After a lot of lobbying, you've finally scored that interview with the famous person who intrigues you so. You'll be given only a short amount of time, maybe 15 minutes, so you have to make that count.
Instructions
interview someone famous
1. Do as much background research on the person as you possibly can. Don't just read new stories, read old ones, too. Those are the ones in which the person likely was more open and sharing with information. Your public library probably has Nexis or a similar publication search. Use it. Feel like you know the person intimately before the interview begins.
2. Be prepared with your equipment. Find out how long exactly you will get to talk, and tape the interview, being prepared to go that long, with new batteries and a fresh tape, etc. There might come a time when you are silently thinking to yourself, I can't believe I'm doing this. Don't worry about getting lost at that moment, your recorder will back you up. A recording also gives you a chance to go back and listen more carefully at what the person said, each and every word.
3. Be relaxed. Don't cram right before the interview. Do your background work ahead of time. Get in comfortable clothes. Give yourself at least 10 or 15 minutes beforehand just to breath and get in a casual state of mind, like you interview this famous of a person every day.
4. Don't spend a whole lot of time warming the person up. Most interview veterans don't want to chit-chat about the weather, or hear what a big fan you are. Remember, you only have 15 minutes or so. Thanks that person for the time, and then get started.
5. Toss a little softball to get started. Have them retell an anecdote that you feel might fit in your piece, only probe for details that other people missed. Help them realize that you have done your homework. It's not so much about the question at this point. This is where you establish your authority. This is where the person realizes that you need to be taken seriously.
6. Ask abstract, provocative questions. If your question can be answered yes or no, skip it. Try to get the person to break out into the open field of their mind. Find out what really makes them tick.
7. Go ahead and slip in a bizarre one. You can always use the preface, "a friend of mine really, really wanted me to ask," because I am right now telling you to ask it. I'm not talking super freaky strange sort of question, but more like one you might ask the person after a couple of beers.
8. Don't forget to get what you need. If your publication and your story has a certain purpose, get that information first. Play around later. Sometimes, particularly if you ask a tough question, your interview could end at any moment. You don't want to be stuck holding the bag.
9. Transcribe your tape right after the interview, when the ideas and context and connotations are fresh in your mind. You'll have the recording later, but you might not remember that your person winked at you when saying blank, or one part of the conversation connects to another. In your notes, signal to yourself those points.
