FAQs & HOW TO's

1. Auditors are referred friends of current Collaborative Contract Members, Pre-members, or Alumni. Auditors may also be referred by other Collab guests such as industry professionals associated with The Collaborative. Walk ups are not permitted. Only referrals in which an introduction has been made directly by one of our Members at large or industry guests to our admin OR class Coordinator will be considered for auditing.

2. If a Member wishes to bring an Auditor to their class, that Member must make a request to the no later than 24 hours in advance. Auditing any one class is not guaranteed and will be based on class size and industry guest preference.

3. Auditors referred by Members who cannot participate in a given class or industry professional must be connected via an introduction email by said Member/industry professional to our admin (admin@the-collaborative.net) to schedule availability. 

4. Auditors may come to exactly (1) in person or zoom class. They should be identified by the Coordinator in the beginning of class and double checked that we have their contact info. Coordinators should note their presence and their contact information in the class report.

5. The Auditor can not participate in any way (scene work/discussions/Q&A) during the class and is strictly there for observation and should be informed as such by the Hosting Member and/or Coordinator.

6. Questions from the Auditor should be directed to the Hosting Member, other Collab Members, the Coordinator, or their direct referred contact, but without interrupting the class (so before or after class).

7. Class availability for auditing will be dependent on class size with a max of (2) per class of 10 or less and a max of (3) for classes of 11 or more.

8. Hosting Members should make Auditors aware of being on time/punctual as (15 minutes before class or before) as late Auditors will not be allowed into class.

Let's say you are going to a class during the month, and you want to bring your actor friend to watch.

First thing is fill out the AUDITOR REQUEST FORM which will collect all pertinent information and it will notify the Membership Experience Manager. This request should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the class. (please note: if your request is made before 24 hours but after 48 hours before class you MUST text the MEM to alert them). The MEM will then gather the information and if the Auditor is approved for class, a confirmation email will be sent to the Auditor and you (as the Hosting Member) and the Class Coordinator will be cc’d. Please read over all the information. Do NOT give the visitor contact info to any of our members outside of Collaborative official emails of the board or administration. 

While your friend is visiting as an Auditor, you (the Hosting Member) are responsible for them. The Auditor is not allowed to participate in the performance or Q&A. Rather they are meant to be strictly an observer. Any thoughts or questions they have should be directed to or fielded through you.

While it is best to make every effort to attend WITH your guest, it will be possible for your friend to attend a class without you.

Let’s say your friend wants to audit, but you are not participating for the given month or your friend is unable to attend a class with you. In this case, fill out the AUDITOR REQUEST FORM.  Follow that up by emailing the MEM (admin@the-collaborative.net) and include the friend in that email along with an introduction. The MEM will connect them to a class by giving them the time and date, and let them know who the coordinator is so they can look for them upon arrival. In these cases, the Auditor will be hosted by the Class Coordinator on the day. Once again, never give an Auditor the personal contact info of any of our members. 

(If MEM is emailing this form.  Booking@will be cc’d on the email.  When confirmation email is sent, MEM will send to Auditor and cc:  Hosting Member, Coordinator and bcc: Booking@)

After the class is finished, hopefully your visitor will want to audition and join themselves. 

You should encourage them to follow up with: 

- our administrator admin@the-collaborative.net with questions OR 

- our audition chair auditions@the-collaborative.net to set up an audition OR 

- you can guide them to the website yourself with the audition info.
Helpful links to share:

INTERESTED IN AUDITIONING?

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP

https://forms.gle/TQxvjxU3371JsDvX6

If you are an active Contract Member or active Subletter Member, you will be sent an email on the evening of the 22nd of every month alerting you that the Calendar for the following month will be going live at 12pm PST on the 23rd of the month. On the 23rd at 12pm PST you may sign up for no more than 3 classes (if you sign up for a 2-week class that will count as 2 classes). The waitlist will not be open on the 23rd.  On the 26th of the month at 9am PST you may then sign up or put yourself on a waitlist for any classes you please.

