The checklist for a successful shoot day

A successful shoot is 80% preparation. We have seen brilliant guests deliver an average interview simply because they hadn't slept well, hadn't eaten properly, or wore a fine-striped shirt that created moiré on camera. Here is the checklist we send to every guest 48 hours before they arrive at the studio.

48 hours before

• Outfit selected (avoid tight patterns, pure white, and green if using a green screen)
• Episode outline approved and sent to the guest
• A good night's sleep planned (no late night out the evening before)
• Hydration: plenty of water, not too much coffee
• Technical briefing read (framing, microphone, duration)
• Studio address saved offline

The morning of the shoot

• Light meal 2 hours before (avoid heavy carbs and dairy)
• Arrive 20 minutes early to settle in
• Phone switched to aeroplane mode once on site
• Bottle of still water ready (avoid sparkling)
• No alcohol the night before

During the shoot

• Posture: sit back into the chair, feet flat on the floor
• Eye contact: main camera for direct-to-camera, your conversation partner for interviews
• Natural pause between questions (makes editing much easier)
• Restart a sentence if it doesn't come out right ('let me take that again')
• Do not touch the microphone or the lead
• Keep a steady posture (swivel chair movements show up on camera)

Common pitfalls

We regularly see these mistakes, even from experienced guests:

• Speaking too fast due to nerves: take a breath, slow down by 20%
• Finishing sentences with filler words like 'so yeah' or 'basically': best avoided, as it grates on the ear
• Crossing your arms: closes off your posture, reads as defensive
• Looking too much at the host during direct-to-camera segments: the lens must remain your primary conversation partner

Afterwards

• Raw footage retrieval (link sent within 48 hours)
• Immediate debrief notes: what worked, what didn't
• Editor's brief: highlights, cuts to make, preferred clips for Shorts
• Release schedule confirmed
• Artwork and hooks prepared for launch day

Bonus: the mindset

A shoot is a performance. Prepare for it mentally: visualise arriving, the opening question, your best self. The first 5 minutes are always the hardest — but they won't show if you are properly prepared.

“A great shoot means zero surprises. Every surprise has already been anticipated.”