Should You Accept a Local Hire Contract?
If you are fortunate enough to be offered a local hire contract, should you accept it or turn it down? There are different ways to view this offer, but I will share what I have always done in my acting and modeling career.
Advantage of Accepting a Local Hire Contract
Even if you spend money on travel and hotel accommodations, you should still make money from the job. If not, perhaps you could at least ask the producer to pay for mileage to help cover some expenses.
Along with earning money, in addition, you will also get experience in front of a camera, add another credit to your resume and hopefully, get something new for your acting reel.
Disadvantages for Accepting a Local Hire Contract
Not getting paid what you are worth never feels good, but it is not a personal decision. Production is just trying to save money. As long as it makes financial sense, I would never turn a local hire contract.
Learn how to find interesting acting jobs that you did not even know existed.
Watch this video
Role Playing and Standardized Patient work are incredible jobs for actors.
Watch this video with Aaron Marcus and Neva Kraus,
and learn to develop your acting and Improv skills.
In addition to getting paid, Role Playing and Standardized Patient actors get the
chance to work on character development while working at:
Mock trials for law schools
Training and evaluating company employees
Help law enforcement practice dealing with “bad guys” and emergency situations
Work at hospitals to teach medical students and doctors about patient care
BONUSES
Order this workshop today and receive these bonuses
- Access to the membership site to visit the workshop page to get your bonuses and watch the workshop 24/7 at your convenience
- Learn how Standardized Patient work began
- Links with over 70 institutions that hire actors for Standardized Patient work throughout the world
- List of companies that hire Role Players throughout the world
Learn more about Role Playing and Standardized Patient Work – watch this.
About the Author: Aaron Marcus
Aaron Marcus has been a full-time actor and commercial model for over 36 years.
His new book, How to Become a Successful Actor and Model is an Amazon Best Seller.
Aaron has given his seminar: "Book the Job" over 800 times spanning 3 continents.
He also offers online workshops.
Aaron saves 5 days each month to give private on-line coaching sessions.
Subscribe to his Acting and Modeling Quick Tips Channel and have free access to 270 + videos <ahttps://www.youtube.com/c/aaronmarcusactingandmodelingquicktips?sub_confirmation=1.
Great information. I live about two hours from Atlanta and I have been an extra in a few things and the hiring agency has always given a gas bump which has been very helpful. Because I live that far away and there is nothing closer, I am still considered a local hire according to what I was told.
I really appreciate all of the information you send. It is very helpful. Thank you. Have a blessed day.
Bonita, that is great that you are given some extra money due to the distance you are traveling.
Thanks for the comment and the kind note.
Look forward to talking with you again soon.
Aaron
Great information Aaron!
Thank You!
Respectfully,
Terry
You are very welcome Terry.
Have you had to travel for any work recently? And if so, were you given any additional fees for travel?
Aaron
Hi Aaron: Just watched your great youtube video about local hire work. Thank you! I wanted to get some feedback from you on my particular situation please. I am a NYC based SAG actor with a decent resume- including some smaller roles in tv. My cousin lives in Chicago and with all the great content filming there, I made arrangements with her to be able to stay whenever I would like. Her house is not far from one of the major tv and film production studios. My agency recently asked their clients where they could be local hires so I told them Chicago and that I was aware that I might have to pay for all or most of my own transportation and meals. I came to the conclusion that even if its only a co-star/principal role the expenses would be worth the tv/film credit and I’d be able to spend time with my cousin. I also think I am the right “type” for a bulk of these Chicago shows- I fit their tone and the universe the show inhabits. My thought was I might be an attractive option to a show that needed someone like me esp if they could not find a lot of my type in Chicago— plus I cost the same or maybe only a little more. Then….I did some research and started seeing negative feedback on actors in the NY and LA market doing this- traveling to another market to do work. 1) There seems to be the tax issue of working in one state and filing in another- for an actor’s personal taxes and possibly getting the production co. in trouble? 2) SAG doesn’t seem to be happy about it either, that if you accept local hire work and do not live within 500 miles and choose to waive any of the travel provisions, you are weakening the union contract terms? 3) If a production changes shoot dates last minute, I would be responsible for last minute airfare changes, which could be on the pricey side. I did some more research and decided these possible extra costs are worth it to me. However, all this negativity about local hire work got me wondering if this actually happens to non-established NY and LA actors- will CD’s for big shows and films in other markets hire you with the knowledge you are not local but willing to pay your own way? It made me start to think that this situation is only good for someone who can be in that city for an extended period of time. For example, if I actually stayed in Chicago for a few weeks to months. Still– there has to be situations where this works for an actor- as you yourself have had this type of work and felt it was worth it to you professionally and artistically. My agency seems to be for it too esp if they are asking where else you can be a local hire yet know where you actually live. I was going to send out my materials to Chicago CD’s and one here in NY who casts Chicago shows- at the series regular/guest star level. I want to get your feedback before sending something out that could potentially be embarrassing professionally. Thanks in advance! -Confused in NY
Hi. First, thanks for the kind words. Confused, you should sign up on my web site
http://www.howtoactandmodel.org so you can receive free Acting and Modeling Quick Tips from me.
You are asking a lot of great questions. Do you know that the CD in Chicago only hire locally? Even if they only
cast day players who are local hires, if you can (and I don’t know if they will allow you to do this), but maybe you
could audition online and upload your audition to them. At least that way you will never have to travel to Chicago
unless you know you are being seriously considered for a role. You still might have to travel there for call backs. I
find that I have to do that most of the time for projects in Atlanta.
Don’t worry about the tax implications. You might just pay taxes in the city in which you are working. It is possible
(I can’t give you tax advice) but you might be able to file some forms and get that money back.
As far as the Unions go, I feel that if you are willing to make that type of commitment of traveling a long distance,
then give it a shot. Quite often, CD will only cast locals for smaller roles. However, you could ask your agent
to inquire about getting a local modified contract. That way you will get some travel reimbursement.
Best of luck, and let me know what you decide to do.
Aaron