I am not an AEA member so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but:
It is possible and does happen that a 2nd ASM can be in the cast, so isn't this already answered to a degree?
Yes, that is true. And, of course, there are those AEA members (and non-AEA) who are both equally good at SM and Acting and are able to take over either job with ease. I don't disagree with that statement, since there are those members who enjoy playing both sides of the curtain. And yes, SMs and Actors are in the same union, and any SM could audition for a part just as any Actor could submit a resume to SM a show. However - that doesn't mean that their abilities to get the opposite job are as equal as getting a job that they trained for. That is where I find fault with the original quote.
I studied acting in college, but all of my professional experience is in SM. I wouldn't dare go audition for an Union show, because I know I don't have the chops for it and haven't taken an acting class since 1999. I think it would be insulting to other union actors, and embarrassing for myself, due to my lack of acting skills. Reverse the situation - just because an AEA Actor called a show or two in college, but has been acting professionally for 10+ years doesn't mean they SHOULD accept an AEA SM contract for a show, just because they are an AEA member. And a Saturday morning Workshop isn't going to make that AEA Actor an expert in all things SM and ready to take on the task.
I am really trying to see the other side of this, as this potential "How to be a SM/SM Brush Up" workshop is being proposed to me as a task to take on. So far it seems as though people tend to agree with how I am viewing this. Does anyone have an opposite view to help me see this in a new light?
(I'm not ignoring the suggestions of spinning it into the "This is What a SM Does" for AEA Actors, it's just I think I may be stuck with what I've already been given - but it is a great idea!)
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And getting back to another one of my original questions - would you attend this Workshop, as an AEA SM? Why or Why not?