Getting my Equity card was a test in patience and perseverance. I had been offered the opportunity to earn points at several long-term regional gigs when I had finished college, but both of these jobs paid nothing and required a full-time commitment and I honestly couldn't afford to do it.
Then, throughout my first few years in NYC, I was offered my card several times again, these times I would have taken it in a heartbeat, but again it didn't work out. The first time I couldn't take it as I had just signed a contract for another project. Another time I couldn't take the card because of a family emergency. It was frustrating, but completely beyond my control, especially since I had spent hours waiting to be seen at many Equity calls.
I then became a member of AFTRA [now SAG-AFTRA] for some soap opera work I did. And, by being a working member of AFTRA for a year, I was eligible to buy into Actors' Equity by it being a "sister" union.
Literally, the day I became eligible to finally join, I walked myself to Actors' Equity and paid my dues. I am a firm believer in everything working out for the best and it seems that it did. As I have been a working Equity actor ever since!
