Lessons Learned

I just got back from redoing my interviews at Garema Place in Civic. I am obviously annoyed that about eight of my interviews were totally wasted by my technological incompetance. I have figured out that I either didn't turn the microphone on, or messed around somehow with the output levels. Two of my interviews at Woden were also wasted - the people sound like chipmunks! I remember my tutor briefly warning us to do something so we could prevent this, but I have no idea what it was. I'm kicking myself for not writing it down.

Thankfully, after three separate outings I feel very confident and stable in my ability to go up to random people and ask their opinion. Woden and Belconnen were definite problem areas and I think it was because where I was situated. Both times I parked myself outside where people were walking in - people were either too busy getting to the shops, or in a hurry to get home. They tended to avoid me as much as possible.

Garema Place was pleasently different. Everyone was relaxed, walking around or sitting. Even the people who refused to be interviewed were nice about it. I ended up having a lot of fun because most of the time it was just me having a quick chat with strangers I would usually never have contact with. I also was able to engage a larger demographic with several different ethnicities within Canberra's community putting their spin on things. Even though I felt a bit rushed and I don't think I did my interviews up to the standard that they were previously, I actually enjoyed the experience alot more.

I really wish I could have saved a lot of my other interviews though. Here were some key interviews that were lost:

- Opinion from a man who had actually become a founding member of the future soccer team.
- Opinion from a man who had signed a petition calling for an A-League team.
- An international perspective from an African man now set in Canberra's community.

I also felt I did better in actual questioning on the interviews I lost - I know it sounds like I am lying or talking myself up, I really felt I interviewed best on my second outing.

I still have to edit the whole piece together so have set aside tomorrow to do that.