Guest Artist Agreement

The following guidelines provide an overview of the Actors' Equity Guest Artist Agreement. If you have any questions, please email prepaid@actorsequity.org.

Who may utilize this contract?

Universities, non-profit community theatres and non-profit groups operating within an educational or community framework may secure the services of professional Actors by obtaining permission from Equity.

How do I obtain permission?

Actors' Equity endeavors to satisfy requests to employ Guest Artists and does not arbitrarily withhold the granting of such permission. However, consideration is given to the nature of your organization, size of company, performance schedule and the relationship to professional theatrical activities in the area. Please be sure that your application for the employment of an Actor is approved with the appropriate Equity Business Representative before any public announcement. Whenever possible, permission will be granted as soon as Equity has had the opportunity to investigate the request. The granting of permission for an Actor to appear on a Guest Artist Agreement is done on an individual basis only. It is necessary for you to make an application to Equity each time you wish to engage an Actor. The granting of permission for one Guest Artist can in no way be construed as establishing a precedent for others.

How do I contact an Equity Actor?

Equity can provide assistance accessing the Equity talent pool through auditions, should you need help. If you make contact directly with the Actor or the Actor's agent, it is still necessary to seek the approval of Equity to engage the Actor.

How many Actors may I employ in my show?

Barring special circumstances, no more than three Actors and one Stage Manager shall be hired in any production under this agreement. If three or more Actors are employed, a Stage Manager must also be employed under the Guest Artist Agreement.

May Actors be hired as independent contractors or on a fee basis?

No. Actors and Stage Managers do not meet state or federal criteria as independent contractors. Thus, federally required employer contributions to Social Security, Medicare and unemployment must be made, as well as state-required contributions to Unemployment and Workers' Compensation insurance programs. These amounts are in addition to the salary and pension and health contributions and may not be waived.

Paymasters – In the event you are not set up as an employer and are unable to procure Workers' Compensation or Unemployment Insurance or provide payroll deductions, there are organizations known as paymasters through whom you may procure these services. If you need help finding a Paymaster, please email prepaid@actorsequity.org for a list of paymasters who have worked with other theatres. Please note: Actors’ Equity does not endorse any specific Paymaster.

Unemployment Insurance – Equity requires that Actors employed under Equity contract receive the benefits provided by the Unemployment Insurance laws of the state in which the Actor performs, or through the voluntary provisions of the New York or New Jersey State Unemployment laws. Should it be impossible to comply with this provision, it will be necessary to contact Equity before signing any agreements. Please contact your regional Equity office for further information.

Tell me about salary, pension, health and Working Dues.

Salaries – Minimum weekly salaries for the run of the contract are based on the maximum number of performances in any one week. For example, if you have two performances one week and five performances the next, the appropriate Tier for the run of the contract, rehearsal and performance, would be Tier 2. In cases where the engagement is one week or less, the applicable minimum is more. (For minimum salaries and other rates, please see the Tier Structure Highlights.)

How much do I pay for overtime?

Overtime is calculated at 1.5x the contractual hourly salary for each ½ hour or part thereof. If the 12-hour rest period is invaded, overtime is calculated at 2x the contractual hourly salary for each ½ hour or part thereof. (See Tier Table.)

How about per diem?

Minimum per diem is currently $35 for all out-of-town Actors (Actors whose primary residence is 50 miles or more from the location of the rehearsal or performance venue). (See Tier Structure Highlights.)

When do I pay the Actor?

Salary and per diem are paid weekly, no later than the evening of the Thursday of that week's work.

What is an Equity work week?

The Equity work week runs from Monday through Sunday. The first week of rehearsal may be pro-rated, 1/6 of contractual salary for each day, if the Actor's first call is late in the week. (The health insurance contribution may not be pro-rated.)

What about pay stubs?

Whether paid by check, cash, or electronically, the Actor must be issued a record of gross salary; an itemization of additional payments (overtime, clothing rental, etc.), itemized deductions and net salary for their records.

How much are the pension and health payments?

Contributions on the Actor's behalf to the Equity-League Pension and Health Trust Fund are required and made by the employer. These contributions are not deducted from the Actor's salary and provide medical insurance and help accrue pension credits for the Artist. For pension contribution and health rates, please see the Tier Structure Highlights. (Copies of the plans are available upon request.)

What about Working Dues?

Currently, 2.5% of the Guest Artist's total gross salary must be deducted and forwarded to Equity as the Actor's dues obligation to Equity. It is not a cost borne by the producer.

How many hours and performances per week are allowed?

Rehearsal Week Hours – Prior to the first public performance, the total work week including performance, rehearsals, costume calls, photos and classes shall be no more than 25 hours per week under Tier I, 32 hours under Tier II, 42 hours under Tier III. (See Overtime & Tier Table.)

Performance Week Hours – After the first public performance, the total work week including performances, rehearsals, costume calls, photos and classes shall be no more than 15 hours per week under Tier I, 22 hours under Tier II, 32 hours under Tier III. (See Tier Structure Highlights.)

How many performances per week are permitted?

Tier I allows for a maximum of three per week. Tiers II and III allow for a maximum of five and eight per week, respectively. (See Tier Table.) One additional performance per week beyond the weekly maximum may be scheduled under Tiers I, II and III; 1/3, 1/5 and 1/8 of contractual salary, respectively, must be paid for such additional performances. In no event may there be more than five performances in any three consecutive days.

What is the span of day?

The span of day is 7 out of 8 1/2 consecutive hours under Tier I, 7 out of 10 under Tier II and 7 out of 10 under Tier III. (See Tier Structure Highlights.) There may be no less than a 12-hour rest period between the end of employment on one day and the beginning of employment on the next day. (See Tier Structure Highlights.)

Days off?

