The Art of Conversation: What is a Just So You Know Recording Session?

When we think about oral histories, we usually think of a researcher conducting interviews with the goal of preserving or understanding a particular event or period in history.  Just So You Know recording sessions are different.  These are not formal interviews – they are intimate conversations between two (or more) people – friends, siblings, spouses, doctors and patients, anyone – to get to know each other better, to ask and answer questions, and to share and preserve personal moments, memories, thoughts, feelings, and life stories.  You talk.  We record.  You keep the DVD.

There are no rules about what you can talk about or what you should not.  Each session is as unique as the people sitting in front of the camera.  We’ve had a grandmother and granddaughter come for a session.  The grandmother brought a box of treasures she collected through her life:  souvenirs from her travels, trinkets and shells given to her by her grandkids, a book she had since she was a schoolgirl, and told her granddaughter the stories behind each one.  Another young woman came alone and made her recording as a gift for her mother to thank her for her love and support.  Two sisters – both with cancer diagnoses – came in and interviewed each other.  They talked about how their parents met, told stories about each other, and asked questions straight from our Conversation Starter Kit. A hospital employee  sat with her doctor to talk about what it was like to go from being his colleague to his patient.  A nine-year-old girl interviewed her mother, a breast cancer survivor, and heard stories about her as a mischievous kid growing up on a farm.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your recording session:

• Think ahead about your questions and topics.  Try to ask open-ended questions.
• But, let the conversation flow, don’t worry about sticking to a script or asking questions in order.
• Be present and focused and listen well.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Let your subject talk.
• Be prepared to laugh and cry together.  Don’t worry about getting emotional.  We supply tissues!
• If you’re nervous at the beginning, do not worry.  Once the conversation starts rolling, you’ll forget all about the camera.  Just remember, you get to sit and spend time with someone you love.  Celebrate that.

We’ve put links below to some sites that talk more about oral histories and the art of conversation.  And of course, our Conversation Starters are here, with question ideas to get you going.

• What is Oral History?
• Wikihow:  How to Have a Great Conversation
• The Art of the Interview:  This is a great TED talk, by Marc Pachter, from the National Portrait Gallery, about why these interviews and conversations matter.  ”Everybody in their lives is waiting for people to ask them questions so that they can be truthful about who they are and how they became what they are.”

So, ask the questions.  Have a great time.  And expect to be surprised.