IMPORTANT:  The class lists are audited on the 24th & 25th.  Any member who has signed up for more than 3 classes will be removed from the last class(es) they signed up for and will be notified by email.

The waitlists for classes open up on the 26th of every month. At that time you can put yourself on any waitlist you choose and you can continue to put yourself on waitlist AFTER the 26th as well.

Look at the bottom the class page to see a list (in order of sign up) of members on the waitlist for the given class.  The list is in order from left to right.

Waitlists stay open and active until:

• 6 hours before weekday classes (*Excludes Paired Prepared & Guest provided sides)

• 7:30pm PST on Friday for weekend classes. (*Excludes Paired Prepared & Guest provided sides)

IMPORTANT: 

The cutoff to enroll in a class does NOT coincide with the cancellation deadline. If you are first on the waitlist you may get on a class roster 6 hours prior to a weekday class or up until 7:30pm Friday for a Saturday class/7:30pm Saturday for a Sunday class . You must be prepared to take that class or will be charged a fee for cancelling late. If you are on a waitlist, you can be added to a class on the day-of that class. With an average class where the actor provides their own scene, members can enroll on the website up to 6 hours prior to that class. For weekend classes the cut-off is 7:30p PST on Friday. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

First, make sure you really want to be in the class you are considering waitlisting for.  You may end up getting six hours notice if you are first on a waitlist! So you need to be ready to go.

Second, There is a small calendar icon on each class page. Click on that icon to add that class to (.ics file) to your calendar. Do this whether you are on the class roster OR on the waitlist.  

Click here for a tips and tricks tutorial on saving calendar events to remind you of upcoming classes: COMING SOON!

How do I cancel a class? How late can I cancel a class?

To cancel a class: 

• Log in to your Collaborative account, 

• Go to the My Events page and 

• Under ACTIONS drop down menu. Select Cancel. Click GO.

• A green box should appear confirming your cancellation.

• Please check that the class on your Events page:

shows a GRAY BAR and REGISTRATION TYPE reads CANCELLED.

You have completed removing yourself from the class roster.

You should also receive an automated email saying that you have cancelled class.

PLEASE NOTE:  You will incur a Late Cancellation fee of $15 for any class that you cancel AFTER the cancellation deadline specified on the class page.  If you do not cancel a class at all and do NOT show up for the class you will incur a $30 No Call/No Show fine of $30. Please see next question.

What does Late Cancellation and No Call/No Show mean and how much is the fee?

If you do not cancel a class through the website by the cancellation deadline listed on the class page, you will incur a $15 late cancellation fee.

If you do not cancel your class through the website at all and do not contact the Coordinator and do not attend the class (No Call/No Show) you will be fined $30. If you forget to cancel via the website but DO contact the Coordinator BEFORE the start of class you will only incur the $15 late cancellation fee, however you must still cancel via the website. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

Do I have to pay the Late cancellation fee or No Call/No Show fine if: I’m sick? Book a job? Have a really big audition? It’s my grandma’s birthday?

Yes. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website. Emails to members who have incurred a Late Cancellation fee or No Call/No Show fine go out by the second week of the month for fees incurred in the previous month.

How do I take myself off of a class waitlist?

• Go to www.the-collaborative.net and sign in

• Click on Membership Account and then My Events

• Go to the class you wish to remove yourself from the waitlist

• Under the heading ACTIONS. Click on the 'circled x' symbol

• A window will pop up saying you have been removed.

• Please check that the class on your Events page:

  • • shows a RED BAR and REGISTRATION TYPE reads DECLINED.

You have completed removing yourself from the waitlist.

