume. If you don’t have a rounded out resume, you should definitely take the time to build your resume; especially if you are not a typical ensemble track and would be more likely cast in those roles. Now that’s assuming you (your child) is a freshman or sophomore and has the time. If you are a senior, it may be more important to take the EMC points.
As @IfYouOnlyKnew mentioned, a lot depends on where your kid is on his/her journey.
@EmsDad nailed it. I would add that EMC’s have been pretty much shut out of auditions in NYC this year (especially for musicals). The Equity online sign-ups and alternates swooping in to snag empty spots have left EMC’s who showed up at the crack of dawn waiting all day and then not being seen.
However, that being said, EMC points are still a good thing. If the EMC gig is for a reputable theatre, that addition to your kid’s resume may help get him/her appointments through a submissions. The uptick of appointments my kid has been able to get through self-submissions since becoming EMC via a recognizable theatre is considerable.
Another thing to think about is that theatres like to hire the same people back since they are known entities. If your kid’s experience is good at this theatre, it could possibly lead to being hired back.
Additionally, I think you have to weigh if that EMC opportunity will come around again any time soon. If your kid is a male, then the odds are greater.
questions…what is an alternate in regards to the equity online sign ups? Also, what is a self submission?
Pardon my ignorance…D is a freshman MT so just learning…
An alternate is an equity member who didn’t either 1. sign up on line or 2. arrive early enough to get one of the spots reserved for equity members to sign up at the audition. They wait around and take any available spots from no-shows before EMC or non union people are allowed to audition.
Alternates are Equity members who did not get a slot for the auditions but show up and are put onto what is basically a “standby” list, sort of like for airline flights. A simplified description of the EPA audition process is:
- 2/3 of the slots go to those Equity members who grab them online beginning at noon one week before the auditions.
- 1/3 of the slots go to Equity members who line up the day of the audition.
- Once all the slots are filled, any remaining Equity members in line the day of the audition go on one of the Alternate Lists (there are actually two lists - you can read all about them here: http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/auditions/AEA_Principal_Auditions.pdf)
- EMC's go onto a different list.
- Any slots which come open because time permits, either due to people missing their slot or the auditions proceeding faster than expected, go to the Alternates. If there are no Alternates left when a slot comes open, then the first person on the EMC list gets to go.
- If there are no Alternates left and no EMC's left, then open slots may go to Non-Equity people.
Equity Chorus Calls are a little different, you can read about the procedure here:
http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/auditions/AEA_Chorus_Auditions.pdf
A self-submission is when the actor sends in their submission instead of an agent doing it for them. If you look at the Backstage website you will see audition notices where you can self-submit.
My S went with a non-eq theatre after sophomore year and had a higher profile of roles. This year he has accepted a contract at a well known summer equity theatre and will get Points. He thought points were more important this summer going into his senior year.
Ok one more question, what is the actor submitting in a self submission? Like a video/reel ? Then do they wait to get a callback from that to come for an audition by appt? And can only EMC candidates self submit or can anyone? Lol so confusing! My D is actually EMC already from something she did last summer. She doesn’t have a lot of points but at least it got her started.
And @MTDadandProud if I remember correctly wasn’t your son at SSMT last summer? If so I saw him then!
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Thanks guys - D is a Jr. and if things shake out the way she thinks they will, she will have a big decision to make. There are worse positions to be in, so she is thankful to even have to contemplate it!
@theaterwork , the two main casting sites where you can self-submit are Backstage and Actors Access. You create a profile on those sites, which includes headshots, resume, and a reel if you have one. So all your materials are on the site. Once you’re on those sites, you can browse through the casting notices on those sites and self-submit through the site. When you self-submit, you can click to attach your headshot and video reel to the submission.
Any actor is allowed to submit on those sites. You don’t have to be union.
