Some notes on interviewing: Security, bars, Harry Potter ...

As we all have, I've been conducting many interviews, and I’m trying to make that process smoother as I go. I've had a few experiences I would like to share. Suggestions or thoughts are welcome.

No phones allowed
I conducted an interview at the court house in South Bend, Ind. He warned me I would need to go through security, but it never occurred to me that they might confiscate my phone. "That’s unfortunate," I muttered woefully. I use my phone to record interviews, so it would have been helpful to have an old-fashioned recorder as a backup. Good handwriting is another plus.

Don’t go to a coffee shop
Last week, when I asked about the best location for an interview (interviewee's office vs. something more neutral), John Ellement recommended a quiet place as the best option. I have conducted interviews this semester (prior to last week, of course) in coffee shops and in a bar. One time earlier this semester, a little boy came up to myself and the gentleman I was interviewing and started talking to us about Harry Potter. Neither one of us was a fan, so we received quite the education.

A little tight-lipped
In a recent interview, I had a harder time pulling out the information I was hoping for. I knew I wasn't getting anywhere, and since I already had a lot of information, I almost wanted to cut and run. I did complete the interview, asking all my questions, but I don’t plan on using any of the content in the final story. That is probably the best way, just in case he did give me more, but it felt like a bit of a waste of time.

Making connections
After getting a few solid interviews for the final project completed, I pulled from those in later interviews and asked people to comment on their statements. I interviewed the main subject of my story early on. It almost makes me wish I had been able to wait and interview him after some of the others.