Page 114 - How To Sell Yourself

Selling Yourself in Confrontation and Media Interviews 113 And to add insult to injury, the phone and utility bills could
pay for a shuttle launch.
The advantage of the studio interview
The studio is a good site. The lighting is most likely profes- sional and favorable. There’s usually a make-up person to help you look your best for television. The interview has probably been planned so you may know the subject and have an opportunity to prepare. All these are factors in your favor.
The studio interview will either be one on one or else you’ll appear as one of the “guests.” Normally, there won’t be a studio audience. Not so, of course, on the syndicated talk shows, but those dynamics take care of themselves when you learn all the techniques of giving a good interview.
A stand-up interview in a studio is rare. You may be asked to make an entrance or an exit, but you’ll probably always be sitting for the actual interview. So, in your home, in your office, or in a studio, you’ll almost certainly be sitting. Most of us are more com- fortable, more at ease, in a chair. But beware. Our posture train- ing doesn’t always cover sitting, and no two chairs are alike. The secret is to be able to look comfortable without slouching. If you’re given a swivel chair, don’t fall into the trap of moving from side to side or rocking back and forth. Rhythmic movement is monoto- nous, hypnotic, and sleep-inducing.
Sitting technique
Keep your knees together. Television technicians call spread knees “The crotch shot.” You can put your knees and heels to- gether, or cross your ankles. As I mentioned in Chapter 5, if you cross your legs, angle the top leg down. The camera should never see the sole of your shoe. It’s the ugliest part of your clothing, and the camera will invariably find the gum (or worse) you stepped in on the way to the studio.
Know where to look
One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “Where do I look? Should I look at the interviewer or the camera?” You’ll never go wrong if you look at the person you’re talking to. My recommendation is never look at the camera unless the host says something such as, “What would you tell our audience watching