My guest counts. My guest is more important than me. I don’t use the word “I.” I ask short questions. I listen to the answers.
Interview with Larry King from The Talk – Chicago Tribune
After 400 shows as a producer/host on national cable for Wisdom Television, I learned a thing or two.
Who was my media coach? You guessed it. Larry King. Watched him every night.
Here are a few things I learned.
1. This is probably the most important point that Larry made. Your guest is the star of the show. Not you. Do not give your opinion on anything. Do not tell stories about your experiences. Nobody cares.
2. Research. Research. Research. Pretend your guest has asked for a big loan. Check out everything about them. Make a list of all possible questions. Give your guest the list and have them add to yours. Give them the probable first question.
3. Short intro. No more than two minutes. I always liked to start with a question. Like “Are you wondering what to do about —-? (whatever) We have help for you today. ” You want to engage your listener right away. Then, a few credentials. Do not mention why you asked them to be on your show. That’s about you. This interview is about them. Thank them warmly for coming on.
4. Listen. I know you have YOUR LIST. But if your guest says something provocative, stop and ask about it.
I swear I have heard some interviewers who if their guest said, “I just drowned my cat,” instead of saying, “WHAT???” would go on to their next question. This is a conversation, not an interrogation.
5. Assume your audience knows nothing. So start with the basics. For example, I once had an author on my TV show who was a Buddhist nun. She was surprised when I told her my first question was “Who was Buddha?” She said everyone knew. They don’t.
6. Ask a question once. Don’t add a tail on it like, “In your book you refer to —-Can you explain it? I mean that is quite a statement. Where did you get that idea?”
Let the first question hang out there. Your guest got the question the first time.
One of my favorite questions Larry King asks is just “Why?”
7. Don’t interrupt.. Unless your guest is hijacking your show with self-promotion. Then interrupt and bring them back to explore an earlier point in the interview. Tell them in advance you will promote them. They don’t have to do it.
8. No personal questions. Unless you clear it with your guest first.
9. Avoid technical terms. See #5.
10. At the end of the interview, be sure to thank your guest for taking the time to come on your show.
11. Recap their bio briefly at the close – “We have been talking to -etc.
12. Don’t promote yourself until the very end. You are entitled to a short promo but make it real and appropriate and short. Maybe just your web site.
13. Thanks for listening to me today. I’m Corinne Edwards and I am a media coach.
And special thanks to you, Larry. You are a great teacher. Can’t wait to read your new book, My Remarkable Journey.
For more information on how I might help you, click here.
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Beautiful post, Corinne!
I have heard entirely too many interviewers not ask the questions I was dying to hear… and just go on and on with one standard question after the next.
An interview should sound more like a conversation than an interview!
And I just sat in on a class today where the guy teaching didn’t bother to define obscure terms… you could tell he had done a lot of research, but he just assumed the class was already very knowledgeable in the areas he had researched.
I wish he had read this!
keep smiling,
Ben
Benjamin´s last blog ..Free Access to the Member’s Only Area of Warrior-Mystic.com…
Dear Benjamin -
OK. You get the prize!
“I have heard entirely too many interviewers not ask the questions I was dying to hear… and just go on and on with one standard question after the next.”
That’s it.
Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.
Training to put yourself into the head of your listener or viewer -
And asking -
“What would I want to know about this person?”
Dear David -
When I have been overseas, the first thing I do is find out when CNN is on TV.
I guess I thought they broadcasted everything.
From this post I now see I was completely wrong.
So that is why I have been hearing that you see “snippets” of Larry King.
Probably from some of the most famous or controversial people he interviews.
Yes, he does CONNECT. He actually can be confrontive – but I have never seen him mean.
I have to confess that though I have done many interviews I haven’t watched Larry King much and I see on your list that I could do better by incorporating some of these rules. I did not (but should have guessed) that there were coaches to help you in this area. I will be clicking on your link when I finish this comment.
Bruce “the Mid-Life Mentor”´s last blog ..Anne Vaillancourt – How to keep your health throughout Menopause
It is a very nice collection of ideas. My favorite though is the research. If not done properly, it could easily be a deal breaker. And while the internet provides lot’s of resources, I think it is most important to include personal references into the research, and actually call up people to talk about the person we want to interview.
Tom´s last blog ..A Day Through the Eyes of a Blind Woman
Corinne, This is a great post. I’m planning to start a bi-monthly podcast at my site, and hope to conduct some interviews along the way. This article contains great advice, and I’m going to keep it handy. Thanks!