Two scheduled full days off in each week, which need not be consecutive, are required under Tier I; one scheduled full day off each week is required under Tiers II and III. (A full day off is one which is free of rehearsals, performances and/or teaching responsibilities and is 24 hours, in addition to the 12 hours required at the end of each day.)

Do I provide housing for the Actors?

Out-of-town Actors are provided housing at no cost to the Actor. Each Actor is provided a single, private bedroom. (If you cannot provide the accommodations, you must consult with Equity prior to issuing contracts.) An out-of-town Actor is any Actor whose home address, as listed with Equity, is 50 miles or greater from the theatre.

What about transportation?

For out-of-town Actors, the Producer provides round-trip transportation in the form of an airline ticket or cash at least three days before the Actor's departure for the place of engagement. All transportation costs, including taxis, baggage handling and gratuities, must be paid by the Producer.

What about local transportation?

If local transportation is necessary from the Actor's residence to the theatre, the Producer provides this transportation.

I'd like to hire an Actor. What do I do now?

Complete an Application – Complete an Application – Once a Guest Artist has agreed generally to the terms of employment, the Producer or the institution must contact Equity to secure permission to engage the Actor. The employer must describe the theatre organization and proposed production by completing the online application found here. This online application should be submitted as far in advance of the visiting Actor's reporting date as possible.

Hold Auditions – See above.

Secure the Checks – Once the commitment has been made to hire the Actor and permission from Equity has been granted, requisition for payment should be made by the appropriate fiscal representative in sufficient time to submit the necessary electronic payments. Special attention should be given to this by colleges and other operations where there is no weekly payroll. (See above.)

To whom and for what do I submit the electronic payments?

We require two (2) seperate electronic payments:

1. Pension & Health Check – This payment is payable to the Equity-League Pension and Health Trust Fund to cover the total pension and health contributions.
2. Working Dues Check – This payment is payable to Actors' Equity Association, in the current amount of 2.5% of the Actor's total gross salary, to cover the Actor's working dues obligation.

Note: If you will be using your organization’s internal payroll system, Actors’ Equity will require copies of the Actor’s final two weeks’ paychecks, with itemized deductions.

Then you'll send me the contracts?

Upon receipt of the electronic payments described above, the copies of the final two weeks’ paychecks (if applicable), and the signed COVID MOU (LINK HERE TO THE COVID SAFETY SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE), Equity will generate and email the contract to you for signing.

I've received the contract. How do I complete it?

You must sign the contract before the Actor. You and the Actor each get two copies – one to keep and one to file with Equity. Electronic signatures are permitted, using a third-party service such as Docu-Sign.

Script, Rehearsal and Publicity Schedules

Once an agreement is reached, you should provide the Actor with a script and schedules for rehearsal and press obligations. Actors are not required to do publicity; however, the Actor may agree to do public relations with reasonable notice. Publicity may not include any performance of material from the production.

May I videotape the production?

The Guest Artist Agreement allows for limited filming for the purposes of broadcast on news or community affairs programs. Should you wish to record the production for other purposes, you can opt into the Agreement's expanded media provision. This allows for filming for archival purposes, grants, fundraising, awards and limited use on websites and social media. Opting in requires a $25 per week salary bump for all Actors for the full duration of the contract.

What if I want the Actor to teach a class?

If the actor is hired as an Actor/Teacher, the teaching responsibilities must be clearly defined by means of a rider. Also, the work week schedule must be in compliance with the Equity work week. Teaching, except for question-and-answer sessions for which no preparation is expected or required, is counted as two hours for each hour of work against the allotted maximum allowed under each Tier.

I'd really like to have an Actor do another part, but I didn't include it on the contract. What do I do?

An Actor may not do additional work without agreement between the Actor and you, the Producer, and additional compensation. Additional work is defined as work not specified in the Actor's contract at the time of its signing. (Additional duties are contracted by rider with copies sent to the Actor and to Equity.)

What about billing in the program?

If a cast list is provided, all Actors engaged under the Guest Artist Agreement are listed on the title page or cast list page of the theatre's program with an asterisk (*) next to their names. The asterisk refers to a program note which reads: "The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States." If Actors provide a biography for the program, changes by the Producer must be approved by the Actor before printing.

What about costumes?

The Producer provides and maintains all costumes, including wigs, hats, beards, hairpieces, tights and hose and properly fitted footwear. Actor may agree to use items from their personal wardrobe with a rental agreement set forth on a rider to the contract. Contact Equity for the appropriate terms and rider.

Dressing Rooms?

The Actor is to be provided a private dressing room, if possible, and must have (or be in close proximity to) toilet facilities.

Anything else?

The Guest Artist Agreement includes, by reference, all items contained in these guidelines as an obligation and responsibility. All other rules will be mutually agreed upon between the employer and Equity. If unable to agree, Equity's decision will be final. Equity will make its decisions based upon, and in reference to, custom and usage in the industry as appropriate.

To obtain a copy of the Guest Artist Agreement Work Rules, email prepaid@actorsequity.org.

Tier Structure Highlights (effective through March 23, 2025).

*Salaries are subject to the applicable minimum wage.

Important! Applications must be submitted using the online application form. Please submit as soon as possible but preferably at least three weeks before first rehearsal. Upon receipt, you will be notified regarding the amounts needed to process your contracts. It may take a minimum of three weeks from the date your electronic payments arrive at Actors’ Equity and Equity League Pension & Health Trust Fund to process your request, so please plan accordingly. If you are not able to submit payments electronically, we will provide the mailing addresses, but there may be a considerable delay in receiving your contracts.

• No Equity Actor or Stage Manager may begin rehearsals without having signed an Equity contract.
• Do not send electronic payments until your application has been processed and approved and you receive a permission letter.