How to interview

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At  some point in the life of your show, you will interview a guest. It can be intimidating especially if you don’t have a rapport with the person. Here is a quick list of tips to get you off to the races.

 

WHAT TO DO

  • Do your research ahead of time

    • What has the guest done or experienced to inform the episode or topic? Know their background basics and other of their background.

  • Set expectations with the guest

    • Tell them what you plan to discuss

    • Explain why they are an ideal guest for the subject

    • Inform them how long the interview will last

  • Plan your questions out in advance

  • Write down your questions

  • Be prepared before the interview starts

    • Have your gear set up and ready to go

    • Fill up your coffee cup or water bottle

    • Lay out any helpful notes or your list of questions

  • Respect the guest’s time: Start and conclude the interview on time

  • Think about how you plan to segue from one question to the next

  • Do ask the guest this final question: “Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

    • The guest will hit on either what is most important to them or they will offer a great final sound bite for the interview

WHAT NOT TO DO

  • Do not give the guests a copy of the questions you plan to ask them

    • Guests will try to craft practiced responses when they have the questions in advance

    • A typed out or rehearsed answer can sound like a sales pitch or like they’re reading from a script

  • Don’t dive in too fast

    • It’s tempting to lead with the most pressing questions but it’s important to put your guest at ease first

    • Engage in some small talk and be personable to help the natural flow of the conversation

  • Don’t forget to use body language

    • Head nods, eyebrow raises

  • Don’t be afraid of pauses or silence in the conversation

    • This is a normal part of speech and often times it can lead to dramatic audio in your episode

  • Don’t ask long or rambling questions

    • Keep your questions clear and give your guest plenty of time to elaborate or time for follow up questions

  • Don’t be late and go over on time

  • Don’t ask questions they’ve already answered

    • This indicates that you weren’t listening to their first answer OR that you don’t want to use their original answer (which can seem ethically questionable)