I would say you need both roles for your resume and points at some point along the way. As far as your offers in hand, t it really would depend on where the offers are from. Make sure to research the theaters or organizations offering you a position. Audition Update has a great thread called Gig and Tell where people who’ve worked at theaters in the past can post reviews on their experiences. But also try to reach out to people you know personally who may have first hand knowledge. Not everyone’s experience is the same. Sometimes working in a better environment for less money is better than a great salary but a less than desirable workplace.
So @actorparent1 once you self submit from those sites, what is the goal? Like to get a callback? Is self submission trumping the in person audition then? I mean I’m not understanding what a self submission accomplishes or what it does in terms of an audition.
Some breakdowns only want a self submit. All of actor’s Access are self submissions and then you get a callback to come in for an audition. Some of the Backstage breakdowns want self submission first then callback, others offer self submission and an audition date. The CD looks at both and if they like your submission will call you in with those who auditioned in person for a callback. Does that make sense?
The difference between 1 EMC points and 0 is huge, but the difference between 1-24 is not meaningful. It may make sense to do whatever you have to for your first points, then try to build up the resume with better roles.
@theaterwork, to clarify, a self-submission is NOT a pre-screen or an audition. A self-submission just means “Hi, I saw your casting notice and I would like an opportunity to audition.” You haven’t actually auditioned yet - you’re just contacting them to say you WANT to audition. Casting notices get hundreds of self-submissions, and they don’t have time to go through all of them, so it’s advisable to self submit as soon as possible when you see the casting notice. The goal is hopefully to have the casting director call you in, meaning to reply and give you an appointment to audition for the role. If they do call you in, it’s not a call back. It’s just an opportunity to audition in the first place.
If you have an agent who can get you an audition appointment, that’s an advantage over self-submitting.
@bisouu, the term “callback” is not accurate if you’re just talking about getting called in from a self-submission. You have to actually audition before you can get a callback.
Now, having said that, there are SOME casting notices that will reply to your self-submission by sending you sides and asking you to videotape the sides and submit that, in which case that IS a prescreen - a way of narrowing down who to call in, like the colleges do. In that scenario, I suppose you could consider getting called in after that a callback. But the initial submission is just a request to audition.
I post this most years, but I think selection goes much bigger than just EMC Points or No EMC Points…
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The actual theatre? The MUNY? PCLO? Ogunquit? MTW? Sacramento Music Circus? Ensemble there is worth more than a lead in other locations…But a place like Serenbe might be worth more than a small EMC house…you get national coverage of your shows…
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DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER - The people who direct and choreograph the productions is HUGE. You want to work for people who can move your career forward. If a theatre has a huge regional director or choreographer…it might be worth more than a few EMC points at a theatre attached to a college where the professors are directing. (Less than 5% of the people I offer jobs to ask about this…and it is massively important…)
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Benefits - Where are you living? What are you making? Are they covering travel? EMC is nice…but if you’re making almost nothing (and even worse - PAYING for it), is it worth it?
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Roles on Resume - Are you a Sophie? Mamma Mia will be done over and over again for a decade…GET SOPHIE ON YOUR RESUME! If a role is something you’re perfect for and can play professionally - do the role. Getting it on your resume is really important.
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Retention - This is a small one, but theatres that rehire alumni should shoot up the list. It is nice to be able to need a summer away from the city in 3-5 years and be able to call and get an old job back. Also, theatres where alumni are coming back year after year are probably good places to work.
*Always, always, always REACH OUT TO SOMEONE WHO WORKED AT THE THEATRE in the past 1 or 2 years to get the scoop before accepting a contract.
These numbers will shift with the lower point threshold, but around 25% of actors get their card through points - most get it by being offered an Equity contract.
I know it wasn’t a true callback sorry for the confusion, just used the term for ease of understanding. They are calling you in would be a better choice of words. But if you send in a taped submission it is a callback in my opinion.
@TheaterHiringCo Thank you for your post. Once a student has roles on their resume and points, is there an advantage to continuing to work at lower level theaters or should they only be targeting higher end theaters? Is there ever an advantage to taking a summer off?