advice about interviewing musicians

Yes, I've been in your shoes, and it's terrifying, but in a good way. I interviewed the Dandy Warhols, who were then my favourite band on earth, for a little tiny 500-run print fanzine. I got the interview through totally personal favours. I pulled strings, I played up the "you know I'm your biggest fan" thing and eventually the guitarist's girlfriend (who was also an online pal of mine) set the thing up.

So, in terms of technially, *how* do you do it, call in personal favours, develop personal relationships with their team or PR's or the like. Some bands actually *like* giving interviews to genuine fans that they know will understand and represent them better and more accurately and in a better light than the "established press" with an axe to grind or an agenda to support. Play this angle.

More on specifics of this at another time, I've got to run to rehearsal now.

But good luck! Don't be scared! it will actually be cool!

It may sound obvious to those of you with experience, but I have absolutely no idea.

Play it by ear is the best way to do it, I think... see how much time they are willing to give you. Some bands like to have something to do during that endless emptiness between soundcheck and rehearsal, some bands like to withdraw from the world, it really does depend on the band and their foibles. Tag along, but don't be obvious about it. The less you make yourself an intrusion, the more natural you make it seem that you are there, the more likely the band are to relax around you.

I guess I want to know what would be unreasonable to ask of ANY band.

URGENT and KEY once you get to these shows is that you make a good impression on/make friends with the tour manager. Not in an "oh my god, I'll be your best friend, give you blowjobs" groupie sort of way (not that I think you'd do this, Mel, but other girls I've known have tried it on) but in a "look, I'm cool and unobtrusive and won't get in the way" sort of way. Road managers control things like backstage passes and laminates and the like, thus bypassing the PR and having to ask for more favours. If you get friendly with road managers and they recognise you from several shows - so long as they know that you're not going to be a screaming teenybopper about things - may grant you more favours than otherwise. At least this has worked for Blur fanzine people and Pulp fanzine people, who have scored interviews and backstage/bus/hotel access that Proper Journalists can only dream of.

But... enough of my groupie years. ;-)

yes, you are perfectly justified in asking for aftershow passes for the shows you attend.
What about soundchecks and before-show type stuff? Haha, and how about the after-aftershow (they usually depart to another party that is not at the venue, and I know journalists were at these on the last tour. Is it basically an issue of how much they like you/how good you are at following them?)?

Also, how precisely would this all be recorded? Tape/mini-disc recorder (how would I take this from show to show, if so? Would there be a pass for such a thing similar to a camera pass? And what about cameras? I know that some people are given passes to take photos during the show, but I don't care much about that... It's at the aftershow that I'm interested in pictures. Is this usually permitted? AND WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE)? Me writing stuff down? I mean, I know a straight interview would be recorded, but what about the stuff that's not part of an interview, just overhearing and observation?

Sorry if I sound really clueless.

(And thank you so much for all the advice so far Lady Kate!)

Access to proper aftershows/parties really is a question of asking the right people the right questions in a nice way. Being low-key and not necessarily professional, but chilled is the thing. Ask the tour manager, rather than the band.

Arriving around soundcheck is pretty much standard journalistic practice, so be fine about that.
I always do anyway. But, I will be allowed in at this time?

(Kate, you so need AIM.)

I wanted to ask them "What does the guy say at the end of the Just video?" and "If you were a milkshake, what flavor would you be?"

As long as it's put into context, and you don't mind taking the chance of alienating your subject. If you're going to include something contentious, then it's best to have back-up documentation, like a tape-recording or whatever.

The best thing to do is simply have a conversation. Questions like "If you were a milkshake, what flavor would you be?" might be fun to ASK but will it elicit any interesting responses from the band?

I was joking.

It's a running joke with the band that their least favorite question to be asked in an interview is the milkshake one.

I don't want to get too excited yet, but s*l*n.com informed me today that they want the piece.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

=D

I still don't know if it's going to happen. So no celebration yet. Just crossed fingers.

*and myself*

Good luck, Melissa.

JG wants to do the interview.
However he has no time in his schedule, at least not in the immediate months (I'm not going to Italy anymore, :'( ).
He and his publicist have offered me an email interview.
I'm really reluctant to take it. And I know that sounds bratty, I know I should be grateful, but I just really feel like it'll be pretty worthless all around. It's just going to be a completely uninsightful question and answer session. And I'm afraid that if I take it, I'll have used up my favors. That I'll never get the in person interview. Which I really, really, really want.
So I don't know what to do.
Do I take what they're offering and risk never getting the live interview?
Do I hold out and risk getting absolutely nothing?
I've worked three years for this and I don't want to fucking screw it up.

if you fold and accept then you drop way down the queue (ie second interview = just not a priority)

JG WANTS TO DO THE INTERVIEW!! So be flexible in regard to their doubtless heavy publicity schedule but firm in regard to it being person-to-person (does this inc.phone?)

It's another fine Messianen! Pfft!

also it's down to how much space whichever magazine gives it whether or not you go face to face or not. My rules are if it's an 'introductory' piece or a 1000+ words feature, go for the face to face.
Well, as of this moment I still don't have a publication. Though when his solo soundtrack gets a release date, it should be quite easy to get one interested. But yeah, I'm basically doing this on my own.

Go on, give us a clue, please?

email interviews aren't that bad as long as you have time for follow ups

check yr email from my work addy, but i'll be back home in abt three hours, which wd be better for me really

check yr email from my work addy, but i'll be back home in abt four hours, which wd be better for me really