During the Interview: Stay Present, Capture Smart

The Art of Being Present While Capturing Everything

The best interviews happen when you're fully engaged with your guest—listening actively, responding naturally, and creating authentic moments. InterviewCue lets you capture everything important without breaking that presence.

This guide shares proven strategies for conducting great interviews while effortlessly capturing the moments that matter.

Physical Setup & Positioning

Device Placement

The golden rule: You should see InterviewCue with a quick glance, not a head turn.

Ideal positioning:

Desktop/Laptop:

  • Screen directly in front of you
  • Slightly below eye level
  • 18-24 inches away
  • Angled up slightly

iPad/Tablet:

  • Propped on stand next to monitor
  • Or positioned below webcam
  • At comfortable glance angle
  • Landscape orientation recommended

Dual Screen Setup:

  • Video call on primary screen
  • InterviewCue on secondary screen
  • Both at easy glance distance

[PLACEHOLDER: Diagram showing ideal device positioning]

Lighting Considerations

For video interviews:

  • Position lights so they don't create screen glare
  • If InterviewCue screen is too bright, lower brightness
  • Test before guest arrives
  • Consider using Night Mode or dark theme

For audio-only:

  • Lighting less critical
  • Adjust screen brightness for comfort
  • Reduce eye strain for long interviews

Ergonomics

Setup checklist:

  • [ ] Comfortable chair
  • [ ] Good posture possible
  • [ ] Screen at comfortable height
  • [ ] Keyboard in easy reach (for hotkeys)
  • [ ] Water within reach
  • [ ] No neck strain to see screen

Pro tip: If you're straining to see InterviewCue, fix it before starting. Physical discomfort ruins presence.

Staying Present with Your Guest

The Presence Paradox

The challenge: You need to:

  • Listen actively to your guest
  • Navigate questions at the right time
  • Capture important moments
  • Stay in flow

The solution: InterviewCue's design philosophy: Glance, don't stare.

The 90/10 Rule

90% eye contact with guest (or camera for remote)
10% glances at InterviewCue (for questions and hotkeys)

What this looks like:

❌ Bad:

  • Staring at InterviewCue constantly
  • Reading questions verbatim
  • Looking down while guest talks
  • Missing non-verbal cues

✅ Good:

  • Glance at question to start
  • Look at guest while asking
  • Listen without looking at screen
  • Quick glance for next question
  • Quick glance to press hotkey

Active Listening

The most important skill isn't in InterviewCue—it's in your ears.

Listen for:

  • 🎯 Stories - "Let me tell you about a time..."
  • 💡 Insights - "What people don't realize is..."
  • 🔥 Passion - Energy spikes, voice changes
  • 🤔 Hesitation - Pauses before answering
  • 📍 Breadcrumbs - Mentions of other interesting topics
  • ⭐ Quotable moments - Perfectly expressed thoughts

When you hear these, press a hotkey! But keep your eyes on the guest.

Natural Flow vs. Script Following

Rigid interviewer:

  • Asks question 1
  • Guest answers
  • Immediately asks question 2
  • Guest mentions something interesting
  • Interviewer ignores it, asks question 3

Natural interviewer:

  • Asks question 1
  • Guest answers and mentions something intriguing
  • Interviewer follows up on that
  • Conversation deepens naturally
  • Eventually returns to prepared questions

Use InterviewCue's questions as a guide, not a script.

When to Navigate Questions

Good times to move to next question:

  • Guest finishes a complete thought
  • Natural conversation lull
  • Topic has been fully explored
  • Energy is dropping (change pace)
  • Guest gives a short answer (move on)

Bad times to move to next question:

  • Guest is mid-story
  • They're building to a point
  • Energy is high (let it ride!)
  • They're about to reveal something
  • Natural follow-ups are flowing

Use arrow keys (← →) to navigate smoothly without disrupting flow.

Event Capture Strategy

The Capture Mindset

Two philosophies:

Philosophy 1: "Capture Everything"

  • Press hotkey liberally
  • Better to over-capture than miss
  • Easier to delete than recreate
  • Low friction, high coverage

Philosophy 2: "Capture Intentionally"

  • Only capture truly important moments
  • Cleaner timeline
  • Less post-production cleanup
  • Requires better real-time judgment

Recommendation: Start with Philosophy 1, evolve toward Philosophy 2.

