SAG Eligible: What it Means and How to Get There in 2023

12/31/2022

In this article, we'll discuss how to become "SAG Eligible," or in other words, how to get qualified to be able to join SAG-AFTRA.

You'll learn the exact steps to take, plus why you might want to wait on becoming eligible.

Related Guide: Access Netflix Auditions WITHOUT Being in SAG-AFTRA (or having an agent)

SAG Eligible

SAG-AFTRA stands for Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It's the union for actors and performers who work in screen, radio, and voiceover, and it has over 160,000 members.

SAG and AFTRA used to be two separate unions, but they combined into one entity called SAG-AFTRA on March 30th, 2012.

Joining SAG-AFTRA is something most actors aspire to because they'll be guaranteed higher wages, health benefits, strictly enforced protections on set, pension plans, and lots more. Joining the union is often considered a rite of passage for actors because of how difficult it can be. Many actors feel validated as true professionals when they finally join SAG-AFTRA.

What Does SAG Eligible Mean?

Becoming a SAG Eligible actor (also called SAG-e) means you've met SAG-AFTRA's minimum requirements to join and are now qualified to become a member whenever you're ready.

All actors must be "SAG Eligible" first to be able to join. Just having the money to afford initiation does not qualify you!

Here are some benefits of becoming SAG-Eligible:

It looks great on your resume. Casting directors are more likely to hire SAG Eligible actors because that status signifies to the casting director that the actor is experienced and has been booked in legit productions before. It also means that a producer will not have to write another Taft-Hartley letter that could be rejected by the union (and result in a fine).
You can still audition for non-union projects. As we'll discuss more in a moment, once you join SAG-AFTRA, you're no longer allowed to audition for non-union productions. But being SAG-Eligible means that you're not actually a member of the union yet, so you can audition for both union AND non-union projects.
Non-union directors and producers will take you more seriously. Being SAG Eligible tells these non-union people that you're serious about your career, and that they should hire you while they still have the chance. You'll almost always be considered first – above all non-union actors.
Agents will take you more seriously. For the same reasons as noted earlier, agents will consider you much more closely since SAG Eligible actors tend be more experienced and more serious about their careers than non-union actors.
- Related: How to Find an Acting Agent: The Ultimate Guide

In general, the status of SAG Eligible tells people that you're able to work in any production, union or non-union, without causing them too much hassle or difficulty. It shows you're an experienced actor who takes their career seriously.

Now even though it sounds amazing on the surface, there are a few things to take into consideration before beginning the process of becoming SAG-Eligible. We'll go through them in the next section:

Should I Become SAG-Eligible?

Most new actors look at SAG-AFTRA and think to themselves, "If only I could get my SAG card... then tons of new opportunities would open up to me!"

But is that really true? Will tons of opportunities actually open up the moment you join?

Sadly, the answer is no. In fact, most actors find it harder to get auditions once they join because of something called Global Rule One.

Global Rule One: "No member shall render any services or make an agreement to perform services for any employer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the union, which is in full force and effect, in any jurisdiction in which there is a SAG-AFTRA national collective bargaining agreement in place. This provision applies worldwide."

Basically, this means that once you join SAG-AFTRA, you're no longer allowed to work in non-union jobs anymore. You're going to find it much more difficult to get acting work because your competition will be WAY more fierce – you'll be competing for jobs with the best of the best actors – union, high-level performers who have been acting for many years and are competing for roles in bigger, higher-budget projects.

You'll no longer be able to submit yourself for independent internet projects, student films, and even industrials anymore. And joining SAG-AFTRA does NOT make it any easier to get an agent – in fact if you join the union without an agent, you'll probably be in the worst place possible because most self-submission audition opportunities (those found on Backstage and Casting Networks, etc.), are for non-union jobs.

"But what if I only want to become SAG Eligible?"

Well, just keep in mind that once you become SAG Eligible, you can no longer work in any more SAG-AFTRA productions without being forced to join (and pay the hefty initiation fee).

Crazy Story: I know of an actor who became SAG Eligible on a low budget, unprofessional project. A few months later he was offered a Recurring role in a SAG-AFTRA network television show, but because he didn't have the $3,000 initiation fee saved up, he was unable to join the union and had to turn down the role! It also angered the producers that he specified he was SAG-Eligible when he didn't have the money to join (meaning he kind of... wasn't eligible). Don't make the same mistake.

For that reason, I recommend you read the below questions to determine whether you should realistically start working towards becoming SAG Eligible:

Do you have at least 3-4 Lead or Supporting screen credits on your resume?
Do you have a professional demo reel with at least 3 high-budget scenes in it?
Do you feel very confident in your auditioning ability?
Do you have a relationship with at least 2-3 casting directors?

You should be able to answer yes to at least 3 out of 4 questions above. If you can't, I recommend waiting a bit longer before trying to become SAG Eligible.

You should also have the initiation fee ready in your bank so when opportunity strikes, you can join at a moment's notice (unlike the actor I mentioned).

