Please adapt these to your own needs and circumstances. Be careful when requesting a person to interview. For many, this is a difficult task. The first step in conducting an interview is to consider the equipment you will need. Tape recording and note-taking are the most common means of recording oral history.
Tape recording is preferable.
It allows you to capture your narrator's stories and experiences completely and accurately, as well as make a lasting record of his or her voice. At first the people you interview might feel a little uncomfortable with a tape recorder, but after the interview gets going they'll forget that it is even there. Always keep a pen and paper with you during a tape recorded interview so you can note important points or jot down follow-up questions that come to mind. Practice using the tape recorder before your interview so that you are familiar with how it works. If you are at ease with your equipment, it will help to put your informant at ease also.