There are many:

Professional Recognition

• Recognition as an established, practicing theatre consultant, and the depth of experience and qualifications that you bring to the table.
• Membership in an established, respected, and growing professional society
• Listing and contact information provided on the member roster on the ASTC website.
• Use of the designation “ASTC” in professional credentials (not applicable to Associates)
• Use of the ASTC logo in business materials (not applicable to Associates).
• A framed Certificate of Membership and lapel pin (not applicable to Associates).

Professional Resources

• Networking with peer ASTC members.
• Ongoing sharing of experiences and knowledge among members.
• Access to a “Members Only” portion of the ASTC website and an internal email and message board to ask questions or share information with other ASTC members.

Professional Development

• Member Forum meetings featuring peer discussions, venue tours, and informational sessions with guest participants, including theatre operators and subject matter experts.
• Professional growth through support of the Society’s working Committees

Professional Service

• Service to the ASTC and the theatre consulting profession though committee work, including Communications and Publications, Codes and Standards, Conferences, Outreach and Education, and Membership.
• Service to the profession and the industry as a whole through ASTC publications, white papers, advocacy, and participation in the development of building codes and standards.
• Service to the industry through ASTC sponsored presentations and activities at other professional conferences such as USITT, IAVM, LDI, NATEAC, etc.

In general, you must have been a practicing professional Theatre Consultant for five years, derive your principal income from theatre consulting, have completed no less than five substantial projects, and have no commercial affiliation with any company that sells, manufactures, or installs theatre equipment. You will also need two current ASTC members as Sponsors.

At the time of application, qualifying individuals must live and work in North America. North America includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Only practicing Theatre Consultants are eligible to join the Society. Associates must also be practicing Theatre Consultants, but may not meet the five project minimum. An Associate is expected to do so within three years of their application. Associates’ fees and related benefits are limited.

You must first acquire the sponsorship of two current ASTC members. They will guide you through the process and verify your qualifications. If you do not know any current members, but feel you qualify to submit an application, the ASTC Membership Committee will assign you two ASTC Member volunteers to act as sponsors. Your Sponsors will request, on your behalf, that application materials to be sent to you from the Membership Committee.

Sponsors should have direct knowledge of your body of work and will guide you through the application process. Your Sponsors will review the portfolio of projects you are providing to ensure that they meet application and qualifications requirements.

Your application will be reviewed by the Membership Committee. You may be asked to provide additional information, or participate in a telephone interview. The Membership Committee then sends its recommendation to the ASTC Board of Directors who make the final decision on membership applications. Your application may also be subject to review by the entire membership.

The Membership Committee will notify you and your Sponsors in writing either by email and/or by letter.

Individuals who have served as project managers or systems designers may be eligible, provided that the projects they worked on were substantial in scope and that they were responsible for consultation with the client, and were directly involved in recommendations, project management, and implementation of the systems they, or others under them, have designed. Your specific project history and depth of cross-discipline experience will be taken into consideration.

Projects that have been built and have had beneficial use by the Owner are considered completed projects. Feasibility Studies or Master Plans for projects not yet constructed do not qualify.

The ASTC is a professional society made up of individuals, not companies. Several ASTC members may work for the same firm. Sole practitioners are welcome. Firms or companies are not eligible for ASTC membership.

You may be eligible for Associate status if it is reasonably determined that you would meet full eligibility requirements within three years of the date of your application. If, after three years, you still don’t meet the requirements for Membership, your Associate status will be terminated and you will be required to reapply for Membership at a later time, when you become qualified.

You need to apply for Membership as you did originally, with updated application form, materials, and Sponsor Letters. We suggest you save all your original application materials and update them as needed, verifying your qualifications as a potential Member.

Applications must be received by the ASTC’s Membership Committee no later than 30 days prior to a meeting of the general membership to be considered at that meeting. Meetings of the general membership occur twice a year. Since general membership meeting dates vary from year to year, your Sponsors should check with the ASTC Membership Committee about the next application deadline.

As of January 1, 2021, there is an initiation fee of $850, billed at time of your acceptance as full member. Annual dues are $650 per year. Annual membership runs from January 1 to December 31. During the first partial year of your membership, annual dues are prorated by month from the time you are accepted as a member. Associates must pay the annual fee, but the initiation fee is waived until such time that the Associate becomes a Member.

You may contact the ASTC Membership Committee here: applicants@theatreconsultants.org