¨Are you a member of SAG-AFTRA?¨

The Performer Community Check-In Poll © was created by and is the property of Auditions Are Work. The poll and all resulting data shall be attributed as such.

Sample Size: 543 Performers

  • All responses were anonymous.

  • The data reflects the six month time period between 12/5/23 - 6/10/24

  • Responses were collected via an online form between 5/5/24 - 6/30/24.

Performer Community Check-In Poll Results

SAG-AFTRA: 90.4% (491)

SAG-Elligible: 3.1% (17)

FiCore: 2.6% (14)

No: 3.9% (21)

Question 1a:

“Per the 2023 TV/Theatrical Contract, production must provide at least 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, of turnaround time for Self Tapes. Are you getting that amount of time?”

Always: 35.4% (192)

Sometimes: 53.8% (292)

Rarely: 8.8% (48)

Never: 2.0% (11)

Question 1b:

“Approximately how many violations, if any, of the above rule have you experienced since ratification on December 5, 2023?”

Question 2a:

“The 2023 TV/Theatrical Contract dictates that sides must be limited to no more than 8 standard pages for a first read Self Tape. In your experience, are producers adhering to this rule?”

Always: 73.7% (400)

Sometimes: 23% (125)

Rarely: 1.8% (10)

Never: 1.5% (8)

Question 2b:

“Approximately how many violations, if any, of the above rule have you experienced since ratification on December 5, 2023?” 

Question 3:

“How often do you typically memorize sides for a Self-Tape or Audition?”

Always: 68% (369)

Sometimes: 26% (141)

Rarely: 4.6% (25)

Never: 1.5% (8)

Question 4:

“Have you ever received an Audition or Self-Tape request that explicitly required you to be memorized?”

Yes: 26% (141)

No: 74% (402)

Question 5a:

“After receiving a Self-Tape request, have you ever inquired (or had your agent or representative inquire) whether the role had "already been cast"  per the 2023 TV Theatrical Contract   (Section 9b D1, page 14)?”

No: 92.1% (500)

Yes: 7.9% (43)

Question 5b:

“If you answered yes to 5A question above, did you receive a response prior to the Audition or Self-Tape due date,  as allowed by the 2023 TV/Theatrical Contract?”

Yes: 1.8% (10)

No: 7.7% (42)

N/A: 90.4% (491)

Question 6:

“After receiving a Self-Tape request, have you ever requested an interview instead  (either virtual or in-person), as allowed by the 2023 TV/Theatrical Contract?”

Yes: 19.9% (108)

No: 80.1% (435)

Question 7a:

“Since the December 5, 2023 ratification of the new SAG-AFTRA TV / Theatrical Contract, approximately how many Self Tape requests have you received? (Answer 0, if none)¨

Question 7b:

“Since December 5, 2023, approximately how many In-Person Audition requests have you received? (Answer 0, if none)¨

Question 7c:

“Since December 5, 2023, approximately how many Virtual Audition requests have you received? (Answer 0, if none)¨

Question 7d:

“Since December 5, 2024, how many of those Self Tapes, In-Person Auditions, and Virtual Auditions have you booked? (Answer 0, if none)¨

Question 7e:

“Since December 5, 2023, how many times have you booked by Direct Offer? (Answer 0, if none)¨

Question 8:

“When Self-Taping, how often do you utilize for-profit self-taping services (studio, coach, or teacher)? Always, Frequently, Rarely, Never.”

Always: 8.7% (47)

Frequently: 18.2% (99)

Rarely: 27.6% (150)

Never: 45.5% (247)

Question 9:

“When Self-Taping, how often do you pay for professional editing services?”

Always: 3.5% (19)

Frequently: 5.9% (32)

Rarely: 9.6% (52)

Never: 81.0% (440)

Question 10:

“For Self-Tapes, do you pay for and use professional editing software or apps?¨

Question 11a:

“For Self-Tapes where you don’t use a for profit self-taping service, who do you usually use for a reader?”

Yes: 48.3% (262)

No: 51.7% (281)

Friend: 40.7% (221)

Domestic Partner: 31.3% (170)

Family Member: 10.9% (59)

Roommate: 2.4% (13)

Other: 14.7% (80)

Question 11b:

“In the above circumstance, how often do you compensate your reader? (monetarily or with a trade of services, if not utilizing a paid coach, teacher, or taping studio)”

Always: 14.5% (79)

Frequently: 17.1% (93)

Rarely: 14.7% (80)

Never: 53.6% (291)

Question 12:

“Hours spent producing a Self-Tape… 

  • a) Most hours you’ve spent  

  • b) Average hours

  • c) Least amount of time you've spent?”

Question 13a:

¨Per the 2023 TV / Theatrical Contract, sign-in sheet requirements for Virtual Auditions have been replaced by a producer record that maintains performer’s name, agent (if any), if the audition was recorded, actual call time, and wait time. Have you ever received payment for a Virtual Audition wait time over one hour? ¨

Yes: 1.3% (7)

No: 98.7% (536)

Question 13b:

“Do you trust producers to maintain accurate records, instead of performers signing themselves in and out of Virtual Auditions?”

Yes, I trust them all: 6.3% (34)

Yes, I trust some: 26.9% (146)

No, I only trust a few: 27.6% (150)

No, I don trust any: 39.2% (213)

Question 14:

“Should performers be able to track when their Self Tapes have been A) received and/or B) watched by casting?”