Jeff Kay´s last blog ..Your Destination Is Not A Real Place
Excellent article Corrine. I like your point on research the best. It seems that’s where interviewers make their biggest mistake. They aren’t prepared to speak to their guest, and then they look foolish and lose credibility — with the guest and the audience.
Lisa´s last blog ..Message to Steve Jobs
Dear Tom and Lisa -
Regarding research -
It is very important to know everything you can about your guest.
You never know where the interview is going. And as you said, Lisa, you do not want to look foolish.
But if something does come up you can always revert to this -
“- Tell me more about that.”
People love to talk about themselves.
Dear Jeff -
Glad to hear that your plans include some audio or video.
It is definitely the way things are going now. Have you noticed that people like Chris Brogan and Gary Vee are trending toward that?
They are doing short ones. I think unless you have Wayne Dyer or a curiousity like the Octo Mom on your show people do not have time to listen to long interviews.
Another idea would be to do what they call a “magazine format” where you interview several people one after another on the same subject.
Hi Corrine, bit late to the party because of the weekend so apologies if I repeat what someone else has said, but that’s a fantastic summary of tips that I feel like I should have known but didn’t. So thanks! I think it also applies to other situations too, just conversations you have with people day-to-day, whether on the phone or at parties, obviously altered slightly to make more sense but when meeting someone for the first time I think the tips could come in very useful.
Joel´s last blog ..The Third Tribe? Is it Me Or Is This Thing Weird?
Hi Joel -
Glad to have you aboard – a little late than never.
I think #3
Short intro. No more than two minutes.
would definitely apply to social situations.
When someone asks you “What do you do?” when you are meeting for the first time
- there is nothing worse than a 20 minute history of their entire career.
Never thought of it that way. Thanks for the intuitive hit!
I think #7 too as I often get asked a question and then my answer interrupted when what the person really wants to do is to tell me their opinion, not listen to mine!
Joel´s last blog ..The Third Tribe? Is it Me Or Is This Thing Weird?
Joel -
RIGHT!
(so annoying)
By the way, I loved your Third Tribe article. Tweeted it. Stumbled it. Did not comment. I do not like to get into cat fights.
Thanks Corinne, it was an, er, interesting discussion!
Joel´s last blog ..The Third Tribe? Is it Me Or Is This Thing Weird?
Hi Corrine,
This is an ultimate interview guide, thanks a lot! I’ve started interviewing people since I have shared good thoughts on my business experiences through podcasts and so far, I can say tips 3,4,5 are my most crucial parts. Without getting into the introduction, the guest as well will not feel welcomed with the audience so it’s a must that before proceeding, the host should have told people what’s going to be talked about and who’s going to be the Guest Of Honor. Afterward, exercising listening and describing skills are next essential points we shouldn’t forget!
Hi Tyrone -
Glad you enjoyed some of the suggestions.
About the intro. If what you are doing works for you, go for it.
I have tried it both ways. Long and short intros.
When I was with Wisdom Television I had a producer from A&E. Smart. She insisted on no more than 2 minutes.
Short worked better at keeping the listener/viewer involved. And tuned in.
(You can say a lot in two minutes)
Corinne,
. Your tips are right on!
This is a great list of tips for bloggers who plan on doing interviews. One of my pet peeves is when an interviewer goes on and on about their own lives rather than allowing the guest to speak – probably something I need to work on as well
Keller Hawthorne´s last blog ..Win My New Premium WordPress Theme – Fresh Journal – Or Get $10 OFF!
Wow, Corinne,
This post went viral it seems. It was quiet for a long time, then all of a sudden there were a lot more comments.
I came back and reread the article to be sure I didn’t miss anything before. It was a great refresher. I agree with some of the more recent comments that these tips work well when dealing with people period.
Lots of Love,
Sherri
Being the Change I Wish to See´s last blog ..Ugandan kill-the-gays bill part 8: Rick Warren forced to oppose Ugandan bill
Hi Sherri -
Yes, sometimes, you get lucky.
And it could be unexpected. I wote an article called “When Your Husband Has Died – A survival guide” over two years ago. It has about 500 widows helping an supporting each other.
I did not dream that would happen.
I comment seldomly now. It belongs to them.
Great point regarding research. So many people think they can just wing this stuff, but a well researched interview is always the best!
Brian´s last blog ..Banner Ad Blueprint Review – Banner Ads the “New” Way to Make Money Online?
Dear Brian -
I always like to say that when I interviewed someone I knew more about them than their own mothers.
The research is important because you never know where the interview will go and you have a backlog of information to switch to.
It has proven itself to me over and over – especially if you have a shy guest who does not talk easily.
You have a new thread for the conversation.
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