I have interviewed many foreign people on my YouTube channel so far. Because of this, some viewers ask me questions such as “How to interview them? How to start talking to them? How to carry on a conversation?” I can’t speak English fluently because I’m Japanese, although I’m making an effort to become a good English speaker. However, it is not so difficult for me to shoot interview videos on the street. So, I’m going to tell you the five tips for shooting interview videos.
Tip 1. Be polite. You can greet them simply using basic words like “Excuse me”, “Hello”, and “How are you?”. It is very easy for everyone to say these simple expressions. You don’t have to talk in a roundabout way from the beginning of the conversation to explain yourself. Instead, it is better to greet simply, politely, and confidently.
Tip 2. Praise. You can use the following compliments for example, “You are fashionable.”, ” You are so cool!”, “Your bag is very nice!”, “You are very cheerful!”, and “Nice shoes!”. Nobody would feel bad if they are praised profoundly. Then, they would say “Thank you!” Let’s look for the person’s good points that you can praise.
Tip 3. Introduce yourself. In my case, I would say “I’m a Japanese YouTuber and I’m making interview videos.”, for example. It’s necessary to let them know yourself because they will suspect you if you don’t explain who you are.
Tip 4. Explain the reason for the shooting. For instance, “I’m interviewing fashionable people in New York now. You are so cool, so I want to interview you on my YouTube channel.” Besides, it’s better to tell them the benefit for them if you can, for example, “I can introduce your Instagram on my YouTube channel. It could be a good promotion for you.”
Tip 5. Listen to their stories. You don’t have to speak so much, but you have to listen to them carefully. It is said that a good talker is a good listener, so let’s try to understand what they want to tell. And, ask them about what they are interested in, then they will be able to talk a lot comfortably.
If you are aware of these tips, you can make good interview videos, and I hope you will become a great YouTuber.