The World's Worst Interviewer

The Interview Mic is on: now what?

At one time, I was the undisputed owner of the title, “Worst Interviewer of the World.”

I have done 500, maybe 1,000 interviews in my lifetime.  The first 300 were terrible.

I was terrible.

During my era of terrible, I was legendary for asking and answering the question myself.  My heart would sink after hearing the only answer they could give me: “Yes,” “No,” “That’s right” or “Absolutely.”

Asking questions that were more than 60 seconds in length, and asking multiple questions at once were also two of my specialties. 

I learned my lessons, and I’m still learning, and I still need reminders to ensure interviewees get to tell their story.

In your career, you will meet a variety of interview types with skills and abilities ranging from highly accomplished to “oh dear.” They include,

• the “Highly Adept Interviewer” (Your dream come true)

• the “Generalist Interviewer”

• the “Unprepared Interviewer”

• the “Clueless Interviewer”

• the “Over Prepared” and “Long Question Interviewer”

• tThe “Interrupting Interviewer”

• The “Local TV News Interviewer”

• The “Triviality Interviewer”

• The “It’s Not About You Interviewer” (aka the “Show Off Interviewer”)

• The “Insider Information Interviewer”

That’s why, with the exception of the “Highly Adept Interviewer,” you need to be prepared to firmly but subtly take control of the interview. Remember, the interview really is about you: your story, your event, your new recording or any other reason you’re in the interviewee chair.

How do you take over?  Preparation, focus and a quick read of the interview situation.

Quick Read: You will know early on which interviewer type you are encountering.

Preparation and focus: Of course, you know the concerto you’re playing with the orchestra, and in the back of your mind you know what you think about it and how it inspires you. Be prepared in advance to know the specific talking points you will elaborate on and express.  If the interviewer asks, “So, the Brahms Concerto…your thoughts,” what will you say?

I loved this answer from pianist Emanuel Ax when asked his “thoughts on the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2.

"The first movement is so massive and so full of everything from peace to struggle. The second movement is absolutely terrifying and intense, and then the slow movement is just divinely, divinely beautiful, and the last movement it's as though you've made the journey of life and you've finally arrived at paradise."

But, on your good days, you’ll also meet the “Highly Adept Interviewer,” who knows the music, knows something about you and has a plan.  Your preparation, focus and quick read skills will have to be at their best.

Violinist Hilary Hahn recorded concertos by Paganini and Spohr several years ago. A “Highly Adept Interviewer” mentioned to her that these concertos were best known as virtuoso show-pieces, sometimes viewed as “fluff.” What did she find and uncover beyond the so “fluff”?

“I wanted to reflect the operatic, lyrical side of the pieces, rather than the showpiece element that a lot of people like to bring out. But I think the melodies are really important in these works because they are vocally inspired and a lot of what people connect to with vocal music is the emotion behind it and the personal touch that they get from listening to someone sing to them."

Sometimes, it’s not actually an interviewer take over but an interview turnaround or pivot that’s needed.

“There’s some dispute about whether this is Opus 61 or Opus 82; what’s your take?”

“I really don’t know, but to me this is a youthful work – you hear a real innocence and exuberance in the melodies and rhythms, especially at the beginning where the flute and the clarinet seem to be playing tag with each other.” I feel the composer wants the orchestra and the audience to get in the game.”

Sometimes, the only response to a question is to hit your head against the microphone.

“I was watching you play, and your fingers looked like they were dancing on the piano keys. Is that what you were doing?”

The “Local News Reporter Interviewer” who asked that question meant well. (It really wasn’t her beat.)

Take a breath, be compassionate as this Van Cliburn Medalist did.

“Well, you know I’ve played that piece all my life, always striving to play it my best, and to even play it better.  What you saw in my hands was hours and hours of practice to get the melodies just right. And in so doing, I guess, certain hand and finger movement patterns got developed, but I’m really only thinking about the music and fulfilling the composer’s dreams and intentions.

These were all actual interview questions from real interviews. Concerts, recitals and recordings are the only situations requiring preparation.

Let’s talk about the preparation required to crush the interview.