Q: Your new record sounds very different from your previous releases. Does this mark a new direction for the band?
A: Um…uh…well…I don’t know. I guess.
Q: You worked with Producer X on this album. What was that like?
A: It was good.
Q: What’s next for you guys?
A: (Incoherent mumbling)
Laugh if you will, but there are plenty of artists who give interviews like that. Some even worse. It not only makes for bad reading/listening for their audience, it can turn off potential new fans. Who’s going to listen to the music when it’s preceded by a bum sales pitch?
Your art is important, yes. But presentation is, too. So let’s get into some of the rules on how to conduct a good interview:
Ask for the questions ahead of time. Most people will gladly give you their questions before the interview so that you can prepare some thoughtful answers. Not everyone is able to give articulate, off-the-cuff answers. So do what you can beforehand to make sure you come off sounding well-spoken. Your reputation is on the line.
Be on time. Yes, there are plenty of musicians who show up late, call-in late or email their responses late to their interviewers. No, it is never OK. Always be professional and respectful to the people promoting your band.
Don’t be a buzz kill. Never turn on your interviewer. You’re probably going to get asked the same questions and have to give the same answers. It will get very redundant. But always try to give an enthusiastic response. If you’re dealing with a difficult personality, be sure to keep your cool and get the interview done as quickly as possible. However annoying he or she is, the interviewer is still the one with the power of the pen.
Don’t ham it up. A little levity is great. But unless you’re a stand-up comedian, keep the jokes under control. You take your music seriously—make sure that comes across.
Look sharp. If you’re on camera, you’ve got to be on point. In other words—dress the part—don’t scratch yourself in inappropriate places, stare off into space, yawn, make faces or look at the camera guy.
Be clear. Phone interviews are always tricky on the ears, usually because of telecommunication glitches, soft speaking voices or background commotion. If you’re in a band doing a group interview over the phone, always identify yourself by name before you answer the question. Speak as clearly as possible to avoid flagrant misquotes.
You’re not a robot; don’t sound like one. This is especially hard to do when you’re responding to questions via email. Many times you’ll loose the conversational quality of your personality in your written answers and come across as overly formal and stiff. Read your responses aloud before you send them in, and always spell-check!
Elaborate. No one wants to read a one-word answer to an interesting question. Be sure to flesh your responses out with as many details and specifics as possible. You’re telling the story of your life and your music, so make it a good one.
