Gordon Burgett's Blog

Writers: dress appropriately to interview

That assumes you are interviewing in person (which I do about 20% of the time). If you interview by phone (and don’t use a see-phone, which I’ve heard about but never seen), you can interview stark nude, wrapped in a paper bag, or as you are right now—who knows or cares?

My rule of thumb was always to dress a step better than the interviewee expected, which I imagined was how reporters in the old movies appeared: sweaty, in baggy clothes, working stiffs. That was for street interviews asking if the person saw the shooting…

At least I was neat and clean, and tried to look professional, which is easy enough when I was going to an appointment with the person or was in a dress-up setting (like a convention or press conference). If others wore ties and coats, I did too. (Ladies, please gender match.)

What did I do with paraphernalia, if I brought it? I sometimes had a camera, always used a small note pad, and almost never brought or used my small digital tape recorder—except with politicians in the U.S., where everyone seemed to use one. I just kept them in my pocket(s) or jacket, until needed. I always brought lots of business cards too, and gave them out liberally when it fit.

The problem was writing while travelling. Since most of my travel was in South America, the neatness and good clothes (and good shoes) usually did the trick. They knew I was a gringo (I told them) writing for a magazine or newspaper (sometimes invented on the spot) so they didn’t expect me to be grungy, wear flip-flops or a t-shirt, or smell (bad). Mostly, I just introduced myself, explained in a sentence what I was doing, and started asking questions. I was courteous, friendly, smiled when I could, and kept my focus on them as I wrote down the gist of what they said. (I didn’t need it word-for-word because I had to translate it from Spanish or Portuguese later.)

An example. In Manaus they were completely rebuilding the famous old opera house, and I wanted to get photos and interview the construction chief (or a person in charge) at the site. I put on clean Dockers, shined shoes, and a pressed shirt. I was stopped at the gate until they could find the man in charge, a feisty Argentine who looked me over and said that nobody got inside the gate or talked to him unless they had a note from the Governor. So I trotted over to the capitol building and asked for an interview with the Governor, explaining the impasse.

The Governor was a general in the Army (Brazil was temporarily ruled then by the military). I looked presentable, showed my business card, and to my surprise I was led directly to the General. Turned out that he wanted to polish up on his English (it needed polishing) so we just talked about life, Brazilian politics, and what I thought of Manaus, until he asked me about the opera house. I asked him if I could ask him some questions about why they were rebuilding and the completion plans, then go over and get some in-construction photos. And that’s what we did.

He filled me in with details, led me to an aide who added more specifics, and I was given a sealed note for the Argentine who kindly lent me a hard hat, assigned a humorous old gent to accompany me—and gave me an old wall lamp fixture as a take-home souvenir! (I later had to get another note from the aide explaining that it was a gift so I could get it through customs.)

I’m convinced that three things got me the go-ahead and lots of good article material (facts, photos, and quotes from those directly involved): the business card, the fact I knew what I wanted and got right to it, and my attire.

So just dress appropriately for the specific occasion, plus a bit, and shine your shoes.

I talk more about the process in the Travel Writer’s Guide.

Best wishes,

Gordon Burgett

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Is your book almost finished but it needs a final, last-step professional review by a no-nonsense editor with 40 books in print and 30+ years in publishing? That's what I mostly do, plus run a publishing company. Email, call, or check this link for details. Other things: my website, a free monthly newsletter, bio, and my latest book, How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Published Worldwide in Days. Also, daily tweets as GLeeBurgett and other social networking links at about.me.

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