PROFESSIONAL MEMBER APPLICATION

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS RECEIVE:

• Appear in our directory of sound designers, operators, technicians, RF engineers, No.1's thro No.4's, dep's, composers, music programmers
• Access to all training sessions we organise, and receive travel assistance if applicable
• Access to our online seminar archive of previous training sessions
• Access to all our social events
• Access our private email discussion forum and closed Facebook group
• Receive our printed magazine The Echo 
• Receive our monthly e-newsletter The Herald with news relevant to the sound community
• Have full voting rights in all polls and elections, and elibility to stand as an ASD board member
• 25% off premium Mandy (previously known as Stage Jobs Pro membership
• Access to our Equipment Loan Scheme (after 12 months of membership)
• Access our ASD Benefits scheme
• Add on our £10 million Public Liability and £1 million Professional Indemnity Insurance for an extra £50, pro-rated according to how much of the membership year is left

This membership level is for people who make a full or partial living from the UK theatre, entertainment and conference industry as Sound Designers/Sound Engineers including the design, installation, repair, servicing, preperation and operation of sound systems, the recording of sound effects, the teaching/mentoring of these activities or as a manager/technician in the theatre.

We ask applicants to provide evidence of your work, such as a CV or list of credits. We would expect this to show, for example, evidence of long-term employment, whether on one production, at a venue or institution; OR at least 3 short-term professional engagements within the last year. If you feel you belong to this category but these criteria exclude you, please email us and we’ll be happy to discuss your application.

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE - £10 MILLION COVERAGE
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE - £1 MILLION COVERAGE

Provided by Performance Insurance. Professional Members can purchase this add-on to receive cover by paying an extra £50, pro-rated according to how much of the membership year is left.

Please check the full details of the policy here to check it suits your needs.

The policy runs from 1st December 2022 - 31st August 2023. 

EQUIPMENT LOAN SCHEME

Professional members are eligible to use our equipment loan scheme to borrow a range of equipment. However your eligibility will not start until you have been a member of the ASD for at least 12 months. Click here for more details.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE

If you are a UK-based ASD member living more than 50 miles from where the ASD are holding a training session, the ASD may pay part of your travel costs to get you there. Professional members may receive 33% of the cost of the price paid for rail travel, up to the cost of 33% of a standard saver return rail fare. If you travel by means other than train, you can submit relevant receipts, but the maximums above will still apply. The scheme does not apply to seminars run at trade shows, i.e. PLASA, ABTT, etc, to seminars run by our members, or to social events. Click here for more details.

ASD BENEFITS

In conjunction with Edenred, we are offering a range of benefits and discounts to our members, including discounts on Apple products, car hire, hotel rooms, travel insurance and a range of other products.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Our terms. conditions and code of conduct are outlined here. You will be asked to agree to them when you join. The ASD withholds the right to vary or withdraw any of these services at any time, without notice. 

DURATION OF MEMBERSHIP & FEES

The membership year runs from September 1st to August 31st.

The fees due per annum for Professional Membership are £60. 

If you join in September or October, you will be charged the full rate to carry your membership through to the following September 1st. If you join between November and August your membership fee will be calculated pro-rata until the following September 1st. 

If you are self-employed or a company, the cost of ASD membership may be tax deductible as a professional subscription.

Your membership will automatically renew each year, and you will be asked to sign up for recurring payments. You will be sent an invoice at the start of the next membership year. If you wish to cancel your membership please contact us at any time.

THE JOINING PROCESS

YYou can apply to join at the bottom of this page where you will be taken to our member portal website.

You will be asked to fill out your personal information which will form your public profile in our published directories, and agree to our terms, conditions and code of conduct. Your payment will then be processed. 

You will receive an automated email from us asking you to provide proof of professional status. Once received your application will be reviewed, usually within 48 hours of receipt. Once accepted your access to the website will be activated, and you will be added to our email forum. You will then also be able to join our Facebook group.

If we don't hear from you, or we feel you don't meet the criteria for a category we will email you to discuss other membership categories you could join, or fully refund your money.