Well now, its not quite what you think. Yes its a card. Yes that's me. But its not the official equity card. It like a card-in-training. In order to become union you have to do one of two things. 1. Be cast in a union show where they will elevate your eligibility to equity status.
2. Earn points like a boyscout earning badges. Slow and tedious. (Similar to SAG and their vouchers/waivers)
I am on the latter track as of right now. Thanks to my little Floridian stint doing children's theater I am a proud card carrying member of the Equity Membership Candidate program. In this program you need 50 points in order to join equity. 1 point = 1 week. Do the math. Forever.
The majority of this work can be found in regional theater and tours. NY is filled with experimental theatre and theater companies. Its a lot easier and cheaper for smaller companies to put up non-union work. Usually the bigger companies (tours) will aid in achieving that almighty card because they can afford to, and not everyone wants to pick up and go on tour. You gotta give them some sort of carrot to do so.
So I'm on my way. I managed to gain a good chunk of points while i was in Florida. So now the big question. Sure its a card, and pretty, and blue, but what does it mean?
Well, this card means I'm just a tad above non-equity now. When I go to an equity call, I am guaranteed to be seen before the non-union people. (if I'm seen at all. sometimes the equity line is way too long and all the time slots are filled) And the best perk...I get to use the bathroom. That's right. The equity bathroom. Woohoo.
