How to Cover Red Carpet Events

Once you have received an assignment to cover a red carpet celebrity driven event, there are a few tools and tricks of the trade that will help you grab the attention of a celebrity and garner great quotes, all the while making your life smooth sailing in the process. Read on to learn how to cover red carpet events.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Recording device
• Note pad
• Pen
• Digital camera
• Cell phone
• Batteries
• Comfortable shoes

1. Once you have RSVPed and secured press coverage status with the public relations agency that is handling the event, print out the press tip sheet from the event and take it with you.
2. Get to the event at the appointed time set aside for the press (usually two hours before the start of the event) and check-in with the publicist. Then find a good spot on the receiving line (right next to the camera crew and photographers, where all the other print media will be standing), hopefully at the front of the queue.
3. Ask for a cheat sheet from the publicist. This is the updated information listing all the celebrities that are suppose to show up and do red carpet interviews.
4. Take out your hand held recording device and check the battery. Carry a backup battery stash in case mid-interview you need a quick replacement. The last thing you want to happen is for the battery to die in your device midway through the event.
5. If this happens, then the backup plan is to take out the notepad and pen and do some note taking. This is not recommended especially when covering red carpet events due to the rapid nature of how fast celebrities come at you and the short time that you'll have with them to get quotes.
6. Look over the questions you want to ask and amend them accordingly. This is just to guide your line of questioning for when the celebrity starts talking--other queries might pop up to ask later. The important thing is to go with the flow and keep on your toes. Rest assure that at least one of your questions will probably be addressed by the other reporters also there so you can just jump on their coattails and grab the same answers.
7. When the celebrities approach, make eye contact and jump in and fire away with your questions. Time is of essence, so be sure to needle in and ask what you really want to know. More importantly, have fun while covering an event.
8. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for you'll be standing for a few hours.
9. Get the camera ready in the instance that you need to take a quick shot of a celebrity (hopefully posing with you).

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