How to Become SAG Eligible

SAG-AFTRA offers a few key ways to become SAG Eligible, most of which can take months or years to accomplish. Before you dive in, I recommending confirming that you're not already Sag Eligible!

"So how do I know if I'm SAG-Eligible?" Use their free SAG Eligible Check Tool!

Once you've done that and confirmed you're not eligible, here are some different things you can do to become eligible to join (note that if you've already completed one of these, you might be eligible and simply not be in their system yet – if that's the case, read my guide "How to Get a SAG Card" to learn next steps):

Taft-Hartley: Non-union actors can be hired in union projects for speaking roles. The moment you are hired for a principal or speaking role on your first SAG-AFTRA production, you become eligible to join (provided the production submitted the necessary paperwork with your information on it). This is called being "Taft-Hartleyed," and is one of the most common ways of getting into SAG-AFTRA.
- Note 1: There are ways to improve your chances of being Taft-Hartley'd. If you're willing to put in a bit of work, you can start getting directly invited to audition for SAG-AFTRA productions, even if you don't have an extensive resume or reel. You'll cold-email casting directors (or if you prefer, meet them through classes/social media) and keep in touch for a few weeks by providing added value. Because you've given so much to them (before you expect to gain), these casting directors will feel compelled to invite you to audition for their next major SAG-AFTRA project – and you'll have a leg up on all the other actors auditioning (because the casting director already knows you)!
  - Free Step-by-Step Guide: 3 Strategies to Get Casting Directors to Invite You to SAG-AFTRA Auditions (includes word-for-word email templates and a tutorial on how to become friends with any major casting director – even if you've never met)
- Note 2: Once you've performed in a principal role on a union film, you are considered "SAG-Eligible," and have 30 days to perform in as many union productions as you want. After that 30 day period is up however, you MUST join the union on the next SAG-AFTRA production you work on (unless it's as a background actor).
Background Vouchers: If you perform three days of work as a background actor in a SAG-AFTRA production, you will become eligible to join – but only if they give you a "voucher." If the production has any vouchers left (they give them out to union actors first) you'll receive one. Your goal is to collect three vouchers, one for each day of work. Unlike with the Taft-Hartley rule, there is no time frame or limit to the number of background roles you can do in SAG-AFTRA productions before being required to join. This is typically the easiest way to become SAG Eligible.
- Note: To improve your chances of landing a background union role, you can try working in productions that are inconvenient for union actors, such as those outside a major production city like NYC or LA. You can also perform in roles that require more harsh working conditions, such as outdoor scenes in bad weather. These techniques will decrease the number of union actors looking for background work in those productions, thereby increasing your chances as a non-union actor of getting booked.
- Note 2: Background vouchers are not guaranteed. Some productions might not issue one, so be aware that this method isn't always as easy as it sounds.
Put Together Your Own SAG-AFTRA Production: SAG-AFTRA offers plenty of agreement options for low budget productions, including the New Media, Special New Media, and Ultra Low Budget options. If you create your own project and submit the necessary paperwork and pay the necessary fees, you can make your own production a union project and then hire yourself on it! Basically you'd be Taft-Hartleying yourself with this option.
Reciprocity: AEA (Actors' Equity Association), ACTRA (The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists), AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists), and AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists) are all affiliated with SAG-AFTRA, and as long as you've been a member of one of those unions for at least a year and have performed as a principal at least once under one of their contracts, you'll generally be allowed to join SAG-AFTRA (provided of course that you pay the initiation fee).
Be Upgraded to a Speaking Role: Similarly to being Taft-Hartleyed, you can start by joining a union production as a background actor, and if they decide to give you a line for whatever reason, you'll instantly become eligible to join the union because you're now considered a "principal" actor.
Special Cases: If the national board for SAG-AFTRA determines that you're "engaged in work that advances the [union’s] active organizing efforts or general goals," it might decide to admit you. Note that this is extremely rare and generally outside of your control.

How to Become SAG-Eligible: Think Strategically

So as a summary, how do you become SAG Eligible? Well here's the most strategic order I recommend you go about it:

Step 1: Start saving to have as close to $3,000 in the bank as possible. Your money should be there so you can join as soon as you have to. Why? Because as I mentioned earlier, there have been cases of actors who booked an amazing SAG-AFTRA role who were required to join the union but couldn't afford the initiation fee. They lost out on the role of a lifetime because of it. Don't let this be you!
Step 2: Build up non-union credits (while saving). Spend a year or two building up your credits so your acting resume is strong. Make it your goal to get at least 3-4 Supporting or Lead credits in student or indie non-union films. Also, make sure to ask for your footage so you can begin the process of putting together a professional demo reel.
Step 3: Find a Union Franchised agent and begin applying for union gigs. Start looking for a union-franchised agent (you don't need to have a SAG card to get representation from one of these agencies). While searching for an agent, start building relationships with a few big casting directors by attending workshops and keeping in touch with them via social media or email.
- Note: As stated previously in this guide, there are ways to improve your chances of being Taft-Hartley'd – even if you don't have an agent. If you're willing to put in a bit of work, you can start getting directly invited to audition for SAG-AFTRA productions, even if you don't have an extensive resume or reel. You'll cold-email casting directors (or if you prefer, meet them through classes/social media) and keep in touch for a few weeks by providing added value. Because you've given so much to them (before you expect to gain), these casting directors will feel compelled to invite you to audition for their next major SAG-AFTRA project – and you'll have a leg up on all the other actors auditioning (because the casting director already knows you)!
  - Free Step-by-Step Guide: 3 Strategies to Get Casting Directors to Invite You to SAG-AFTRA Auditions (includes word-for-word email templates and a tutorial on how to become friends with any major casting director – even if you've never met)
Step 4: Become SAG-AFTRA Eligible using one of the methods outlined above, and then add it to your resume. At that point, you can safely join the union whenever you're ready.

