Interview Rule No. 1: No Extra Voices
An interview should have one conversation happening in the room.
Host and guest. That’s it.
I got this from an agent:
“Can I please be added to the [remote session] invite? I’d like to share it with my colleague, who will be joining to make quick introductions and take notes.”
The answer is no.
A remote interview is not a group meeting. The only person who should be on that connection is the guest.
The guest is there to talk. The host is there to lead the conversation.
Everybody else is a distraction.
Once we’ve got an interview booked and the guest shows up for it, the agent’s job is done. The agent is not a producer and doesn’t get a say in what happens during the interview.
I don’t need an introduction. I don’t need somebody to jump in and “clarify” an answer.
No extra voices.
A good interview needs one clear line of communication between host and guest.
Set yourself up to get what you need. The host leads, the guest talks, and everyone else stays out of the way.
And yes, this applies to in-person interviews, too.
The rule isn’t about who’s on the remote connection. It’s about who’s in the interview.
And if you’re really serious about getting a good interview, it’s about who’s in the room with you.
Agents, publicists, colleagues, handlers, whatever the title … They can help get the interview set up, but once it starts, they need to stay out of it.