Question 15:

“Per the 2023 TV/Theatrical contract, performers are owed compensation if they are required to memorize lines in advance of an Audition (in-person or virtual). If you received an Audition request (in-person or virtual) that explicitly required you to be memorized / off-book, how comfortable would you be filing a claim for compensation?”

Very Comfortable: 22.3% (121)

Somewhat Comfortable: 17.3% (94)

Somewhat Uncomfortable: 21.7% (118)

Very Uncomfortable: 21.5% (117)

Would not file: 17.1% (93)

Question 16:

“Per the 2023 TV/Theatrical contract, Self-Tapes do not warrant compensation. But performers are owed compensation if they are required to memorize lines in advance of an In-Person or Virtual Audition. Do you think the same should apply for Self-Tapes?”

Yes: 67.4% (366)

Maybe: 14.2% (77)

No: 9.6% (52)

Not Sure: 8.8% (48)

Question 17:

“Which Casting Platforms are you currently subscribed to? (select all that apply)”

Question 18:

“To which Casting Platforms do you pay a subscription fee? (select all that apply)”

Question 19:

“Approximately how much do you pay annually in casting platform subscription fees?”

Question 20:

“Of the casting platforms you are subscribed to, which do you find to be least necessary?¨

Question 21:

“Do you agree SAG-AFTRA should develop its own casting platform or self-tape submission platform that protects their data and tracks submissions”

Strongly Agree: 68.3% (371)

Somewhat Agree: 17.9% (97)

Neither Agree nor Disagree: 8.7% (47)

Somewhat Disagree: 2.9% (16)

Strongly Disagree: 2.2% (12)

Question 22a:

¨Do you subscribe to any Digital Transfer Services (such as WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, Hightail, Amazon Storage etc) to submit self-tapes?¨

Yes: 82.1% (446)

No: 17.9% (97)

Question 22b:

¨Do you pay to subscribe to these services?¨

Yes, all: 18.2% (99)

Yes, some: 33.5% (182)

No, none: 48.3% (262)

Question 22c:

“Approximately how much do you pay annually to subscribe to these services?¨

Question 22d:

“Would you pay for these services even if you didn’t use them to send self-tapes?”

Yes: 13.8% (75)

Maybe: 14.5% (79)

No: 58.4% (317)

Not Sure: 13.3% (72)

Question 23:

“Do you pay for Audition/Self-Tape specific classes, workshops, or coaching?”

Yes, often: 21.7% (118)

Occasionally: 44.2% (240)

No: 34.1% (185)

Question 24:

“Do you pay for Casting Director Workshops or Casting Director taught classes?”

Yes: 44.2% (240)

No: 55.8% (303)

Question 25:

“How do you network with Casting Directors?”

Question 26:

“Have you ever attended a class or workshop through the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory?”

Yes: 48.3% (262)

No: 51.7% (281)

Question 27:

“Have you ever attended a class or workshop through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation?”

Question 28:

“Have you ever utilized a free SAG-AFTRA workshop to network with Casting Directors? ”

Yes: 59.3% (322)

No: 40.7% (221)

Yes: 46% (250)

No: 54% (293)

Question 29:

“Where do you get most of your entertainment industry specific news and information?”

Question 30:

“Right now,  the industry feels (pick from range of 1 - VERY SLOW to 7 - VERY BUSY )”

Question 31:

“I feel hopeful and optimistic about my film and TV career.”

Strongly Agree: 14.4% (78)

Somewhat Agree: 23.2% (126)

Neither Agree / Disagree: 16% (87)

Somewhat Disagree: 26.9% (146)

Strongly Disagree: 19.5% (106)

Question 32:

“I trust that my agents / representatives are financially responsible and honest when receiving payments on my behalf.¨

Strongly Agree: 55.8% (303)

Somewhat Agree: 21.5% (117)

Neither Agree / Disagree: 13.8% (75)

Somewhat Disagree: 5.3% (29)

Strongly Disagree: 3.5% (19)

Question 33:

“I trust that my agents / representatives are sending me real self-tape requests, and not fake requests to make me feel busy.¨

Strongly Agree: 71.6% (389)

Somewhat Agree: 14.4% (78)

Neither Agree / Disagree: 10.1% (55)

Somewhat Disagree: 2.2% (12)

Strongly Disagree: 1.7% (9)

Question 34:

“The SAG and AFTRA Franchise Agreements with the Association of Talent Agents (ATA) expired in 2002. Is it important to you that SAG-AFTRA have an enforceable franchise agreement with the ATA to regulate the relationship between performers and their representatives?¨

Very Important: 66.7% (362)

Somewhat Important: 24.3% (132)

Somewhat Unimportant: 3.1% (17)

Very Unimportant: 0.4% (2)

Does Not Matter: 5.5% (30)

Question 35:

“I currently have representation.¨

Question 36:

“I feel I understand the rights, protections, and provisions in the SAG-AFTRA contracts.¨

Yes: 91.0% (494)

No: 9.0% (49)

Strongly Agree: 17.7% (96)

Somewhat Agree: 53.0% (288)

Neither Agree / Disagree: 10.1% (55)

Somewhat Disagree: 16.2% (88)

Strongly Disagree: 2.9% (16)

Question 37:

“I identify as:”

Question 38:

“My age ( not acting age range) :”

Question 39:

“My  ethnic background is:”

Question 40:

¨If it applies, what is your SAG-AFTRA local?¨

The Performer Community Check-In Poll © was created by and is the property of Auditions Are Work. The poll and all resulting data shall be attributed as such.