Stage Directors and Choreographers Society is the theatrical labor union for professional stage Directors and Choreographers. Member representatives of the organization collectively bargain contracts with producer organizations, thus creating the national standards for professional stage direction and choreography. The organization has an office in New York City which services approximately 1950 Members and 625 Associates . An Executive Board, elected from the Membership, oversees negotiations and sets policy. SDC holds Membership meetings twice a year in New York City, twice a year in Los Angeles and throughout the year in other parts of the country.
You can apply for SDC Membership or Associate Membership by filling out a Membership Application form and emailing it or mailing it to us. Download the form here.
BENEFITS AT A GLANCE
SDC Membership
- Protection under all SDC employment contracts
- SDC monthly e-Newsletter
- Subscription to quarterly SDC Journal magazine
- Invitations to industry panel discussions and exchanges
- Free or discounted access to most Foundation programs
- Potential to qualify for SDC-League Pension and Health benefits (see requirements below)
- Negotiated Member only discounts including health clubs, car rentals, hotels, books.
SDC Associate Membership
- Access to the SDC Contract Desks for advice and support
- SDC monthly e-Newsletter
- Subscription to quarterly SDC Journal magazine
- Invitations to industry panel discussions and exchanges
- Free or discounted access to most Foundation programs
- Negotiated Member only discounts including health clubs, car rentals, hotels, books.
SDC MEMBERSHIP
SDC Membership is available to directors and/or choreographers who provide proof of professional credits, which the Union defines as jobs on productions with union affiliations. Members receive our monthly e-Newsletter with important Union news, SDC Journal – our quarterly publication that gives voice to an empowered collective of Directors and Choreographers working in all jurisdictions and venues across the country, encouraging advocacy, and highlighting artistic achievement – invitations to panel discussions and exchanges and one-on-one live interviews with top theatre professionals, a listing in and access to our Online Directory, and direct access to our Foundation programs (including Broadway and regional Observerships and Fellowships). Specially negotiated discounts for health club memberships, car rentals, hotels, industry related books and more.
The most important benefit of Membership is the protection provided by SDC contracts. In the interest of insuring a Member’s right of first refusal, property rights and other basic contract protections, SDC’s Work Rules state that Members must work under contract whenever and wherever they direct or choreograph. The Union has promulgated contracts for Members who wish to work for Employers for whom a collectively bargained agreement does not apply. These contracts are the Tier Contract, the Regional Commercial Agreement and the Special Contract. Please refer to the Contracts page for more information about these contracts and where they apply.
Full Members pay an initiation fee of $1,600 and yearly dues of $200, plus an assessment of 2.5% on all fees and royalties earned under SDC contracts.
SDC ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
SDC Associate Membership is available to early career directors and/or choreographers, college and university professionals and community theatre artists. Like Members, Associates receive monthly e-Newsletter with important Union news, SDC Journal – our quarterly publication that gives voice to an empowered collective of Directors and Choreographers working in all jurisdictions and venues across the country, encouraging advocacy, and highlighting artistic achievement – Online Directory privileges, and direct access to our panels and exchanges as well as the Foundation programs. Specially negotiated discounts for health club memberships, car rentals, hotels, industry related books and more. Associates are encouraged to call the administrative offices for contract advice, boiler-plate contract text and standard minimums. The primary difference between Members and Associates is that Associates may not file SDC contracts, and as a result when working, Associates are not covered by basic contract protections and do not qualify for pension and health benefits. The initiation fee for Associates $325 and yearly dues are $75, significantly less than that of Members. An Associate’s initiation payment will be applied toward their Member initiation payment when they upgrade.
A Member’s Health and Pension Benefits are provided under the auspices of the SDC-League Health Fund and the SDC-League Pension Fund , respectively. Members are eligible to participate in the health plan if they are employed under an SDC contract and sufficient employer contributions are made to the SDC-League Health Fund on their behalf. A Member is eligible for a pension once they reach age 65, provided they are “vested,” i.e. they have worked under SDC contracts subject to employer pension contributions in each of five Plan years with no substantial break in service. If all your SDC contracts occurred prior to 9/1/1999, seven-year vesting is in effect.