Union Dues

AGMA’s collective power flows not only from the engagement of its members, but also from the pooling of its members’ resources in the form of union dues. From the employment of a highly skilled professional staff to the negotiation and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements and the education and training of elected union officers, delegates, and the general membership, your union dues help provide the structure and the people to support you, the membership, as you fight to improve your lives and industries. If you have worked under an AGMA contract, or are currently or about to work under an AGMA contract, and have not yet submitted a membership application, please click here to apply.

How Much Does It Cost To Join AGMA?

$150

$100 Basic Annual Dues for the current year
$50 initial installment toward initiation fee
Registration for a monthly Installment Plan to pay off your Initiation Fee (by setting up automatic recurring payments for a minimum of $50 per month, which can be paused during any months you are not working under an AGMA CBA)

The initial cost to join AGMA and become a member in good standing is $150. This represents the $100 Basic Dues for the current year plus the first installment of $50 toward AGMA’s Initiation Fee. You must register for an Installment Plan (by authorizing automatic recurring payments of a minimum of $50 per month) to be considered an AGMA Member in good standing.

See below for complete details on AGMA’s dues structure.

Note: AGMA Members must have a Membership Application on file to be considered a member in good standing.

AGMA Dues Structure

Initiation Fee

$1,000

Payment Plan Option

Minimum of $50 Per Month
(i.e 5% of your initiation fee per month)

As an AGMA member, you pay a one-time Initiation Fee of $1,000, one of the lowest among performing arts unions. This Initiation Fee will be reduced by 50% for artists joining AGMA who are working in a newly organized company or who are members in good standing of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) or the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

This fee can be paid off in installments of $50 per month (i.e. 5% of your initiation fee per month). Please note that Initiation Fee installment payments are only required during months in which you are working under an AGMA contract, and as long as you remain current on your payments, you remain a member of AGMA in good standing. If you would like to set up an Installment Plan, please visit our Initiation Fee Installment Plan webpage.

Payment of your Initiation Fee or registration for an Installment Plan should be arranged within one week of the first rehearsal of your first AGMA job.

Basic Dues

$100 per year

Billed Annually
Due on January 1 of each year

Basic Dues are the annual minimum payment that all AGMA members make to support the continuing operation of their union.

All AGMA members pay Basic Dues in the amount of $100 per year. Basic Dues are billed annually and are due on January 1 of each year. Dues can easily be submitted online by logging into your MyAGMA account.

Please ensure that your Basic Dues are submitted in a timely fashion to avoid any suspension of your membership.

Working Dues

2% of the first $100,000 of gross annual AGMA income

Maximum of $2,000 per year
Deducted directly from your paychecks

Working Dues are the payments that all AGMA members make when they are working under an AGMA contract.

All AGMA members working under an AGMA contract will have 2% of the first $100,000 of gross annual AGMA income (maximum of $2,000 per year) deducted from their paychecks and remitted by the employer to AGMA, according to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Submitting Payment

How To Pay Your Dues & Initiation Fee

Pay Online
You can pay your Dues and Initiation Fee online, through the MyAGMA Portal under “My Payments” or “Make a Payment.” This requires you to have access to MyAGMA. The AGMA Membership Department will provide you with MyAGMA Account registration details following submission and approval of your AGMA Membership Application.

To speak to a membership representative

Email membership@musicalartists.org or call 212-265-3687 ext. 2.

Reciprocal Agreements with Sibling Unions

In order to take advantage of either Sibling Union Reciprocal Agreement discounts, you must present your Sibling Union Membership Card upon submission of your AGMA Membership Application to membership@musicalartists.org.

Join Membership With The Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

A reciprocal arrangement allows AGMA members who have been in good standing for at least one year and who have worked under an AGMA contract to be eligible to join Equity. Both AGMA and Equity members in good standing are permitted to attend each unions’ auditions.

Additionally, Actors’ Equity members in good standing will have their AGMA initiation fee reduced by 50% – meaning the total AGMA initiation fee becomes $500.

Join Membership With The Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC)

A reciprocal arrangement allows a prospective AGMA member who is an active member in good standing of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC) to join AGMA at a reduced cost. Members in good standing at SDC will have their AGMA initiation fee reduced by 50% – meaning the total AGMA initiation fee becomes $500.

Questions about Dues?

Please reach out to your AGMA Staff Representative with questions or inquiries regarding any aspect of membership classification, the Initiation Fee, Basic Dues, or Working Dues. You can also reach out to the Membership Department at (212) 265-3687 or (800) 543- 2462, or email membership@musicalartists.org.

Suspension From Membership

Please note that as of January 1, 2022, individuals whose membership has been suspended for four (4) or more years will be removed from AGMA’s membership rolls. An individual who has been removed from AGMA’s rolls will be treated as a new member in the event they reapply for membership and required to fill out a Membership Application and pay AGMA’s $1,000 initiation fee.