How to be a Good Interviewee

Many people feel uneasy in front of a camera. As someone that has been both in front and behind it, I can understand the vulnerability and sense of exposure one can feel. However, there are hundreds of thousands of interviews being conducted all over the world every day and hundreds of thousands of good quality videos being put out every day. How do they do it?

• Relax: I can’t stress this enough: you got this! You have to remember that your video producer will be interviewing you about something you know, have been doing for years and love – your business. You aren’t a professional actor and you don’t have to memorize lines from a script. You are talking from the heart and responding to the questions you and your video producer have already agreed upon. No one knows your business better than you do. You might forget this when you are under those lights and microphones so I will say it again: “Relax, you got this.”

• Wardrobe: It’s important that you dress in clothes that you are comfortable in, but also remember to wear something that is an accurate representation of what you are selling or promoting. If you are a farmer and want to tell the world about how you grow corn and raise livestock, wearing a three piece power suit might not be the right thing to wear. Will you look amazing? Of course! But, it won’t be congruent with your messaging. I also suggest you ask your video producer what type of clothes and colors you should avoid. I recommend you stay away from skin tone colors (red, orange, pinks, yellows) and skew more towards cool tones (greens, purples, teals, blues, etc.).

• Get a good night sleep: Production days can sometimes be long and a bit stressful, so getting a good night sleep is paramount. Be sure to have a chill evening the night before and try to go to bed at a reasonable time. Your video producer should have handled all the technical and production components of the shoot, so don’t worry about that type of stuff. That’s not your job. Your job is to be the best interviewee you can be! You want to be at your most energetic and focused when you are being interviewed the next day. Sleep helps with that. A lot.

• Give your video producer a list of questions: Depending on who you are working with and the style of your video, some producers will share the questions you will be asked ahead of time while others might not. I rarely give my interviewees a list of questions ahead of their interview since I want to get the most genuine and authentic reactions out of them however, I always tell my clients to send me the questions they would like me to ask them, and, of course, I include them. After all, you know your business best.

• Trust your producer: You hired them for a reason, right? You’ve reviewed their work, like their style, trust them and feel comfortable with them. If you followed the steps I mentioned in my previous article, they know what they are doing and you’ll be in good hands. Their job is to make the best video they can for you. Your job is to be yourself and answer honestly, truthfully and from the heart.