What should members do if acting isn't providing enough income to pay their bills?

(1) Get a sideline job so that your predictable income exceeds your predictable expenses. Acting is fickle career that doesn't always respond to how talented, trained, attractive or good-hearted you are. The look that is hot one day, is not necessarily the look that makes it the next day.

In New York and Hollywood, the Actors Fund offers the Actors Work Program to Guild members.

(2) You can also check out the community assistance programs available in your area. Visit the Related Links area of our site to link to the SAG Foundation, the Actors Fund of America, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and much more.

(3) Don't do non-union work! There are some unscrupulous producers and managers out there who are looking for hungry, talented actors who care more about performing than earning money. Don't fall for it. Without a strong union, we can't maintain a living wage for the union members who are fortunate to have "the look" this season. If you undercut them this year, the wages and working conditions that exist today might not be there when (and admittedly, if) your look is "it" next year.

If you want to know how far our member solidarity has brought us, and why each member has to uphold his/her responsibility to protect what we've got, see our SAG History area.