How to Work the Red Carpet

We've all seen the scene: Celebrities strolling and posing on the red carpet, draped in their finest gowns and jewels, smiling for the sea of popping flashbulbs and zooming TV cameras. But the red carpet isn't all about glitz and glamour—for journalists, it's a job. Learn some tricks of that trade.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• digital or mini-tape recorder
• small notebook, pen, pencil

1. Contact the press liaison for the red-carpet event well before it's scheduled to take place. Most likely you will be required to be part of an accredited news organization before you will be granted permission to cover the event.
2. The press liaison should tell you how to obtain proper press credentials and paperwork for the event. In many cases, a press office is set up on the grounds. You'll need to visit this office before the event to pick up your media pass and any other identifying materials. Be advised: These press offices are often disorganized, so arrive early so as to avoid any last-minute scrambling.
3. Arrive early for the event itself. You may be the only journalist there at that point, but it's best to give yourself enough time to stake out or find your place along the red carpet and get the lay of the land. Use this time to brush up on the faces and names of the folks who are likely to walk by, and think about what questions to ask on the fly. If you can choose your spot, try to set up closer to the start of the carpet than the end. Celebrities are often fatigued by the end of the walk and hurry through last interviews.
4. Stand your ground. Other journalists may try to muscle you out of your spot, especially if they have TV cameras or a big name and you don't. Remember, you deserve to be there as much as anyone else.
5. When you spot a star you need to interview, be aggressive in attracting that person's attention. The celebrities are typically accompanied and ushered through the line by a publicist. Try to catch the publicist's eye in order to secure time with the star. In many cases, publicists walk the line first and ask if you want to speak with their clients. If it's someone you don't want to speak to, don't hesitate to say so. It feels rude to say "no thanks," but the publicists expect to hear that.
6. Keep your interviews short and sweet. Ask the most important questions first, because there's always a chance the celebrity will move on before you're done with her. There's no need to preface your questions or for there to be continuity from one question to another. Avoid clichéd questions like, "What are you most looking forward to at tonight's show?" Instead opt for specific questions about their lives, the news and what they're wearing.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to tape all of your interviews, but make sure to write down any important points, in case the recorder breaks down or mistakenly is muted or on pause.
• Always bring both a pen and a pencil. If it rains or snows and your notebook paper gets a little bit wet, a pen won't work.
• Make sure you can comfortably hold on to all of this, and any other equipment, so that you don't end up fumbling during an interview. This might cause the celebrity to move on.
• Try to come up with creative questions. If you entertain the star, he might be likely to stick around longer.