by Suzie Vigon

Created on: December 29, 2006   Last Updated: March 31, 2007

Actors may perform for the love of the art, but most have yet to learn the art of loving the audition. I have lost count of how many actors have told me how they dread the experience. "I love performing, "they will say, "I just don't audition well." The first thing I always remind performers is that the audition, IS a performance. Actors allow themselves to get caught up in wanting the job so bad, that the intimidation factor of being in front of 1-3 people sitting behind a table leaves them like deer caught in the headlights. And yet, truth be told, during the audition, its most likely the smallest audience they will ever perform for. Alas, I can admit with eyes cast the ground; I too, was once one of these lost performers who knew not what they knew not. But alas, I know now! Read on....

The first step is learning to change your perspective. Start by viewing the audition as a 1 minute performance in front of a small, but attentive crowd. Make it about the performance and not about "can I get the job," and you will begin to get out of your own way. The audition is a 60 second show. Now I might point out that the best way to feel confident about your 60 second show, is to love, yes I said love your audience piece.

Sitting on the sidelines I have listened as many an actor has complained that they hated their audition piece but it's all they could find, or they had no time to prepare. It took everything I had to not to walk up to them and say, "Go home now, don't bother, save yourself the trouble."

Tell me this; would you go on stage to perform Othello unprepared? Would you walk on stage unenthusiastic or unsure of yourself? I am hoping your answer to those questions is a big fat 'NO." (And if it's not NO, then stop reading now, you are not ready to be dedicated to your craft.) With that said, you must find or create an audition piece you are truly excited about "performing." Yes we have all seen the "100 monologues for Woman," or the "10 new monologues they have never heard," book. The truth is, odds are pretty good they WiLL have heard them all. The next piece of advice I share with actors, is learning to find or create an original monologue for their audition performance.

If you are a gifted writer, then the monologue you seek may be right under your nose. A brainstorming session with a fellow thespian can really get the old creative juices flowing. Some of my best pieces for auditions were born out of brainstorming over the phone. Your monologue, of course, will

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