The Rockin 8

Some interviewees have requested not to do the Rockin 8. What is it? It’s eight random questions from a collection of questions that make people think.

It started with an interview years ago. I could predict what they were going to say before they even started saying it. Because they had prepared for the “approved questions.” It made the interview I had, the same interview that everyone got. The radio tour asked the same who, what, when, where, why and how questions ingrained since school.

It was boring. I hated it. So at the end of the interview I threw out random questions. The interviewee got excited because it was not the same questions and it made them think. It started as five, went as high as ten, then my wife suggested eight.

And the Rockin’ 8 was born.

They are eight questions from over 300 that Sean drops in at the end of every interview. They could be about food, hobbies, current events. If you have one you want Sean to add to the list, drop a comment. The Eight has been called “interesting”, “eye opening” and stupid. No PR firm can prepare a guest for the Eight!

So my friends, you can prepare for an interview, you can prepare for the facts, but you can never prepare for the Rockin’ 8.

Bookers HATE the 8 –

“Is it possible for you to not ask XXXXX the rapid fire questions?  I’m not sure she would appreciate being put on the spot like that.   Thanks Sean! “

Author
Sean D

I love to hear the word yes.

My grandparents were special people, lived through the great depression, and had amazing stories from their time in the Army Air Corps and as a Speech & Hearing Pathologist. Those stories are lost to time because they were never recorded nor saved. That’s on me.

Beyond the Mic was created because our world is a rich tapestry and everyone has a story. My boss once had someone pushing an interview with an American Idol contestant. He didn’t want to do the interview. I poked my head in his office and said, “I got it.” That star told me the four to five minutes of boilerplate interview stuff, but in the last 3 questions the guest opened up in a new way. From one conversation five years ago now over 400 where there is always one piece of gold left in the pan at the end of our time together.

I want to help people record their favorite stories so they are saved forever. Before we begin I’m going to ask you to keep in your head one question. “Will you share with us your story?”

While still playing on the air I had great interview opportunities that never made it to air. Some were due to length, others were because of topic. It was time to flip the table on the rules. Any topic / guest is welcome, but you need to tell a story & must go 'Beyond the Mic.'

It's a conversation series with the best actors, artists, authors and people you need to know. Every guest is shared with authenticity, honesty and originality giving you content you need to share with others.

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