IMPORTANT: 

The cutoff to enroll in a class does NOT coincide with the cancellation deadline. If you are on the waitlist you may get on a class roster 6 hours prior to a weekday class or up until 7:30pm Friday for a Saturday class/7:30pm Saturday for a Sunday class. You must be prepared to take that class or will be charged a fee for cancelling late. If you are on a waitlist, you can be added to a class on the day-of that class. With an average class where the actor provides their own scene, members can enroll on the website up to 6 hours prior to that class. For weekend classes the cut-off is 7:30p PST on Friday. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

Call time for all classes is 15 minutes before class start time.  This is for all members.  If you are going to be late for call time you MUST contact the Class Coordinator BEFORE the 15 minute call time. For Casting Professional-led classes there will be a $5 fine for any member who shows up late to call time and does not contact the Class Coordinator, so keep those phone numbers handy! For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

If you call/text the class coordinator, your seat is held until the end of the Q&A (Q&A lasts approximately 15 minutes). 

If you arrive past Q&A or when active work begins, you cannot participate in the class. 

If you do not call the coordinator and you arrive AFTER the actor call time, your seat may be given away to any actor on standby. If you do not call the coordinator and you arrive AFTER the start of class, you will not be permitted to enter the class. 

For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

All members are highly encouraged to stay for the duration of the class. However, things come up. Last minute audition or early call time the following day?  So, if a member must leave early due to extenuating circumstances you MUST alert the coordinator PRIOR TO CALL TIME if your scene needs to be scheduled early in the line-up.

It is STRONGLY suggested you NOT BE A READER for anyone else. 

If you fail to alert the coordinator prior to call time...there is no guarantee that you will be able to perform your scene early -- period.

Following this protocol helps our member coordinators prepare fully BEFORE call time allowing them to serve the class, the guest and themselves (as active participants) without any unnecessary pivoting or stress.

Paired Cold Reading:

A guest provides sides and pairs up members during class to perform.

Guest Provided One on One Prepared:

A guest provides material to the class to prepare ahead of time. You must choose a reader from class ahead of time

Guest Provided Paired Prepared:

A guest provides material and pairs members up to prepare ahead of time.

Prepared One on One:

Members choose their scene to prepare ahead of time (not to exceed 3 minutes). You must choose a reader from class ahead of time

 Paired Prepared:

Members pair up and find a scene to do together and rehearse ahead of time (not to exceed 6 minutes).

NOTE FOR ALL SCENES (except cold readings)

● Scenes should be completely memorized/off book, no direct reading from the script.

● Scenes should be staged and fully rehearsed.

● DO NOT choose scenes from projects that currently are in the audition process or unaired for liability and potential non-disclosure purposes.

● Members are encouraged NOT to choose scenes from a project the Guest is currently working on.

  ● Sides should be one fluid scene and seem seamless and have a beginning, middle and end.

● The time limits will be strictly adhered to. (3 min. limit for One on one/6 min. limit for Paired Prepared)

For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

For ACTOR CHOICE Paired Prepared classes, you must have your partner ready to go (this means, your partner must ALSO sign up for the class when you do). There will be a link to a google sheet where you must input you and your scene partner AND the scene you will be performing.  

IMPORTANT:

An email is sent every 22nd of the month regarding the Calendar going live and will give the dates/times of any Paired Prepared classes so that you may call scene partners to plan ahead.  An audit of any paired prepared class will be conducted on the 27th of the month. If you sign up without a partner and/or your partner is not added to the spreadsheet by the 26th of the month, be advised that you will be removed from that class roster and be notified of that removal by email.

If the class is NOT a cold read class then…YES.  While we allow sides to be close by or in hand, it is only for purposes of notes and redirection. Members will be contacted by The Collaborative if they are seen referring to their sides too much and especially if they seem under rehearsed or NOT prepared.

A link to a class's Self Tape Grid will be available on any class page that requires a self tape.  The Grid is a google sheet where you will input your name, role and the project along with a link to your self tape. Please make sure this link goes directly to your self tape. The easiest way to do this is with a vimeo or youtube link.  Note: the self tape library is no longer in use.

