/lit/ - Literature

Can you just write a stand-alone monologue and it be good?
Has anyone here ever attempted to write a monologue for stage?
I already have the character in mind the only thing is I can't figure out what the hell his profession is (other than he's a wheeler-dealer, but what's his specialty? Antiques? Vintage Cars? Real-Estate? Gibson Guitars?). As lame as it sounds I want to do the whole Method Actor thing, I want to write a few scenes or monologues of a character and do an assload of research to get inside the worldview of a character who is so different to me. Maybe even do some sense memory exercises.
I think it'd be fun to write, because it'll force me to change my vocabulary and prosody even in writing to get down the speaking patterns (and thus the mentality and values) of this character.
How do you write a monologue without a surrounding dramatic premise? Do I just make one up?