Here are a few points to consider to make the most of the interview and to make you look and sound great.

Camera - Try to use a modern device, something with an HD camera and enough horsepower and connectivity bandwidth to avoid dropped frames and freezes. Make sure the camera doesn’t have smudges on it and is clean. Please test your setup in advance so we can get into our conversation without stress.
Connect - To avoid a last-minute delay, you should make sure you have the Chrome browser installed in advance of the day of the interview. We will include a URL for the web application that we use to record high-quality video and sound in the calendar invitation for the interview. We use a product called Riverside.fm which records the show locally to your hard drive and uploads it to the cloud. There will be a low-fi video and audio connection so we can chat freely. After the show, it may take a few minutes to complete the upload. Just leave your browser while the transfer is made.
Sound - Find a quiet place to locate your computer - ideally a room with no other people around. Please wear a headset - the regular Apple headset works fine. This will eliminate any echo and ensure the audio is clear.
Silence - your phone and turn off notifications on your laptop
Light - Make sure your face is well lit and that it is clear on camera. The best lighting is the natural kind. If you can, face into the window, this is best.
Angle - Try to position the camera on your device so that it's at eye level. Laptops on your desk should ideally be elevated with boxes to avoid a shot up your nose and of the ceiling behind you.
Eye line - Try to have the Skype window showing your caller (me) as near to the camera as you can and try to look at the camera when we talk.
Background - Try to make sure the background of the shot doesn’t upset the camera exposure and represents you well. Having lights and other windows in the background can mess with the exposure. Avoid trash and bags that may distract viewers. Feel free to place your company’s logo on a sign.
Props - If you have a product or a physical offering - bring some samples along so we can do some show and tell in your introduction.
Don’t anticipate - We sometimes share some of the topics or questions we are interested in asking about but please don’t anticipate the questions and get into a monolog. Feel comfortable with short answers.

Exploring the World of Machine Customers

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