3 Numbers All Actors Should Know

Knowing how to become SAG eligible is important, but it's just one small part of growing your acting career.

If your goal is to act full-time, you should know these 3 numbers:

40-60 Submissions – This is how often full-time, working actors submit themselves (whether they have an agent or not) each month.
10-20 Auditions – This is how many times full-time working actors audition (or at least record and submit self-tapes) each month.
3-5 Bookings – This is how often full-time working actors book real, paid acting jobs each and every month.

If your numbers aren't there yet, that's OK! It's certainly not easy to audition and book that much.

But those are actual, real numbers from busy, working actors who didn't just get lucky.

Those busy, working actors started at the beginning – for them, the biggest question swirling in their minds at the time was:

How do I get taken seriously by casting directors when I don't have good credits or footage? And how do I get credits/footage without being taken seriously by casting directors?

It's the classic actor's catch 22.

When we're struggling to get our careers off the ground, our minds can slip into "desperation mode" and start looking for quick-fix solutions. We'll ask ourselves questions like:

"Should I take another acting class?"
"Do I need better headshots or should I pay to shoot a reel?"
"What's the fastest way to get an agent?"

But questions like those mean you're focused on Tactics, instead of Strategy.

Think about it this way: Would you bake a cake by randomly sliding a pile of flour, eggs, and chocolate into the oven? Of course not! How you combine the ingredients, the temperature you cook it at, and for how long are all just as important.

Similarly, the long-term, well thought-out strategy you follow as you grow your acting career matters. A LOT.

That's why "strategic thinking" is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as an actor.

So today I'd like to give you a gift: 3 tools specifically designed to help you start thinking and operating strategically.

These tools have helped over 14,000 actors so far, many of whom have gone on to:

Book Broadway roles
Land network television and Netflix shows
Sign with agents and managers
And much more – faster than you'd expect (you can see some success stories here).

My free Actor's Toolkit will help you BLAST through the actor's catch 22 so you start getting WAY more auditions and bookings every month:

The Actor's Toolkit

The Top 6 Casting Websites to Find Auditions, plus 3 specific submissions strategies to get higher-quality auditions from them
3 Pro Actor Resume Templates, professionally formatted (they work on any device – just add your info)
Contact info of over 140 Top Talent Agencies & Submissions Techniques to save you the hassle of trying to find legitimate (non-scam) agents

Send Me the Toolkit!

Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses strategic thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 14,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.

Want to book more acting work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.

Some Additional Q&A

What's the Difference: SAG Eligible vs. Must Join?

SAG eligible simply means you're eligible to join the union whenever you want. That being said, there is a 30 day grace period where you can perform in as many speaking/principal union roles as you want without needing to join SAG-AFTRA. After that 30 day period is over, you become a "must join," which means you can no longer do any union work without paying the initiation fee and becoming an official member of SAG-AFTRA.

As a side note, when getting ready to join you should make sure to have two alternative Stage Names available because no two members can have the same name under SAG-AFTRA rules. They will do an official SAG AFTRA name check when you join (note that there is no way to find out all names in advance of joining).

What Does a SAG Card Look Like?

A SAG card is credit-card sized, colored black and gold, with black covering the top 3/4 of the card and gold covering the bottom 1/4 of the card. It contains your Stage Name, Join Date, Member Number, and Card Expiration Date in the gold section, along with the words "SAG-AFTRA Member" in the top black portion of the card. To see a picture of a SAG card, click here.

How Long Can You Be SAG Eligible?

You can technically be SAG Eligible indefinitely, but unless you're just auditioning for background roles, you'll be required to join the next time you book a SAG-AFTRA production role (assuming the 30 day grace period has expired).

What Does SAG Status Mean?

"SAG Status" simply refers to your current union status. Are you non-union? Are you SAG Eligible? Or are you SAG-AFTRA (meaning you've officially joined and paid your initiation fee)? You'll want to add your SAG status to your acting resume.

SAG Eligible: What it Means and How to Get There in 2023

SAG Eligible

​What Does SAG Eligible Mean?

​Should I Become SAG-Eligible?

​How to Become SAG Eligible

​​How to Become SAG-Eligible: Think Strategically

3 Numbers All Actors Should Know

​The Actor's Toolkit