worst interview EVER
well, that was a disaster.
i neglected to include one crucial scenario in yesterday's post about waiting: when you wait, and then your phone rings, and -- out of the blue -- the person with whom you'd requested an interview (but from whom you have not yet received any kind of yes, no or maybe answer) is on the line, ready to be interviewed. immediately.
crap!
thankfully, the fellow in question today was merely a supplementary "expert source" for a pet story, so it's not like george clooney was on the other end of the phone, tapping his fingers and making charming remarks while i scrambled. and the fellow in question was a rather gruff, humourless guy who sounded like he was being forced into this interview by a superior and really not interested in speaking to me.
i, of course, was in my pyjamas and getting ready to have breakfast when the phone rang, so i didn't have anything ready. i told him i'd call him back in three minutes, which i did...after quickly getting my tape recorder, grabbing a tape and setting up the phone to record what i was sure would be bland commentary.
we chatted, he was informative (though terse) and, just as i was about to launch into my final question, i suddenly realized the tape recorder had stopped recording. OMG, when did THAT happen? how much of the interview had i lost?? nothing i did could make the recorder start up again, so i just gave up. once i got off the phone, realizing instantly that i'd now have to start over with a new expert source and do another interview, i took out the tape to see that it was somehow melted right at the spot where it had stopped. i have no idea how or why this happened, but i suspect it has something to do with me grabbing the first tape i saw...which had previously contained a very delightful interview with lauren graham...conducted, oh, seven years ago? perhaps the tape was just plain old.
whatever. time to move on.
[epilogue: so, four hours and exactly one efficient phone call later, i found a replacement expert (a vet), had a fantastic (informative, friendly, fun) interview and even wound up with an invitation to come visit his clinic for a tour so that, when i adopt a feline friend of my own, i'll already have a vet!]
15 comments:
Oh no...that sucks my friend. that's what you get for trying to tape over lorelai gilmore.
well, the interview i just completed was taped over a hilarious leslie grossman interview i did for a food story. she was a riot! alas now, just a memory. ;-)
Is it horrible that I am laughing?
laughter is always welcome here.
I think I remember that Leslie Grossman story ;-)
(((((Lucy)))))
..ye-aah....maybe you shouldn't adopt anything alive.
Is it not possible to buy new audio tapes in Canada? Do you need for me to go to Target?
oh, har-har-HAR. ;-)
i'm trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. i have a huge box full of audio tapes (almost all of which are of the non-melted variety), so i've been reusing those. in my haste to tape the gruff man, i didn't have time to check for melty spots!
this story would be SO much better had you been interviewing someone HOT!
if all goes well, i will be doing just that shortly.
*fingers crossed*
oh!?!?
...well uncross your fingers NOW (show off) and practice hitting "RECORD"!
perhaps "shortly" was overstating it. within the next two weeks.
PLENTY of time to ensure tapes are non-melty, recorders are functioning and questions are insightful.
....but yer gonna have finger cramps!
very true. they are uncrossed.
mine too. ;¬)
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