Sign Out Or Sidle On Out That Door?

I got my first ever check in the mail for signing out of a commercial audition that ran over an hour past my call time.  In case you don't know, the advertising agency (via the casting company) are required to pay union actors for their time if they waste too much of it.  Now, I've signed out plenty of times at auditions that ran way too long, but this is the first check to magically appear in my mailbox--although it's nine months after the fact.  Why do I feel so vindicated?  Because I got a stupid parking ticket while in the room for that particular audition (I was out of quarters I'd been there so long) and they cattle called the last ten actors to audition simultaneously (one after another down a line) instead of giving each of us our moment after waiting so long.  Funny thing though, the check is for a time that's much less than what was recorded on the sign-in log.  I should add that I haven't been back to that office since I exercised my union right to sign-out. 

On Friday, I had a commercial audition that also ran an hour past my time.  My group was, literally, the last group of the day to audition.  While the audition itself was fun and the people in the room were cool, I couldn't help but notice that the sign-in/sign-out log magically disappeared before any of the people waiting could sign-out and get paid for their time.

Naturally, conversation in the waiting room on Friday turned to the topic of signing out, and one actor offered that it "was an unwritten rule that if you sign out and that casting office has been good to you, it's a stab in the back."  I guess if I had more than one or two commercial casting offices that treated me like a human being, I'd be a little more sensitive and prone to "do the right thing."  Reminds of the time I asked for a SAG contract for a SAG job I booked and everyone looked at me like I was the devil.  An actor who had at least ten years on me confessed in the car that she had the same concerns but was too scared to bring it up.

And this is just one of the many problems of our business.  When do you speak up?  When do you let things slide out of goodwill and  the promise of more opportunities?  Maybe I should have sidled out the door nine months ago instead of making my name known as a girl who wants to be paid for her (wasted) time.  I don't know how to advise anyone on this subject, but I'd be curious to find out how you, my dear readers, think and feel about it.

--Stacey Jackson

Comments

[eve white]

No comments on this one yet...Interesting.

For one, I think you're aware of your rights and you have the right to stand up to see that they are met. Period. Regardless of the situation or the industry. Second, I applaud your action. You (as always) I'm sure were polite, but firm. If more actors stood up for the better-ment (of ourselves and likewise, humans in general) we might find a more respectful audience on the other side of the table--and from each other.

But, there's a reason we get the short end of the stick from this industry. No one respects a group of people who will cannibalize their own for the sake of a buck--(or just to get a laugh). It takes away our integrity as artists. This is a hugely important issue. Knowing your rights is easy, exercising them is much harder. I'd like to applaud your forthright action.

It's hard and not always popular to be in that position. Which, is unfortunate.

[Stacey Jackson]

Thanks for commenting, Eve. I'm still just as confused as ever on how I feel about this whole sign out system and a bit annoyed that it has even presented a glitch in my usual reasoning pattern.