Are They A Good Talker?

When I started out in public radio, this was always one of the first questions other producers asked. ? That and…

Do they have anything interesting to say??

Do they know what they’re talking about?

Of course, those two mean nothing if they’re not a good talker.? A person can be smart but if they are boring, repetitive, or unfocused, you’re about to create some pretty bad content.

So who makes for a good talker?? They have to have TANG:

• Thoughtful perspective
• Authentic voice
• Never monotone?
• Good stories

Good talkers are KEY to an awesome interview. Here are my top four pieces of advice to make sure you find the right person for the right conversation.?

Audition. Audition. Audition.

For the love of all things, please do not book a guest without checking them out first.? Ideally, you do what we call a “pre-interview” which is a short phone or video call (15-20 min) where you can go over the topic, get an idea of what they are able to talk about, and in the end, find out if they can hack it.? Some pre-interviews go on much longer than expected (this guest is just amazing!) and sometimes, they end prematurely (he lost me after three minutes).? Remember that you are standing in for the listener and if you aren’t into it, they probably won’t be either.? That said, sometimes it’s impossible to get a pre-interview with super busy people but that’s no reason to be unprepared. Listen to other shows they’ve been on or watch some videos. Study them. You should not book a guest until you are satisfied that they are going to add to the conversation rather than kill it.? If at the end of your pre-interview you’re still not sure,? just do the always respectful “thank you so much for your time.? I’m going to confer with the team and will let you know ASAP if we are going to move forward.”?

Don’t Fall In Love With Someone’s Potential

This was the best personal advice I ever received but eventually I figured out that I should also apply it professionally.? As a young producer, I was always on a mission to find lesser known experts and put them on the air.? That new professor of agriculture who had never done an interview? Perfect!? The CEO who studiously avoided talking about their super-fascinating-company?? This was my chance! I’ll give it to my younger self, it’s an admirable undertaking but as a producer, it’s not my job to bring people out of their shell.? After crashing and burning a few times, I learned my lesson. Watching guests freeze in front of the mic wasn’t just painful for the host (this was usually live radio, folks) but it was super painful for the guest, too.??

Eat a Banana

It’s not just novices who get nervous. I’ve found that even the most seasoned guests get anxious if they don’t know what to expect. As a producer, it’s our job to make our guests feel prepared.? It’s a cyclical effect: if a guest feels ready, they will shine.? If the guests shine, the host looks smart. If the host looks smart, you’ve done your job.

Some guests may ask for your questions ahead of time (especially if they have a PR rep).?

I don’t provide these because it takes away from a host’s ability to react in the moment and let the conversation flow naturally. It can also create a prescriptive environment especially if a guest feels they literally need to stick to a script.

Instead of a dismissive “oh I don’t do that,” respond with empathy. “I can’t give you questions but I am happy to give you a sense of where we want this conversation to go.”??

I always send an email with a lay of the land (I love a good set of bullet points).?

• First we’re going to talk about your current position
• Then I want to ask about your first job and takeaways from that experience
• Then we’ll take questions sent in by listeners

If you’re still wondering about the ‘eat a banana’ thing, I encourage anxious guests to eat one before an interview; it has calming properties.

Edit, Please

Even if your guest bombs, there’s always the beauty of technology.? An experienced audio editor can clean up even the roughest interviews.? But don’t let that make you lazy; having the best people in front of the microphone should always be the goal. Even if you don’t book a guest at the end of the pre-interview (and sometimes that is just a content-based decision), you’re still meeting people and making connections that you might use later on.

For help with your podcast or project, check us out at www.audily.com