Geographic Requirements
If you work in Live Performance as a Scenic Designer, Associate Scenic Designer, or Assistant Scenic Designer, proceed with the pathways below.
If you work in Motion Picture, Television, or Commercials as a Production Designer, Art Director, Set Designer, Model Maker, Illustrator, or Storyboard Artist and are located outside of the New York City metropolitan area, please contact the Motion Picture Department at mopic@usa829.org.
Membership Pathways
Professional Membership
Certain individuals hired under USA 829 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) may make application for membership, and some are actually required to do so. For Scenic Designers, Local USA 829 currently has CBAs that cover employment in the following areas: Broadway, Off-Broadway, LORT, Network Television, Metropolitan & Regional Operas, Major Ballet, Feature Films and Television, and AICP Commercials. Professionals who are employed under one of these CBAs prior to joining must make application for membership.
To apply, contact the Motion Picture Department at mopic@usa829.org OR the Live Performance Department at livedesignjob@usa829.org as soon as possible.
Contact the Motion Picture Department Contact the Live Performance Department
Examination Review
The Examination Review is designed to ensure that those with sufficient experience and ability within their respective crafts are granted membership through a fair, transparent, and consistent process. To that end, the Review includes standardized requirements for the submission of applicants, industry references, and other supporting documentation providing qualifying information required to support the application.
The candidate review process may include Skills Assessments and Work History Assessments, or a combination thereof.
Scenic Designer Exam Information Access Online Application Portal
Organizing
You can also join the Local through participation in organizing. Those who seek representation by USA 829 at their current employer and assist in achieving a new collectively bargained agreement are offered membership and the Executive Board is empowered to reduce fees in such situations.
If you and your coworkers are interested in union representation, contact Local USA 829 Organizer Natalie Robin.
Contact the Organizer
Live Performance Membership Candidate Programs
The Broadway, Off-Broadway, and LORT Design Membership Candidate Programs provide on the job training to early career, non-member designers by allowing them to work alongside experienced designers in the work of the department and for them to acquire the skills needed to work professionally.
Want more information?
Broadway Design Membership Candidate Side Letter FAQ
Off-Broadway League Membership Candidate (MC) Program 101
LORT Design Membership Candidate Program (for DMCs on A through D Stages)
For a full copy of these Agreements and Side Letters, please visit our Contracts page
Financial Obligations
Upon successful admission into the Local, members are required to pay an Initiation Fee of $3,500. There is a rebate of $2,000 for anyone admitted through the Examination Pathway. In addition, there are First Quarter USA 829 dues and fees and an IATSE per capita tax totaling approximately $330.
Every quarter, Local USA 829 Designers and Scenic Artists must pay dues. These are a combination of Per Capita dues to IATSE ($61), USA 829 Quarterly Dues ($49.40), the USA 829 Organizing Fund ($8), the Sick & Benefit Fund ($1.50), and the USA 829 Death Benefit ($1.50 for each member who passes away in the billing quarter). In total, without the Death Benefit calculation, quarterly dues are $119.90. Members shall receive email invoices during the first weeks of January, April, July, and October.
For covered union employment, members are obligated to pay 2% checkoff dues in addition to the above quarterly dues and assessments. In many cases, members can authorize checkoff dues to automatically be deducted from their paychecks. This is standard practice in scenic shops, on Broadway, and in film and television where a payroll house is often involved.