Robert Scoble

"Shel Israel is no longer part of http://www.fastcompany.tv. That is correct. The changes we made to http://www.fastcompany.tv/work... were made due to community feedback, in particular due to Dennis Howlett and Allen Stern's criticism of that show. We made several changes in reaction to their feedback. As to the guy who says "fastcompany.tv sucks" that's great, but why not be constructive? I'm very interested in constructive feedback and am working to make our shows the best available. Today we have several exclusives, including lots of interviews with members of congress. If that's "sucking" well, then, I want more "sucking." This is content no other tech video blogger is bringing to you." - Robert Scoble

you're doing great Scoble. Always engaging content and your site/twitter/friendfeed posts are what I wake up to every morning in addition to my Yahoo! Mail. - Randy Ksar

Thanks, Randy, I appreciate it and will try too bring you great content. Tomorrow I'm interviewing a couple of famous architects in Los Angeles, that should be fun! - Robert Scoble

Can you give any names Robert (the architects)? Ed Niles perhaps? - Cains

I recommend more high quality editing. You know music and fancy images and a deep narrator voice and some quirky jokes and a pretty host. - Bjorn Tipling

The button on coat looks funny - Mário Pires

Steve Jones and Dan Meis. Meis designed the Los Angeles NFL Stadium. Steve designs restaurants. Here's an article about him: http://www.findingdulcinea.com... - Robert Scoble

Bjorn: no matter how much editing we do it'll never be enough. My videos aren't going to be entertaining, the way, say, a puppet show is. My videos are about conversations with people who you can't usually have conversations with. Famous architects. CEOs. Congressmen. Famous photographers. Business innovators. Etc. My focus is always on the conversation and getting you into the room. Not on cool graphic effects or deep voices or well-done music/edits, etc. - Robert Scoble

Awesome. Have they been in Dwell before? I'm sure they have. That magazine is great for architects and the publisher came to Yahoo! to speak last year when I was working there (laid-off in Feb.). - Randy Ksar

Thanks, I'm a fan of Meis. Staples Center was a turning point for arenas and you can see it's influence on many newer buildings. But the new LA stadium looks unbelievable, it's design is unlike of any other venue. For people who haven't seen it, check http://www.losangelesfootballs... - Cains

I feel a sudden inspiration to remark: Robert Scoble is definitely one of the coolest guys I've encountered on the net (and I thank Friendfeed for that opportunity). Incredible energy and curiosity about the world, and indefatigable cheerfulness. I assume he must really be ten guys, because all of his many comments on Friendfeed are thoughtful and sharp as a tack. We need more Scobles on the planet. - Sean McBride

Sean, I really appreciate comments like yours. In a world where it seems so appropriate to just rip everyone to shreds, I wish more people looked for the good in others, rather than just the bad. - Robert Scoble

mr. scoble is something of a genius, an everyman who moves in very special company, an encyclopedia with a human touch ... which is why i come to this page just before bed here in bangalore, to tune in to what is real .... enjoy .... - Gregory Lent

Robert - I've observed some interesting social dynamics here and concluded that some of the attacks on you are motivated by envy, pure and simple. You've won a large following by dint of sheer excellence and enthusiasm -- the free marketplace at its best -- and that success has come with a certain cost, apparently. In any case, keep Scobleizing on all cylinders and in best spirits, and ignore the petty sniping. - Sean McBride

Honestly, i like the interviews on FastCompany, i think they are unique and i haven't seen anyone else giving us the kind of exposure that you guys bring behind the scene of the tech world. - Nir Ben Yona

Robert, I have to be honest here. I have never watched a full video of yours. ( i should do that sometime). Anways, i think u are one of those interesting guys who respects others opinion and at the same provide ur feedback. You are doing one hell of job, keep up the great work. I like the conversations you initiate, very valuable and thoughful - Omfut

i have a love-hate relationship with your videos. Just about everything you post is interesting and of interesting subjects. The problem i have is the lack of interview skills. Most interviews are choppy and hard to watch, borderline embarrassing because there is no chemistry. That being said, you have a knack for "getting the story" and that's something hard to compete with. If the other part of it can be addressed then you have an untouchable combination. - Carlos Ayala

Carlos: anything actionable that you'd suggest? - Robert Scoble

@Carlos i'm not a media pro but this is exactly what i like about FastCompany, the direct connection with the interviewee, the sincere and open attitude without the over editing attribute that characterizes the "old fashion" channels. - Nir Ben Yona via twhirl

Well, I am by no means an authority on the subject. But I know that watching those interviewers that you admire and imitating what they do, might be a start. Radio interviewers may be an other avenue to look to for ideas. Lately, some of the interviews, mostly political in nature, on NPR have captivated me. They have a knack for keeping the interview and the interviewee, if you will, on track. There is no choppiness to the flow and their voices are very confident and in control. - Carlos Ayala

i apologize for not being able to articulate this any better. - Carlos Ayala

one other thing i want to mention, which may be a key to your flow is this: your interviews/videos seem to come across like spur of the moment. As though you were sneaking up on your subjects. I realize that there is some planning on the back end for everything you do. Maybe a line of questioning that is prepared in some manner and not strayed away from may be something else to think about. This way you do not come off like you just thought of the question that is being asked. - Carlos Ayala

