If you’re like me and can’t afford to fly around the world to conduct podcast interviews, then you have a few different options to interview guests. You could record a conference call via phone, do a recorded google plus hangout and extract the audio, or have a Skype conversation.
Of all of the methods that I’ve tried, Skype has been the simplest and most reliable, though I say that lightly. It’s true that almost everyone has a Skype account, but everyone is also familiar with some of the common snags that come with talking on Skype, which might include background noise, wifi interruptions, and delays in voice delivery.
In total, I think the positives outweigh the negatives, particularly for a beginner. Skype is the best cheap alternative that I’ve come across for conducting podcast interviews. Of course, an in-person interview would be best, but we can’t all do that! If you have a good alternative to Skype that you use, please leave a comment on this blog post! Otherwise, we can get straight to some of the things I’ve learned from conducting podcast interviews throughout the past few months.
1) Download a call recorder to record your calls.
The first thing that you need to do if you’d like to use Skype to create podcast interviews is to download a recording software (see a list here). Since I own a mac, I use the eCamm Call Recorder, which works great and was well worth the relatively low cost investment.
2) Upload a professional logo and create a username
If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to upload a professional logo or photo to your Skype account, particularly if you are trying to make a good impression on your guests. I would also change that possibly embarrassing username you choose a while back and pick out one that is more professional sounding.
3) Notify your guest you will be recording via Skype
I’ve made the mistake before where I’ve forgotten to specify that the interview would be conducted on Skype rather than on the phone! It takes time to download a new piece of software and create a username. Don’t forget to tell your guest ahead of time that you will be using Skype as the interview medium. Also, remember to take into account your timezone and how that may differ from you guest’s timezone.
4) Don’t start recording right away.
Early on, I wish that I had taken more time to warm up the interviewee and get to know them before hitting that record button. Frankly, I was just nervous to get on with the interview. However, I noticed that if I took more time to banter initially with the guest, then I could clear the air with any questions that they may have about the recording process and also just give them a heads up about where I planned to go with the interview.
When you are ready to record, remember that you can later edit out any awkward pauses or stutters. This reminder will ease a bit of your own tension, which can come from trying to cover a bunch of material in the time allotted. I’ve also found that it’s best to start the podcast in a positive and welcoming tone. Joking a little bit with the guest is one way to set their mind at ease and help them forget that every word they are saying is being recorded.
5) Focus on the guest, not on the interview.
Finally, the key to conducting a successful interview is to focus on the person you are interviewing! I am still struggling with this mindset, because I’m constantly thinking about what question I want to ask them next, how the last segment sounded, and whether or not we’re hitting the points we need to in a given interview.
The more that I become comfortable with the pausing before speaking, the occasional silence, tangents I didn’t expect, and cutting out “ums” and “likes,” the more I am able to stop focusing on the path of the interview or how it’s being conducted and to start puting more attention on the actual person I am interviewing.
Over-planning and having too rigid of a question structure has definitely been a hinderance to recording awesome interviews. I think this could also be said of the acting profession or being on video in general – you must be in the moment to genuinely feel emotions, react to statements, and form a connection that will make the other person and you intriguing to listen to.
These have been my experiences, but I’d love to hear what your experience has been like interviewing guests in a comment below! For further reading, check out how I’ve gotten guests in the past for my podcast.