When to Capture Events

Audio Issues (Key 1) - Press when:

  • Guest coughs or sneezes
  • Phone rings or notifications
  • Background noise (dogs, sirens)
  • Audio glitches or drops
  • Connection issues (remote)
  • Any editing points for sound

Flow/Follow-up (Key 2) - Press when:

  • Guest mentions "we should talk about that"
  • Interesting topic comes up mid-answer
  • Future episode ideas emerge
  • Related questions occur to you
  • Guest wants to circle back later

Highlights (Key 3) - Press when:

  • Guest says something quotable
  • Perfect sound bite for promotion
  • Key insight or takeaway
  • Funny or memorable moment
  • Main points for show notes
  • "That's going in the title" thoughts

Segments (Key 4) - Press when:

  • Major topic shift
  • Natural conversation break
  • "Let's talk about..." moments
  • Clear chapter boundaries
  • Interview sections end

Custom Notes (Key 5) - Press when:

  • Anything else worth remembering
  • Resources mentioned
  • Names to follow up with
  • Post-production reminders
  • Links to add later

Quick Capture vs. Detailed Notes

Quick capture (recommended during interview):

Press 3 → Type "Beijing story" → Enter

Time: 2 seconds
Benefit: Doesn't break flow

Detailed capture:

Press 3 → Type "Amazing story about childhood in Beijing - use this for promo. Perfect quote about sustainability being a foundation, not a feature. Get transcript excerpt for social media." → Enter

Time: 15 seconds
Drawback: Breaks presence

Best practice: Quick capture during, detailed notes after.

Don't Over-Capture

Symptoms of over-capturing:

  • Pressing hotkeys every 30 seconds
  • Breaking presence repeatedly
  • Timeline full of minor events
  • Guest feels monitored
  • You're distracted from listening

How to avoid:

  • Ask yourself: "Will I really use this?"
  • Look for moments, not everything
  • Trust your instincts
  • Less is often more

Balance: Capture enough to be useful, not so much it's overwhelming.

Using Hotkeys Effectively

Building Muscle Memory

First interview: Looking at keyboard, thinking
Third interview: Starting to feel natural
Fifth interview: Pure muscle memory

Tips to accelerate:

  • Practice Mode before real interviews
  • Use hotkeys consistently (don't fall back to mouse)
  • Position hands near number keys
  • Focus on 1-3 keys first, expand later

Physical Positioning

Optimal hand placement:

Left hand: Rest near number keys (1-5)
Right hand: Mouse or home row

Why: Quick access to event capture without searching.

Seamless Capture Workflow

Master this flow:

  1. Guest says something quotable
  2. Continue listening (don't stop!)
  3. Casually press 3 (no looking)
  4. Type 2-4 words ("great quote")
  5. Press Enter
  6. Back to guest immediately

Total time: 2-3 seconds
Guest perception: Uninterrupted conversation

[PLACEHOLDER: Diagram showing seamless capture flow]

Reference Links During Interview

Press L to open links anytime:

Perfect for:

  • "Let me pull up that article you mentioned"
  • "Show me the demo..." (opens link)
  • "I want to see your website" (click)
  • Guest mentions something specific

How it looks:

  • Press L
  • Links modal appears
  • Click link → opens in new tab
  • Press Esc to close modal
  • Back to interview

Pro tip: This impresses guests and shows you're prepared.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Looking at Screen Too Much

The problem:

  • Breaks eye contact
  • Feels like reading notes
  • Guest feels unheard
  • Awkward energy

The fix:

  • Reduce question length (easier to remember)
  • Trust your preparation
  • Glance, don't stare
  • Look at guest while asking questions

Forgetting to Capture

The problem:

  • Great moments pass
  • Nothing marked for post-production
  • Can't find quotes later
  • More work afterward

The fix:

  • Set intention before interview ("I will capture")
  • Start with liberal capturing
  • Use Practice Mode to build habit
  • Review timeline mid-interview (pauses)

Technical Distractions

The problem:

  • Obsessing over recording levels
  • Checking audio constantly
  • Adjusting settings mid-interview
  • Forgetting to be present

The fix:

  • Test everything before starting
  • Trust your setup
  • Focus on conversation, not tech
  • Avoid perfectionism during recording

Rigid Question Following

The problem:

  • Asking question 5 when guest is talking about question 8's topic
  • Interrupting good flow
  • Missing natural transitions
  • Feeling scripted

The fix:

  • Jump to relevant question (J key!)
  • Skip questions that got answered
  • Follow the energy
  • Let conversation lead

Breaking Flow for Notes

The problem:

  • Guest mid-story: "Hold on, let me write this down"
  • Momentum killed
  • Guest loses train of thought
  • Awkward silence

The fix:

  • Quick capture only (2-3 words)
  • Detailed notes come later
  • Stay in flow during recording
  • Trust you'll remember with timestamp

Emergency Scenarios

Battery Dying

If you notice low battery:

Immediate actions:

  1. Quick save (InterviewCue auto-saves, but be aware)
  2. Connect power if possible
  3. Switch to backup device if necessary
  4. Stay calm, don't panic

Prevention:

  • Charge devices fully before interview
  • Have power cable nearby
  • Check battery before starting
  • Use backup device if worried

Internet Issues (Remote Interviews)

If connection drops:

For you:

  1. InterviewCue saves constantly (you're okay)
  2. Continue recording locally if possible
  3. Reconnect when able
  4. Events will sync when back online

