TV interview - anyone done it?

[BritPicker]

Hi!

Haven't seen this question dealt with before, so here it is.

The other week my band did a TV shoot of us playing a couple of our songs live for a new show, featuring local music acts. (Our drummer's ball head was discussed in another thread somewhere).

Anyway, drummer's head was fine, they used it as a reflector to save on fill-in lights

Now, they want to interview us for the show. Anyone got any tips? I'm hoping their questions are very predictable, like what does the band's name mean and describe your music etc. Perhaps Tber's can help me by saying what questions they are likely to ask. I don't want to end up saying something silly!

Thanks guys!

[canshaker]

Just relax, and be real. People can tell when you put on a BS front.

[Munjibunga]

I've been interviewed on TV before, but not for band stuff. Keep in mind, if it's for a news clip, they'll talk to you for 10 minutes and use 5 to 15 seconds of that. So try to say something pithy that will make a good sound bite. That's what they're looking for.

Also keep in mind that the interviewer is likely to be fundamentally clueless. Don't use jargon. The audience won't have a clue either. Provide information - educate the interviewer and his/her audience in plain English.

I imagine they'll ask questions like:

How long have you been together?

How do you guys know each other?

What drew you into music?

Where are you headed musically?

What do you call your style of music?

Who does the writing? (Lyrics, music)

Who are your influences?

Yada yada yada ...

Are you all friends?

[JohnMCA72]

I've done lots of interviews. The key to turning them to your advantage, so you don't sit there looking like a stammering fools, is pretty simple. As Munji points out, the interviewer is basically clueless. The key is to give them some clues! Believe it or not, they will be happy as all get-out if you provide them with some ideas for questions! Most of them are as lazy as anybody else, & they're more than happy to let you do part of their job for them. Plus, it makes for a better show if everybody plays their part properly. The kicker is, since you know the questions in advance (or at least the general line of questioning), you will be ready with great answers! Develop your questions to lead to the answers that you want to give so that you're putting out the message that you want.

Spend a few minutes with the interviewer prior to the interview. Be up-front with them, & tell them a little about yourself, & what sort of information you want to put out. Offer up some sample questions, that you already know the answers to. Even if they go completely off-track on you, & don't ask "your" questions the way you'd like, screw 'em! Give them your prepared answers anyway! Don't let the interviewer control you, take control yourself. The big point is to go in there knowing what you want to say, & keep steering the dialog where you want it to go.

If you have any doubt about how to do this, just watch any pro politician when they get interviewed. Learn from the masters!

[spaz21387]

My band did a similar show on the portland cable access channel. We didnt have to be interviewed because. We mock cops so our frontman decided to act hostile to the african american host. It was pretty funny The host was completely down for it too. Then at the end it was complete chaos. I smashed my first bass on purpose and my band leader knocked over his guitar cab trying to smash a guitar on it.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by spaz21387

My band did a similar show on the portland cable access channel. We didnt have to be interviewed because. We mock cops so our frontman decided to act hostile to the african american host. It was pretty funny The host was completely down for it too. Then at the end it was complete chaos. I smashed my first bass on purpose and my band leader knocked over his guitar cab trying to smash a guitar on it.

None of this sounds like a good idea.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

I've done lots of interviews. The key to turning them to your advantage, so you don't sit there looking like a stammering fools, is pretty simple. As Munji points out, the interviewer is basically clueless. The key is to give them some clues! Believe it or not, they will be happy as all get-out if you provide them with some ideas for questions! Most of them are as lazy as anybody else, & they're more than happy to let you do part of their job for them. Plus, it makes for a better show if everybody plays their part properly. The kicker is, since you know the questions in advance (or at least the general line of questioning), you will be ready with great answers! Develop your questions to lead to the answers that you want to give so that you're putting out the message that you want.

Spend a few minutes with the interviewer prior to the interview. Be up-front with them, & tell them a little about yourself, & what sort of information you want to put out. Offer up some sample questions, that you already know the answers to. Even if they go completely off-track on you, & don't ask "your" questions the way you'd like, screw 'em! Give them your prepared answers anyway! Don't let the interviewer control you, take control yourself. The big point is to go in there knowing what you want to say, & keep steering the dialog where you want it to go.

If you have any doubt about how to do this, just watch any pro politician when they get interviewed. Learn from the masters!

All of this is excellent advice for a serious interview, BP. But let's get real here: Unless you guys are actually U2 being interviewed for your part in an internationally-broadcast "Save The World" charity gig for aid to Africa, none of the questions - and almost none of the answers - will mean anything to anybody...except to you and your bandmates.

What viewers will remember far more than anything else is your style and your personalities. And if they're amused or intrigued, then they might just become some of your newest fans. Otherwise not.

So take a cue from The Beatles during their touring prime (look up some interview videos from 1964-1966 if you must), don't take it too seriously, laugh it off, and just have fun with it!

MM

[rymiraflores]

[quote=MysticMichael;11657813]All of this is excellent advice for a serious interview, BP. But let's get real here: Unless you guys are actually U2 being interviewed for your part in an internationally-broadcast "Save The World" charity gig for aid to Africa, none of the questions - and almost none of the answers - will mean anything to anybody...except to you and your bandmates.

What viewers will remember far more than anything else is your style and your personalities. And if they're amused or intrigued, then they might just become some of your newest fans. Otherwise not.

So take a cue from The Beatles during their touring prime (look up some interview videos from 1964-1966 if you must), don't take it too seriously, laugh it off, and just have fun with it!





Exactly...be nice, be friendly...smile...remember, if people like you then everything is better. It is amazing how many musicians, actors etc think it is cool to be unfriendly and serious .....in any business, people like likeable people.

[BritPicker]

Munji, thanks for the list, reckon you have it covered there, I'm thinking over my answers to those.

John, great points there, never thought about suggesting questions like that, I think that I'll do that in a friendly way before the cameras roll. And will try to stay "on message" like a politician.

Spaz, you're hilarious! I'm sure it worked for you!

Mystic, Rymira , yes, totally agree. Not going to do any kind of popstar posturing, that's really just silly, even if I could pull it off. To be honest I really like rock/pop stars who are polite and don't take themselves too seriously, and who are just interesting.

Big thanks to all of you for the advice. Will post a link when vids go online after broadcast.