#4 – Don’t make this common audition monologue mistake!
This is the final video of the series of 4 all about your college audition monologue!
Okay, I’m excited to share this final tip because it is so important. Like, make it or break it. I almost cannot think of a time I didn’t give this note when coaching a student on a monologue, so I know how important it is to make sure you all really get this.
You have to know who you are talking to and why. The fastest way to make an audience go to sleep is to talk to the air.
You may think you know who you are talking to, but unless you understand who that person is to you emotionally, what your point of view about them is and why you are talking to them, it is pointless. Doing a monologue is just like doing a scene, except you must create the other person (or people) with your imagination. How do they react to the things you say? Are they looking away from you when you are trying to capture their attention?
If the monologue says you are speaking to the audience, as is sometimes the case in Shakespeare, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to create a relationship. They are still trying to get something accomplished. Decide why they are talking to the audience. Maybe your character really needs their help to figure something out so enroll them. Bounce ideas off them. Use them.
It is also important to note here that it is not a good idea to use the actual people in the room you are auditioning for to speak to in the monologue. Very occasionally someone may ask you to look directly at them, but unless they do, choose other points in the room to speak to before you begin the monologue. It tends to make people feel on the spot or uncomfortable.
Don’t forget to check out the first three in the series:
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