For guest:

  1. Stay calm, reassure them
  2. "Let's pick up where we left off"
  3. Edit out the interruption later
  4. Use as bathroom break if needed

Prevention:

  • Use wired connection if possible
  • Close bandwidth-heavy apps
  • Have backup recording (local + cloud)
  • Warn guest this might happen

App Issues or Crashes

If InterviewCue freezes or crashes:

Don't panic:

  1. Your recording software is separate (still recording)
  2. Events saved up to last action
  3. Reopen InterviewCue
  4. Return to interview
  5. Continue capturing

Data loss:

  • Last unsaved event might be lost
  • Everything else is saved
  • Timeline intact
  • Timestamps preserved

Prevention:

  • Use supported browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge)
  • Close other tabs
  • Have backup note-taking method (paper)

Equipment Failures

If microphone fails:

  1. Switch to backup immediately
  2. Keep interview going if possible
  3. Mark the moment (hotkey 1)
  4. Edit or re-record section later

If camera fails (video):

  1. Continue audio-only if guest agrees
  2. Mark the moment
  3. Focus on great audio content

Prevention: Always have backups.

Advanced Techniques

The "Double Listen" Technique

Listen on two levels:

Level 1: Content

  • What they're saying
  • Facts and information
  • Answering the question

Level 2: Subtext

  • How they're saying it
  • Energy and emotion
  • What they're not saying
  • Where passion emerges

Capture Level 2 moments - they're usually the best content.

The "Energy Surf" Technique

Follow the guest's energy:

When energy is high:

  • Let them talk
  • Don't interrupt
  • Ride the wave
  • Capture liberally

When energy drops:

  • Ask energizing question
  • Change topic
  • Take a break if needed
  • Navigate to something engaging

Watch for energy, not just content.

The "Breadcrumb Trail" Technique

Guest drops interesting hints:

"Oh, there's a whole story about that..." "That reminds me of something crazy..." "I've never talked about this publicly, but..."

Capture with Key 2 (Follow-up):

  • Mark the moment
  • Note the breadcrumb
  • Circle back when appropriate
  • Or save for next time

Some of the best content lives in these breadcrumbs.

The "Silent Capture" Technique

Master completely silent captures:

Goal: Guest has no idea you pressed a hotkey

How:

  1. Listen intently to guest
  2. Casually press number key (no looking down)
  3. Modal opens silently
  4. Type 2-3 words
  5. Press Enter
  6. All while maintaining presence

This is the endgame - invisible capture, total presence.

Interview Pacing

Rhythm & Flow

Good interviews have rhythm:

  • Fast sections - Quick-fire questions, energetic
  • Slow sections - Deep stories, reflective
  • Varied pace - Keeps attention
  • Natural breaks - Pauses are okay!

Don't rush. Silence can be powerful.

Managing Time

If running long:

  • Skip lower-priority questions
  • Jump to final question for strong close
  • "We could talk all day, but let's make sure we cover..."

If finishing early:

  • "One more thing I'm curious about..."
  • Ask for expansion on best answers
  • Open question: "What haven't I asked that I should?"

Knowing When to End

Signs to wrap up:

  • Guest energy dropping
  • Natural conclusion reached
  • Time commitment exceeded
  • Quality content captured
  • Everything important covered

Strong endings:

  • "This has been fantastic. Where can people find you?"
  • "Final question: what advice would you give..."
  • "Thank you so much—this was exactly what I hoped for."

Post-Interview Immediate Actions

Right After Recording

Don't forget:

  1. Stop recording (software)
  2. End interview (InterviewCue)
  3. Thank your guest genuinely
  4. Save all files immediately
  5. Backup to cloud/external drive
  6. Quick notes while fresh in mind

Pro tip: Spend 2 minutes adding more detail to timeline events while your memory is fresh.

Quick Reference Checklist

✅ Before Recording:

  • [ ] Equipment tested
  • [ ] InterviewCue open and ready
  • [ ] Questions reviewed
  • [ ] Device positioned well
  • [ ] Phone silenced
  • [ ] Water nearby

✅ During Recording:

  • [ ] 90% eye contact with guest
  • [ ] Listen actively
  • [ ] Capture moments (not everything)
  • [ ] Follow energy, not script
  • [ ] Use hotkeys seamlessly
  • [ ] Stay present

✅ After Recording:

  • [ ] Stop recording
  • [ ] End interview in InterviewCue
  • [ ] Thank guest
  • [ ] Save and backup
  • [ ] Quick timeline review

Related Documentation

Remember

Great interviews are conversations, not interrogations.

Your preparation gives you confidence. Your tools (InterviewCue) give you support. But your presence gives your guest the space to share their best stories.

Stay curious. Listen actively. Capture smartly. Trust the process.

You've got this! 🎙️✨