Please remember:

• Your link is due by the Cancellation Deadline (unless otherwise stated on the class page)

• The Self Tape Grid will not be available to members after the deadline. Thus if you haven't provided a link, your material WILL NOT get seen.

• Your self tape must be 3 minutes or less.

• If you accidentally muck up someone else's info on the grid (hit the undo button). If you need assistance please make sure you let the admin AND the person who's entry you messed up, know about it.

• Check to make sure your link WORKS!

• Watch a tutorial here: Using the Self Tape Grid

Please see below for the most updated Covid Protocols.
Call time is 15 minutes before the start of class. If you will be late for call time or class start time call or text the  Class Coordinator ASAP to avoid fines.
You must check in with the Class Coordinator in the office before heading to the Studio for class.
Be prepared to have a recent headshot and resume to hand to the Coordinator.
Bring a mask.
Please clean up after yourself and keep the space tidy.

Please head HERE to read all about our Cancellation Policies.  You can also find a link to our Cancellation Policies on the website under MEMBER TOOLKIT and in the upper right corner of MY EVENTS PAGE.

What does Late to Call Time mean and how much is the fine?

Late to Call Time is 1 min. or more after the specified Call Time on the class page (usually 15 minutes before start of class).

A $5 fee will be charged to any member who is late to Call Time for a class led by a casting professional and the member does not contact/notify the Class Coordinator BEFORE Call Time.

What does Late Cancellation mean and how much is the fee?

If you cancel out of a class you signed up for AFTER the cancellation deadline (found on the class page), you will incur a $15 fee. If you are on a waitlist for a class and are upgraded to the class roster AFTER the cancellation deadline and you decide you cannot take the class, you will incur a $15 fee.  Please read more about your responsibilities being waitlisted by reading "Removing yourself from a Waitlist" under CANCELLING YOURSELF FROM A CLASS OR A WAITLIST above.

What does No Call/No show mean and how much is the fine?

If you do not cancel your class through the website and do not contact the Coordinator and do not attend the class (no call/no show) you will be fined $30. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

Do I have to pay the late cancellation or no call/no show fee if: I’m sick? Book a job? Have a really big audition? It’s my grandma’s birthday?

Yes. For more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website. Emails to members who have incurred a late cancellation or no call/no show fine go out by the second week of the month for fees incurred in the previous month.

Please read the following regarding Leave of Absence protocols:

The sole purpose of LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA) is to relieve excessive financial strain on Contract Members in need.

• LOA is designed specifically as an alleviation to financial strain for our members, not simply because one is not taking classes that particular month due to work, play, travel, time constraints, etc.

• LOA requests must be submitted in writing (email) officially to admin@the-collaborative.net and must stress financial need in the written request.

• LOA will be forwarded to and approved by the Board.

• LOA's will not exceed 3 months in a Calendar year for any one Contract Member.

• LOA must be requested each month, as members cannot simply say they wish to leave for 3 months straight.

  • LOA requests for a given month should be made the month prior.

  • While there is no set date to send in an LOA request - earlier is always better.

• LOA months do not have to be consecutive, but may be.

• LOA will most likely be granted by the Board if requests do not affect the financial solvency of the organization in a single month.

• LOA requests are processed and granted by the Board on a first come first served basis, all requests being equal or similar reasoning. 

• LOA must be specially approved by the Board if the number of requests exceeds a sizable percentage of membership in a single month. 

• Leave of absence requests can be denied if the number of requests exceeds a certain percentage (based on membership size and financial solvency) in a single month. 

• Please note: MEDICAL LEAVE and MATERNITY/PATERNITY LEAVE are priority and processed differently and determined by the Board on a case by case basis for longevity and need and will be included in the membership calculation when considering LOA’s.

As of January 2024, The Collaborative has put a freeze on Sublet requests from Contract Members until Membership numbers return to capacity or by a vote by the Board of Directors.

My Profile picture is distorted.  How do I fix it?

