Expert: Rusty Meyers - 7/15/2009

Question
If you join AFTRA, does that limit the non-union jobs you can audition for?

Answer
To some degree.
Why would you join AFTRA, are you a news person or a dj or a soap star?
You would most likely want to (at some point) join SAG, but ONLY when you have enough credits and training and understanding that joining a union is a commitment.
Depending on where you live you might be cutting out 80% of the work by joining.
However if you live in LA or NY it's almost a must join to be taken seriously.
Remember if you aren't booking any non-union gigs, it's going to be harder when you are up against professionals.