The Day Before or Day of Interview
Do a Dry Run and Check Your Equipment
This is when all of your advance planning and practice pays off. As you count down for the interview, the following list will help you prepare for the experience:
- Check directions to the site. If possible, test drive to the location in advance so that you know how to get there.
- If possible, visit the interview site beforehand to select quiet place for the interview and to ensure that you will be able to minimize background noise.
- Make sure that you have a fresh supply of batteries and recording media (e.g., Digital audio tape, Mini-DV, disk, flash card, or whatever the interview is recorded onto). Do not use a tape, card, or disk that already has something on it. Each time you do a new interview, insert a fresh tape into the machine.
- If you are doing an audio-only interview, bring a camera with you so that you can take a picture of your interviewee after the interview. As with other technology, test your equipment beforehand and start fresh with things like batteries and storage media.
- Test your recording equipment, including microphones, once you are at the site.
- Prepare and printout the release forms, and put a reminder in your notes to prompt the interviewee to provide aural consent on the tape recording.
- Be prepared to use your questions as a guide, glancing at them occasionally to remind yourself of important topics you want to address. Revisit the follow-up questions that are most helpful in fleshing out an interview: how so, in what way, please tell me more, what did you think about that, how did that feel, why, for example, etc.
- Keep in mind the importance of conveying warmth and respect for your interviewee.
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