The picture you provide on our website appears on the handouts our guests receive and on Events (Class) pages when you sign up for classes. (And when you ultimately decide to become a Contract Member, it will appear on the public-facing Our Members page.) Requirements for your profile picture: 

● Pictures must be square files in .png format and must be 500 X 500 pixels. 

● Your face needs to be reasonably centered within that frame. 

● The file should be named Your_Name_Headshot.png 

Have a decent hi-res version of the picture you want to use for your profile pictur and follow the directions found in either of these videos for a tutorial
Profile Picture - Canva Tutorial

Profile Picture - Preview App Tutorial for Mac

I’d like to see a list of all the classes I’m taking. How do I do that?

Go to the-collaborative.net and Log in

Click on Membership Account

Click on Go To My Events

You will see a grid of all the classes you signed up for or waitlisted for. You will also see classes you canceled and waitlists you have removed yourself from.

I need to update my credit card on file. How do I do that?

Go to the-collaborative.net and Log in

Click on Membership Account

Click on Edit Billing Information

If you have any issues, please contact admin@the-collaborative.net

How do I know where I am in the queue on a class waitlist?

Look at the bottom the class page to see a list (in order of sign up) of members on the waitlist for the given class. The list is in order from left to right.

Where do I find a contact list of members?

A monthly updated list of Contract Members and Active Subletters can be found by:

Go to the-collaborative.net and Log in

Click Member Resources

Click Member Toolkit

Click “Click to Access Member Contact List” at the top of page.

OR

Head to the top of this page and Click on ACTIVE MEMBER LIST on the top right.

Who do I contact for ???

Click HERE 

I’d like to talk to my friends/colleagues about The Collaborative; what we do and how to audition. What should I say?

WATCH THIS SPACE!

I have a concern, a question or feedback regarding something at The Collaborative. Who do I contact?
Members who wish to share a concern, suggestion, or any feedback regarding their experience with the organization should feel confident in contacting any of our Board Members and/or emailing concerns@the-collaborative.net & admin@the-collaborative.net.  For details and more information see Standards of Conduct and Operations under Member Toolkit on the website.

As of April 2023 The Collaborative will no longer require a valid vaccination card or a recent negative test in order for members to participate in IN-PERSON classes.  Please always have a mask on hand as we will have the GUEST dictate whether they prefer that people wear masks in class. If the GUEST decides masks are not required, the member may still choose to wear one. Judgement free! PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE COMMUNITY: if you are not feeling well, we ask that you not attend in person classes until you have no symptoms. 

How do I request a sublet for any month?

You may only request one month at a time, and the earliest you can make the request is the 1st of the month prior to the one you're requesting. So, for example, for July the earliest you can email admin@the-collaborative.net for the request would be June 1st. You may not request sublets for multiple months at once. The usual deadline for requesting is the morning of the 15th of the month prior to the one you're requesting. So, for a July request, it’s best to set a reminder for yourself to email admin@the-collaborative.net on June 1st. You will always receive an email from admin@the-collaborative.net that your request has been received and where in the queue you are. For more information: How Sublet Requests Work

How will I know my sublet request has been successful?

The admin will always email you if your request has been successful and a subletter has taken your spot for the selected month.  The majority of these emails usually go out by the 18th of the month, however, you may receive a 'successful request' email as late at the 22nd of the month depending on demand.

What if no one takes my spot after I requested a sublet for a particular month?

If your spot doesn't get filled, you will then be responsible for your dues payment and

are still welcome to browse the calendar and sign up for classes. You will always receive an email from the admin that your request has NOT been successful for the selected month. For more information: How Sublet Requests Work

Can I request a sublet spot after the Calendar goes live?

No. Subletter Members cannot request a spot after the Calendar goes live. Requests can only be made up until the 20th of the month. Spots are limited so it is always prudent to request a spot soon after the ‘sublet email’ goes out on the 15th of the month.