These guidelines are courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Education Department.

There is a code of conduct by which any actor worth his or her Equity union membership should abide.* Most of these you know—they’re just common sense. So when you are lucky enough to work, follow these simple rules:

Punctuality

You’ve heard about it your whole life and being a professional means there are no excuses or lateness to a rehearsal or performance. There are moments when a real crisis may disrupt you from your appointed arrival time, so plan for those moments by arriving well before the designated time. Those extra minutes will allow more time for warm-up, build an ensemble, or get you in the right frame of mind. If lateness is truly unavoidable, you must call your stage manager (funny, they’re never late) and let him or her know your expected arrival time.

Read What You Sign

Even though Equity’s major benefits are our negotiated contracts, business representatives, and member services, read everything you are asked to sign, even from Equity.

Rehearsals

For many, this is the most exciting time of being in a show. Take time to explore your character (why do you cross on that line?), fine-tune stage business or justify your choreography. Even if you can’t wait to get in front of an audience, let those actors who love it, relish it.

Cell Phones

Turn them off when entering a rehearsal or performance space. There are appropriate times to use them, so hang up!

Notes

Getting Them: Always be gracious, even if you disagree. Say “Thank you” after the director gives you the note, or “May we speak about this later?” if you don’t understand or disagree. The note session is not therapy for your character, but rather a session of quick fixes for many elements of the show. Find time for you and the director to solve issues that affect you or your character only.

Giving Them: NEVER, (did you read that?) never give another actor notes and never allow yourself to receive notes from another actor. A response could be, “Thanks for your help, but I think it’s best we do this kind of thing through the stage manager or director.” There is no room for flexibility here. Wouldn’t you resent it?

Costume Fittings

Costume fittings are tricky. Let the designer know your concerns but avoid doing his or her job. Too much unwanted advice to a designer, and you could end up in a tube top or out of a job.

Gossip

You know its wrong. We heard you say it.

Quiet!

As you learned in the last rule, sometimes keeping your mouth shut is a good thing. We will expand on that theme—keep the noise down when you are backstage. Avoid all talking and/or whispering; some theatres actually DO have good acoustics. Keep your voice and laughter down even when in the dressing room. Like the song says, “Hush, hush. Keep it down now. Voices carry.”

Tech Rehearsals

You know what we’re going to say, right? That is the only time the designers get to fine tune their work with you there. So, pay attention. Don’t disrupt their rehearsal and stay close to the stage, because they’re always going to go back a few scenes when they resume.

Backstage Drama

Just because we play dramatic characters onstage does not mean we must portray them off. When you are in a show, the theatre becomes a tiny universe. Remember, it is temporary, and there is a real world outside those theatre doors. Don’t be a stereotypical diva or demanding actor. If love should bloom while in a show, great! Keep it outside! If you have a personal struggle, sorry, but keep it outside. You were hired for your performance abilities; perform. 

Half-Hour

This is a misnomer. The stage manager may set any reasonable arrival time for any actor in any show. You should welcome your time in the theatre. So get there early; there are many things to do.

Props

There are two major rules here—never play with a prop and always check your props before each show (luckily you got there before “half-hour”). Those two rules seem instantly understandable but are rarely followed. Follow them. The first night you discover the climactic letter in your pocket missing before your entrance, you’ll understand.

Illness

There are sick days built into many contracts; use them when you NEED to.

Ad Libs and Changes to the Script

As the performance wears on, you may feel that you understand the character better than the playwright. You don’t, so quit making up lines.

Opening Night

Congratulations! Have fun at the party but remember, you have a show tomorrow night.

Marking a Performance

The lone audience member today paid the same ticket price as the full house that loved your performance last night. You have a responsibility to all involved to perform the show as rehearsed and to do your best. If that doesn’t sway you, that lone audience may be someone important in the business. Now, you’re listening.

Maintaining a Performance

You can look at a long run either as a chore or the world’s best acting class. You get to ply your craft and test your choices in front of an audience (“Why did I get that laugh last night and not tonight?”). Quit complaining and stay fresh. There are worse things than having a job.

Respect

Our final category is perhaps the most obvious and the most abused. We appeal only to the basest of reasons for having respect (Remember, nothing spreads faster than your reputation):

  • For Staff - They can hire you again
  • For Crew - They can hurt you
  • For Directors - They can make your life miserable
  • For Designers - They can make you look stupid
  • For Actors’ Equity - They can upstage you
  • For Yourself - That means value your contribution to the show by following the above guidelines and taking care of yourself when rehearsing and performing. Keep healthy throughout the run.

You were chosen over many other actors for this role, so respect yourself and live up to everyone’s belief in you.

* OK, you say, Ithaca College is not an Equity company. Well, get used to these rules, if you hope to become Equity one day. If not, they are still a pretty handy set of guidelines on how to be a professional. And that probably IS your goal, isn’t it?