First of all, I would recommend you do more research on what it means to be an AEA stage manager. There's information on this forum, as well as the
AEA website, that addresses many of your questions.
My Personal Situation:
I've witnessed several people lose momentum in their career due to applying to early, and want to insure that this does not happen to me. There is still time as I am not yet out of high school, however opportunities like this are not available everyday. Is it best to work towards my card while I am still living with my parents and not paying my own way? Or is it better to apply during college or after college?
I would not recommend someone in high school, or even college, joining AEA as a stage manager. It is a serious career commitment (as well as a financial commitment). Even if you think right now that you can't imagine doing anything else with your life, you may not feel that way in 5 years. If, in your 20's, you still feel this way, believe me, the opportunity will still be there. Also, it's great that you've been given a lot of opportunities at your age, but in general, an AEA theatre is not going to hire a 16-year-old stage manager. Give yourself the benefit of time and experience, and reconsider in a few years. There are a lot of opportunities available when you're young, like internships/apprenticeships at other theatres, that may help you down the line. There's a thread
here about going equity "young"- and by young, most people on the thread were referring to their mid-20s.
Something else to consider is the cost of joining AEA. There's a $100 registration fee to join EMC. There's an $1100 initiation fee- if you are EMC when you join, your $100 goes towards that. They will take the rest of the $1100 out of your paycheck until it's paid off- it has to be paid within 2 years of joining. You don't get any membership privileges until you have paid $400, which has to happen within 6 months. Additionally, there's a yearly fee of $118, paid half in May and half in November, and working dues of 2.25% of every paycheck. None of this includes premiums for health insurance, which is a different topic altogether.
How does being an equity member effect your ability to work at a community theatre?
After joining Equity is it possible to work as Non-Equity? If so under what circumstances?
Can someone please explain the scheduling rules set out by the AEA?
I find some of the required Equity breaks to be extremely irritating sometimes as they tend to land at the most unfortunate times...it is my opinion that everyone gets together to make the best show possible and of course must be treated fairly, and sometimes the AEA appears to be very cumbersome in this area. Even when people want to work they are not allowed to because of Equity rules. This is one of my concerns when joining the AEA is the inability to work when I want/need to. What is everyone else's general opinion on this?
What are the overtime rules?
You would not be able to work (as an SM or an actor) at a community theatre. You would not be able to work at a non-AEA theatre. You would not be able to take a non-AEA SM gig at an AEA theatre. To get your card too early restricts your opportunities in a major way. At this point, you don't know where you'll be living in 5 years. If you want to move to a different city and get work there, it can be helpful to get your foot in the door as a non-Eq SM, and work your way up.
AEA rules exist to protect their members. Break rules, cumbersome or not, ensure the safety and working standards for actors and stage managers. If you are AEA, you have to be prepared to enforce these rules. (Does that I mean I won't answer a question from the director on my break? No. But having these rules in place protects me if the theatre wants me to come work on my day off for no additional money, or work until 2a.) In my opinion, if you want to work without these restrictions, then joining AEA is not for you.
The rules regarding rehearsal hours and overtime vary by contract. You can look up all of the contracts on the AEA website- I would suggest looking at something like the SPT contract. You can see that it varies wildly in terms of # of performances, rehearsal hours, minimum salary, etc based on what size the contract is.
Check out
this thread on the EMC program, as well as the
info on the AEA website on EMC. You're not an AEA member automatically after 50 weeks- you must then sign a contract with an AEA theatre. Until you sign the contract, you are not a member and can still work at non-AEA houses. You also do not need to be EMC to join AEA- you can be offered and sign an AEA contract without any weeks at all.
Is it possible to work for a reduced or free rate at a professional theatre if you believe in the cause and/or want to be a part of making the show a success? If so how?
This does not sound like you want to be a professional stage manager, making a living at this job. If the show's success depends on you taking a reduced salary, it is unlikely to be a success anyway. Being a part of a show's success as a professional SM means doing your job well, not sacrificing your salary. If this is what's important to you, community theatre may be a better route to take, at least for the time being.
This is not meant to be discouraging in any way- just that joining AEA at your age is not the best career move. Consider your other options and revisit this idea when you're older. Take advantage of the opportunities that you have right now. Equity's not going anywhere.
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