Can we get "Robert Scoble wants more sucking" on a T-shirt, anybody? Wait, no, don't block me! I'm totally kidding! Seriously, Robert -- I think you guys deserve some credit for responding to community feedback. It sounds like you're really looking for constructive criticism and doing your best to ignore people who are being overly critical because it was you an Shel, not because of some of the content itself. Good luck with the new direction of the show. - Omar Gallaga

Robert, do you watch your own shows? All of them? All the way through? - Michael Markman

Not sure that I agree with Carlos. Different interviewers have different styles, and Robert's style is definitely a conversational style. If you listen to him for more than two seconds, you'll hear that his goal is to have an interesting conversation every day. Someone who preferred an analytical approach, or a confrontational approach, may approach things differently. But conversations are...um...conversations, and they could go off into tangents. (Look at this Disqus entry for an example of tangential pursuits.) - Ontario Emperor

@Ontario Emperor I follow what you are saying and I agree with your point to an extent. What I think is happening is that Robert approaches his interviews nervously. His excitement gets the better of him and it is evident. I am not sure how to articulate this any better, but there is an uncomfortable chopiness to the interview that manifests a feeling of embarrassment on my end as the viewer. I still enjoy the video, but I also see that there is a potential there that is begging to be tapped. - Carlos Ayala

I understand both your points but I actually like the conversation style, it just needs a bit of honing (an unfair comparison but Jon Stewart has perfected it). The style is hard to master as while you've got to give your guest room to go a little off-topic, you've also got to try and reign them in when it becomes everyday banter. - Cains

Michael: yes, I watch most of my shows all the way through. Comparing me to Jon Stewart is interesting. Do you know how many writers and producers he has? I was on CNBC and they have tons. Also Donny Deutsch's show often isn't live and they go back and redo parts that suck. I am doing conversations, not entertainment. - Robert Scoble

Writers & Producers don't help when you're interviewing someone. Sure you've got researchers who can help bring up interesting facts about your guest, but when the light goes on, you're on your own. I wasn't comparing you to him exactly, I was comparing the style. Jon never seems above or below his guest, it feels more like a conversation with an audience. - Cains

Robert's conversations aren't always slick or polished, but for me, that's part of the charm -- most of us have hundreds of channels of slick programming, but a lot of that content isn't compelling. Robert's interest and enthusiasm for the guests are apparent, and the shows are kind of like the conversations you'd see in a tech conference hallway. - Dave Pelland

FWIW, I trust Robert in what he is trying to do and will do. Do I always like the bugger nope. Do I agree to disagree with him at times, YES. But at the end of the day, methinks that at the end of his career he is going to be some sort of Larry KIng (CNN), that has interviewed near practically every hot shot in the universe. A tortoise does not move fwd, without sticking its neck out and remember the tortoise always wins the race with the Hare !! AT the end of the day, he's still green. What matters .. - Peter Dawson

<cont> what matters it that he genuinely wants to do shit and move the conversation into the public zone. there is a balance that companies need seek (And also readers) , when they deal with this paradigm. Its a new paradigm, its stuff we don't know how it works, its his neck on the line. I salute him for that. - Peter Dawson

Larry King? OK, Robert doesn't ask Mike Wallace-like confrontational questions, but I hope he doesn't develop King's voice or gambling or marital habits. - Ontario Emperor via fftogo

Cains: that is totally NOT true. A producer DRAMATICALLY affects the quality of the show. I saw this first hand on Donny Deutsch's show. If the producer were not there Donny would suck really badly. - Robert Scoble

Let us all remember we are talking about the medium of the internet, which allows people to do things differently. If we take Mahalo & Calacanis interview as an example, does it comply with national TV standards? probably not, but it sure delivers the information behind the scenes of a company who wants to dominant the searching market, the kind of info i haven't seen in any of the common polished channels. - Nir Ben Yona

<cont> Has anyone seen an interview with Scribd CEO somewhere else? Has anyone seen an interview with Evernote CEO demonstrating his latest iPhone feature in any other place? Has anyone seen a direct interview with Twitter founders the way it was presented on FastCompany? Boy, i don't even think those compelling TV anchors have ever heard about it. - Nir Ben Yona

Robert; Thats a little different. Were you redoing parts of the interview? On some sets thats the norm, on others the interviewer just has an earpiece and the producer will prod/yell if the interview stalls or remind you of a talking point. I'm trying to think of any CNBC live journo that has a conversational style, no name pops up. It's news so it will be more structured - Cains

@ Ontario " hope he doesn't develop King's voice or gambling or marital habits", regardless of his personal shortcomings, the Larry King show is one of strong Revenue streams for CNN and with the highest view rating across time. Suffice to say, that core issue is that we DONT focus on the problem rather thrieve in an envorinment where we take pot shots at a person's shortcoming !! - Peter Dawson