On Being Interviewed
When I was a child, my father was a minor celebrity in my home state. We had our house egged once, someone sent death threats a couple of times, and complete strangers would come up to me (until I left the state, years after his celebrity had ended) and ask me about my father. I was used to him being in the newspaper and on television and on the radio. He even had his own radio show for a couple of years there. I marched in a parade on his behalf, was on his radio show once or twice, and shook more hands per year than many people do in the course of their lives. From this, I developed a "political mode" -- i.e. a way of acting that is appropriate in formal situations but would probably have otherwise been alien to my INTJ personality. For that, I am very grateful.
Lately, I have watched quite a few interviews with celebrities, mainly actors, all of them vastly more famous than my father ever was. I have known for years that my father is a very good speaker and has very professional interview manners, but never really thought about it much beyond that. Recently watching interviews, however, has prompted me to come up with a few rules about being interviewed, especially when on television.
Physical:
1. Do not touch your face, especially your nose or eyes. Not only does this look rather icky, it just makes you want to touch your face more.
2. Sit with your legs together and maintain good posture. Don’t slouch or slump. Crossing your legs is fine.
3. If you’re female and want to wear a skirt, wear tights or leggings with it. Preferably, have it be no shorter than just above the knee. Knees don’t look good on camera, hence the tights. Likewise, preferably keep your shoulders covered.
4. Don’t wear any clothes you’ll be tempted to fiddle with.
5. Don’t scratch or touch yourself under your clothes (such as running a hand under your collar or adjusting your belt).
6. Dress well. If in doubt, overdress rather than underdress.
7. Groom yourself.
Attitude and answers:
1. Be excited to be there. Remember, no matter how many times you’ve been interviewed, this is the first and probably only time for your interviewer and audience.
2. Smile honestly and often. Be grateful that people want to interview you. Be lighthearted and unafraid to laugh.
3. Be humble. (Not self-deprecating)
4. Never ever insult your fans, not even the crazy ones. Speak well of everyone.
5. Be engaged with the interviewer. Think about the questions and give them fresh answers. You don’t have to be totally unique, but don’t parrot what you’ve said elsewhere. Metaphors and similes work very well.
6. Be engaged with other interviewees: if you’re being interviewed in a group, pay attention to what the other people say and be interested no matter how uninteresting they are. Staring off into space blankly is insulting to both you and your audience.
7. Be classy. If someone in the interview is rude to you, don’t take offense or insult them; simply slide on to another issue. Preferably, don’t swear, especially if in a family-friendly environment. Don’t make dirty jokes; this isn’t the time or place. Be patient with everyone and everything.
8. Know and be able to pronounce everyone’s name in the interview, and any coworkers you might have.
There may be more. Any to add?
Lately, I have watched quite a few interviews with celebrities, mainly actors, all of them vastly more famous than my father ever was. I have known for years that my father is a very good speaker and has very professional interview manners, but never really thought about it much beyond that. Recently watching interviews, however, has prompted me to come up with a few rules about being interviewed, especially when on television.
Physical:
1. Do not touch your face, especially your nose or eyes. Not only does this look rather icky, it just makes you want to touch your face more.
2. Sit with your legs together and maintain good posture. Don’t slouch or slump. Crossing your legs is fine.
3. If you’re female and want to wear a skirt, wear tights or leggings with it. Preferably, have it be no shorter than just above the knee. Knees don’t look good on camera, hence the tights. Likewise, preferably keep your shoulders covered.
4. Don’t wear any clothes you’ll be tempted to fiddle with.
5. Don’t scratch or touch yourself under your clothes (such as running a hand under your collar or adjusting your belt).
6. Dress well. If in doubt, overdress rather than underdress.
7. Groom yourself.
Attitude and answers:
1. Be excited to be there. Remember, no matter how many times you’ve been interviewed, this is the first and probably only time for your interviewer and audience.
2. Smile honestly and often. Be grateful that people want to interview you. Be lighthearted and unafraid to laugh.
3. Be humble. (Not self-deprecating)
4. Never ever insult your fans, not even the crazy ones. Speak well of everyone.
5. Be engaged with the interviewer. Think about the questions and give them fresh answers. You don’t have to be totally unique, but don’t parrot what you’ve said elsewhere. Metaphors and similes work very well.
6. Be engaged with other interviewees: if you’re being interviewed in a group, pay attention to what the other people say and be interested no matter how uninteresting they are. Staring off into space blankly is insulting to both you and your audience.
7. Be classy. If someone in the interview is rude to you, don’t take offense or insult them; simply slide on to another issue. Preferably, don’t swear, especially if in a family-friendly environment. Don’t make dirty jokes; this isn’t the time or place. Be patient with everyone and everything.
8. Know and be able to pronounce everyone’s name in the interview, and any coworkers you might have.
There may be more. Any to add?