Equity vs Non-Equity

So many of my friends have asked whether it is foolish to come to NYC if they are not already Equity. It is a tricky question, but the short answer is that the city is really tough, even if you ARE Equity, so coming as a non-union performer only makes it that much harder...but like everything, not impossible. If you are interested in non-union, commercial, industrial dance jobs, then having your union card is sort of irrelavant. But if you are thinking about dancing on Broadway, then you might seriously consider doing some regional work, getting your card beforehand, and then making the jump to the city. You see, time in the city is a commodity, and just like money, you can eat up lots of it in a short period of time. Non-Equity performers can spend hours and hours at auditions and in the end, never get seen at all. It can be a really frustrating proposition. That is why its so important, to find other means of income. Like I've said before, the NY game is all about finding ways to survive until you book that show.

"You are never standing still, you are always either moving forward, or falling behind"

So You Wanna Dance In NYC, huh?

So many performers harbor dreams of a NYC career, and for a lucky few, things might go exactly according to plan. You arrive at JFK, stay with some friends for a few weeks, find a great little apartment in Astoria for $800(including utilities, no broker fee, woo hoo!!), and start hitting the audition scene. Super! Within a couple weeks, all those years of dance lessons, voice teachers and saving for NYC have paid off, you book Wicked and start rehearsals next week...don't get me wrong, the scenario I just described DOES indeed happen, in fact, I seem to know many of those people. Regardless of what that says about the company I keep...the fact remains, there are far more performers, very talented performers, who may have to wait six months to a year and beyond, for their shot at the footlights. Actually, being a NY gypsy is a lot like waiting in line for Space Mountain. Just like the queue that zig zags back and forth, you might be standing right next to someone who is about to board, and yet you have a much longer wait in store. Your time will come, but you don't know when that phone will finally ring. So what will you do while you wait? How are you going to occupy your time in line? However, it's more than just a matter of staying optimistic, it's a matter of survival! That is what this blog is about: how to survive, be productive, stay positive, and find success even when you are still waiting your turn. Remember, it isn't a question of "if," it's a question of "when."

"God is in control of the world, the Devil is in control of the timing"