What is a SAG Card?
A SAG card is a standard wallet-sized card that provides proof of SAG-AFTRA membership. It lists your name, member number, expiration date, and join date. It's proof that you're a SAG-AFTRA actor, protected by full union rights!
SAG cards must be earned by performers, often through years of work. In this guide, I'll outline the benefits of having a SAG card and also show you how to get one. What is a SAG Card?SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) merged with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) in 2012 to become SAG-AFTRA, and it has since grown to also also encompass voice actors and video game performers. For many actors, getting a SAG card has been considered a rite of passage because of how hard it is to do so. Once you join SAG-AFTRA and get your SAG card, it feels like you've "made it" as an actor.
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Some Additional Q&A
Do All Actors Have a SAG Card?
No, there are tons of non-union actors who do not have a SAG card! However, if you want to be able to perform in bigger productions, like major motion pictures and network television, you'll need a SAG card.
Do You Have to Have a SAG Card to Be an Actor?
You don't! You can perform in non-union productions, like independent films and web series that are not signed under any SAG-AFTRA contracts. I recommend doing this first to build up your resume, and only joining SAG-AFTRA when you're ready.
What is the Screen Actor's Guild?
SAG-AFTRA is a union that protects actors to ensure they get paid for the work, and receive protections on set. It protects all signed actors who work on screen, plus voiceover and radio artists.
Further Reading:
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