Trigger warnings are appreciated when appropriate.
Teasers should set the mood for the piece and not be too lengthy.
Intros need to continue to prepare the audience for the piece by setting the appropriate tone as well as give important exposition. A sharp or clever intro that is well constructed can be the determining factor in scoring among two equally done pieces.
Blocking and movement should be clear, well defined, and motivated. Clever or creative staging is appreciated. Unclear or unspecific pantomime, upstaging, or weird angles that prevent seeing the actor's faces should be avoided.
Characterization should be consistent and easy to follow if performing multiple characters. Pops should be clean. Vocal characterization should be suggestive of the character and not an opportunity to showcase cartoon voices/cliche characters (the surfer, the New Yorker, the Brit, the Aussie, etc.) unless warranted by the script/story.
The binder is NOT a prop other than in POI. Movement below the waist (steps) should be clear and motivated as well as minimal.
Author's Intent and/or Appropriateness of Literature-How do you feel about an HI of Miracle Worker (author's intent) or a student performing mature material (appropriateness)?
That's a big NO for me if it's offensive more than it is creative. (Miracle Worker as an HI, or The Lovely Bones, or anything like that is offensive to me. Hearing loss and child rape aren't funny and do go against the author's intent.) Mature content if it's handled well and suits the piece doesn't bother me- if it's excessive or for shock value, then I may not like it. It really depends on the piece and the performer; I'm not conservative.
For Speech Events OO/INFO– I weigh the written speech (construction/logic/novelty/grammar/humor) equally with the presentation of the speech. I like creative/inventive Info props.
