Casting Director Renee Godbout on what professional casting directors look for in an audition monologue

On American Idol, judges will often say that despite a contestant's strong voice, the wrong song choice can ruin his or her performance. When you're auditioning with a monologue, you may find yourself in the same situation. Actors often choose the wrong monologue, and it can leave a bad taste in casting directors' and agents' mouths.

So what makes a good monologue? Here are some Do's and Don'ts to guide you.

DO:

Pick a monologue set in the current time period when you're not auditioning for a specific role. Performing something from medieval literature, for example, may not showcase the range of your talent.

Pick something with a beginning, middle, and end. You don't want to start with the most emotional part of a piece and then not have anywhere to go!

Memorize your monologue! Looking down at your paper is distracting. However, keeping a copy in your back pocket can be a good idea. It's better to read a line off a paper than to freeze up.

Be careful of your posture, and don't fiddle with your hands-it's very distracting.

DON'T:

Pick anything from Shakespeare unless you're auditioning for a Shakespearean play.

Cry, unless you can really, truly pull it off and it's absolutely necessary to the piece. If it's not believable, then I'm turned off by the whole audition.

Use props-they are a big distraction, especially if it's a cell phone. The phone covers half your face and produces a barrier between you and your audience.

Above all, remember to breathe easy, relax, and don't go too fast. Follow these tips, and you'll do great!

Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.