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The Hardline / Visit from My AEA Business Representative
« on: Oct 10, 2015, 04:52 pm »
Hello all!
Last week I received an interesting request. Our Business Representative was coming to see the show on Sunday and wanted to meet with myself and my one Union cast member at some point that same day. He also was meeting separately with our producer and was getting a tour of the space. I, of course, fretted about the meeting a bit and spent some time double checking that everything was in compliance (it's only my second show with this contract and I've been double checking a lot anyway.)
My actor and I ended up meeting with him after the show. He told us that he was fairly new to Equity and wanted us to have a face to put with the name. Then he asked if we had any questions, which prompted some questions about the Deputy from me. And we all had a lovely discussion about how AEA is going more digital. At the end he offered us both a lot of swag (score!) and went to his meeting with the producers. All in all it was a lovely experience and it was great to meet our Representative in person and not have him be just a voice on the phone or words in an email. I'm also feeling a little more connected to the Union.
The reason I am posting about this is, in about five years of being an AEA member this is the first time that I've had a Business Representative come out to my theatre for a visit. It has made me wonder, has anyone else on this board ever had a visit? What was your experience like? Do you think that meeting someone in person is helpful to developing a work relationship?
PS. Did you know that AEA has buttons for the Deputy that are made to look like Sheriff's badges? I told him that I'd love to have a stash of those to offer to the Deputy of each of my shows. Everyone loves swag!
Last week I received an interesting request. Our Business Representative was coming to see the show on Sunday and wanted to meet with myself and my one Union cast member at some point that same day. He also was meeting separately with our producer and was getting a tour of the space. I, of course, fretted about the meeting a bit and spent some time double checking that everything was in compliance (it's only my second show with this contract and I've been double checking a lot anyway.)
My actor and I ended up meeting with him after the show. He told us that he was fairly new to Equity and wanted us to have a face to put with the name. Then he asked if we had any questions, which prompted some questions about the Deputy from me. And we all had a lovely discussion about how AEA is going more digital. At the end he offered us both a lot of swag (score!) and went to his meeting with the producers. All in all it was a lovely experience and it was great to meet our Representative in person and not have him be just a voice on the phone or words in an email. I'm also feeling a little more connected to the Union.
The reason I am posting about this is, in about five years of being an AEA member this is the first time that I've had a Business Representative come out to my theatre for a visit. It has made me wonder, has anyone else on this board ever had a visit? What was your experience like? Do you think that meeting someone in person is helpful to developing a work relationship?
PS. Did you know that AEA has buttons for the Deputy that are made to look like Sheriff's badges? I told him that I'd love to have a stash of those to offer to the Deputy of each of my shows. Everyone loves swag!