Your first step is to answer the question: How do I come across on camera? Do I stumble around for my thoughts using lots of mmms and uuuhhs? Do I look down at my hands, or at the camera, instead
of looking at the interviewer? Do I speak in a low whisper or speak too loudly for a television audience?
First, you can and should know your flaws. To do this, set up a camera and have someone you know interview you. Play that back and watch. Learn where you are weak and focus your training on those aspects.
Although some businessmen present well to a large live audience they are not comfortable or trained to present on camera. Television needs less, not more. You may need to play it BIG on stage but that will come over as too big on camera.
Prepare
You should always prepare before an on-air interview. You’re going on the show for a reason. You weren’t just picked off the street. You have been selected because you are an expert in your particular field. Even though you already know your subject, you should brush up on the latest information. Have the facts at hand, be prepared. You don’t want to freeze up or look like you don’t know the answers.
You probably can anticipate many of the questions that you will be asked. If you are not experienced at being interviewed on camera
Fig. 3-2 Don’t overanswer.
and if you don’t prepare, then you will probably commit the cardinal sin of interviewing: the sin of omission.
By the same token, while you are asked to be an expert, don’t pontificate. It’s a conversation between the host or anchor and you. Don’t take over with some stump speech. That does not play well on television.
Long before you arrive at the studio, you should have decided which of your anecdotes will support the points you wish to make, then practice telling those stories into a tape recorder. As you are rehearsing your stories, be aware if you are using run-on sentences or if you keep saying, “and . . . and.” End your sentence. Then begin the next one.
My students sometimes worry that they might overprepare. They are concerned that this preparation, such as taping your own stories and anecdotes in a rehearsal beforehand, might make them sound rehearsed, and not appear spontaneous when on camera. If you do repeat your answers the exact same way every time, then yes, you will not sound spontaneous. However, only a robot could accom- plish that kind of duplication. Furthermore, if you are relating your story in a conversation with the host, it will not sound rote and robotic.
Nerves
Everyone has had some stage fright. Practicing your material before- hand will help cut it down. During the interview, you should concentrate on telling your story. Concentrate on telling it to the interviewer. Have a conversation. By keeping your focus on your story and your host, you will keep from thinking about yourself. Here is another old trick. If your business involves some physical activity, then bring it along. As long as the host agrees, you can do your physical activity and talk at the same time. You see this on cooking shows all the time. This will reduce your nervousness because you are concentrating on the activity and you are not self- conscious. This also gives you some control over the situation which is always a good thing. You will have thought through the possibil- ities and you will be ready for whatever the interviewer asks you.
Monotone
= Boring
If you hear yourself speaking in a monotone, try changing your pace between thoughts. Also, keep that energy up too. (If you hear that you tend to come down in pitch at the end of your sentences, turn to the chapter on vocal techniques.) If you hear, on playing your tape back, those sleep-inducing ums or uhhhs, remember: Silence is golden and silence is preferable while you are searching for your next thought.
As you listen to the playback of your stories, make sure they are not too long. Don’t be afraid to let your emotions emerge. No need to hide them. But also don’t ACT emotional.
Make a list of questions you think you might be asked. This will put you in the head of the host and help you avoid any surprise questions. You won’t know exactly in what manner or order or even if all of them will be asked. But you can be pretty sure that you will hear some of them. That should give you confidence when you walk into a studio and an unfamiliar situation.
During the actual interview, listen to the questions. Don’t be trying to remember some witty thing you had prepared at home or
how smart you want to sound. Be present in the moment and stay attentive to your interviewer. Don’t jump ahead, or beat yourself up for what you meant to say and didn’t. Move on in the conversation, and answer the questions as asked. On this point, you should not feel tied down to the questions. As any experienced interviewee knows, there is a good bit of wiggle room in most questions. If the question goes into areas you do not know about or cannot discuss, simply say something like: “That’s out of my area of expertise.” But it would be good to be able to reframe the question to something that you can answer. Then answer that.