A trained person conducting the interview will hardly ever ask a yes or no question or sometimes referred to as a one word response. But if you are in this predicament there are things you can do to get past it. If asked , “Do you enjoy performing in front of large crowds?” for example then your job is to take the question and expand on it. Never simply reply yes or no or worse yet never say ya!!

A better response would be MOST DEFINITELY THE LARGER THE BETTER, but when the audience is small I just make believe there are thousands of people out there watching me sing.

Another question could be presented to you as: AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START SINGING? Normal answer… 5 or 6 whatever year you started. A better way to ask the question would be TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED SINGING. Now you have the ability to take off and expand as far as you care to go.

Another good rule to always follow no matter how big you become in the business is to give credit to your record label and producer. Some people may view this as sucking up but the music industry people prefer to call it just plain good business.

Try your best to always use SIR or MAM in your interview. You may think it is old fashioned or a southern thing. I assure you it works. People watching or listening to your interview will say THAT BOY OR GIRL HAS MANNERS.

And last don’t ever tell a fib or something that can be used against you for years to come. If you fabricate a story that you know didn’t really happen just remember it is documented on tape that you said it. For ever and ever it can be used against you. By the same token if you have something to say that is truly unique it can go down in the archives as YOURS forever and ever. Example: When Johnny Carson asked Chet Atkins in an interview on National Television, “Tell us Chet do you read sheet music?” Answer: NOT ENOUGH TO HURT MY PLAYING.

THE BRADFORD FILES