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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
 Posted - 11/27/2003 : 02:36:29
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I've got an interview with a band scheduled for next week, but I've never done one before. Anybody got any good hints and tips?
Unfortunately, I can't tell you what band, but any help would be greatly appreciated.
"What are we going to do tonight, Brain?"
"Same thing we do every night, Pinky: try to take over the world!" |
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 03:12:07
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Let's assume you're writing for a mag. Basic journalism teaches you that you must ask the questions your readers would want the answers to.
Look up the band bio/other interviews for salient stuff that will inspire questions.
Really basic stuff, sorry if it sounds patronizing, but: write down your questions (or just general guidelines), but don't stick to the questions you've written. An interview that goes well must be a bit unpredictable - hopefully people will say things that will surprise you or simply be interesting, and you're going to want to follow up on that.
But do have something prepared - nothing is worse than finding yourself in front of the person and racking your brains for something to start with.
You might want to tape the interview - there could be some difficulty with taking notes if you're interviewing several people at a time. Especially a rock band - these buggers usually have no education and will be likely to talk all at once.
(I was kidding there BTW. People in rock bands need not throw stones at me.)
I never record anything though, because it's a bitch when you have to play it back and write it down. If I have to interview several people I'll only scribble the initials of the person talking above their comments.
It can be useful to review you notes right after the interview, fill in a few blanks while it's fresh in your mind.
While writing (still assuming it's written), you'll first have to ask yourself what form to adopt. Q&A or written story with embedded quotes? That will depend on the material you've gathered. The best interviews write themselves - if the person has been really good, you just have to lay down the Q&A and your job is done. But if you've had to pry the words out of them with a crowbar, you'll want to add a bit of flourish around their half-assed answers. Yes, it happens. In this case, just write a story about how it went! It can make for a neat piece of writing.
And I gotta go now! Hope this helps.
Franck
Supposedly a trained journalist :)
[Edit: for spelling and typos, cos I'm fussy like that.]
--
"C'est la vie" whatever that means, la-de-da... |
Edited by - jediroller on 11/27/2003 04:41:13 |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 03:14:31
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Fantastic. Thats really helpful, cheers Jedi.
I'll let you know how it went.
"What are we going to do tonight, Brain?"
"Same thing we do every night, Pinky: try to take over the world!" |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 04:50:02
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Ask them if their amp goes up to 11.
 "I have been enslaved by the Cult of Ming / He is ever so merciless...unlike that nice Mr Black." |
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ivandivel
= Cult of Ray =
394 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 06:31:38
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make them talk, so:
don't ask yes/no questions.
and tolerate silence.
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2003 : 06:38:33
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Oh and by the way:
quote:
Originally posted by Cheeseman1000
Unfortunately, I can't tell you what band
Omigod... you're going to interview the PIXIES???!!!
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"C'est la vie" whatever that means, la-de-da... |
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