Giving An Interview
By Wayne Arthurson
Autarky Communications
Okay, they've got your kit, you phoned them up and they want to
do a story. Great! But it's one person in the band for each
interview, not all of you. If you all feel comfortable with doing
interviews, then split the chores: so and so does intvu #1, then
it's such and such for intvu 2, and so on. If you want to pick
someone in the band who you feel is a better representative and
is more comfortable talking to strangers, then do so.
PRINT INTVUs
During a print intvu, probably on the phone, speak clearly, slower than usual,
and in complete sentences. They're usually writing things down so give them time
to write. Reporters also want quotes that they can use so give it to them. Think
about some of your answers before the interview. To help you, note that music
reporters will usually ask you these basic questions:
a) Describe your style of music or sound.
b) History of the band/CD.
c) Influences.
d) Opinions about the local scene.
e) Your goals, long term and short term.
The interview is yours to control. Answer the questions the reporters sets out, but
answer them the way you want to. If you don't know an answer to a question, say I don't
know. If you're asked a difficult question, say that's a tough question to allow for a
pause to think of an answer. Think of an interview as a conversation except one person
is taking notes and asking most of the questions. Listen to the questions and don't
try to anticipate the next question. Answer just one question at a time. If you go
off on an tangent about your philosophy of life or whatever, go with it. If the
reporter asks you a question that can be answered with a simple yes or no don't
just give them that. Extrapolate! Do it clearly and in complete sentences, but
don't get too long winded! Joke. Have fun. You want to be controversial, go ahead
be controversial. It will get you attention but you will have with your opinions.
Don't be controversial just for the sake of being controversial, believe in what
you say.
The most important thing is be yourself. Don't talk like a sports figure
with cliches you've heard a thousand times before. An example:
Q - How would you describe your music?
A - Well we try not to label our music because labels are so
limiting. They're just an arbitrary designation that record companies and record stores use
so they can classify the stuff on the shelves. We try to stay away from any sort of
labels because we feel our music doesn't fall into those categories. I mean, alternative
music. What is that? It's just a label some record company came up with to sell records.
I've heard/read that sort of line so many times, I want to puke.
You might as well be saying: "I'm going to be giving it 110
percent and with the Lord willing I'll be able to make a
contribution to the team." Be fresh, be different. Be yourself.
Also remember that there is no such thing as "off the record".
Anything you say to a reporter once he's identified himself as
such, is "on the record". Even when both of you have declared the
end of the interview, any conversation after that point is "on
the record." Remember this and you'll rarely be surprised at your quotes
once they're published.
RADIO INTVUs
Now, if you do a radio intvu, the same things apply but it's very
important to keep the number of bands members to a minimum.
There's nothing more annoying than hearing a radio intvu in which
all the bands members are speaking over each other to get their
point across. Two is the maximum. Same with TV. Two at the most.
And one point about the two: most musicians eat the mike as they
sing, but on radio/TV you don't have to. Sit normally and don't
lean into the mike. Speak normally and the mike will pick you
up. Again, think of it as a conversation between you and
interviewer. Relax and enjoy yourself. "Be yourself" is the best
advice.
TV INTVUs
If the intvu is on TV, don't talk to the camera. Forget about the
camera and talk to the person asking the questions. Again, think
of it as a conversation between you and the interviewer. Be
yourself. On TV, don't wear the following: anything with spots
and thin strips, T-shirts with some company's logo or coarse
language (band logos are fine), a brightly coloured shirt or
jacket, a bright white shirt or jacket, anything that covers your
eyes (take off those sunglasses), blue or green that matches the
blue screen. Watch TV and make notice of anything clothing that
causes a buzz or a flare up on screen. Don't make that mistake
because the audience will care more about your clothes than who
your are or what you have to say.
Wayne Arthurson
is an award-winning writer with 10 years experience in journalism, public
relations, media relations and communications. His first novel,
OBIT, a political
satire, was published in 1996. Wayne is the full-time drummer for SMAK an
Edmonton-based punk rock band, the part-time drummer for The Numbers
, an Edmonton-based
mod band and is a founding partner of Ashtray Records. SMAK's first CD,
King Size, will be released this spring.
Autarky Communications
a publishing, promotion and communications company for
organizations, independent record companys, bands, etc.
Suite 412, 10405 Saskatchewan Drive
Edmonton, AB
CANADA
T6E 4R9
autarky@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
(403) 432-1460
