Interview with Zac Rich of Swept Away TV
Music Video Press: We're here with Zac Rich in Boca Raton and we're going to talk all about Swept Away TV. Okay, first question Zac, How did Swept Away TV come to be?
Zac Rich: Swept Away TV came to be because of my two sisters had way too much free time and decided to start a singing group, which didn't go over too well, because the pop thing wasn't exactly big. So after the whole realization that they can't really get into the music business from a singing group, they decided to form a TV show. The local tv station down here asked them to put it all together. So, when they first started Swept Away TV it was all just boy bands and pop music. Then when they left, I took it over and turned it into a more alternative indie rock station. We are on in 64 different markets now.
MVP: Here's the big second question. You've interview hundreds and hundreds of bands. Since your show is very interview driven, what are the top 3 interviews and band you'd like to interview but haven't.
ZR: Top 3 interviews would have to be NOFX, Papa Roach, The Academy Is. Top band I'd like to interview but haven't Incubus.
MVP: Alright. You guys in two years, have expanded from 1 outlet to 64 cities. Is that correct?
ZR: yes and now 2 internet tv stations as well. We just won a grant from Journeys Shoes and Shine to help keep the show going! Since we are a not for profit every little bit helps.
MVP: People love this show! What do you envision the quintessential TV viewer to be, and who is that person?
ZR: Well, the viewer is between the ages of 14 and 21, and is probably a really indie rock driven person who likes music. But there's also people who want to find new music and watch the show.Some people watch to see me screw up too.
MVP: What are the emails like that you get from your viewers? Are you able to answer them all and are they appreciative of what you're doing?
ZR: We're able to answer all of the emails. Some are appreciative, some are very stalker driven. We have a girl who works on the show that people like to watch. She's really dark and pretty.Over the past 6 years we have had some memorable girls on this show. People still email and call looking for them!
MVP: What's next for Swept Away TV? How are you going to continue your world domination here? Are you going to continue to get more outlets? What happens when you graduate in May?
ZR: I'n still around, because I go to college in Boca Raton. As for more outlets, probably. We're going to reach 100 soon and maybe be on some big television network, hopefully.
MVP: I've watched your show, there's lots of personality in the interviews. Any advice to other video shows as to how to approach an interview?
ZR: Go in and be a good listener. Everyone's like "do research, do this." Yes but listen to what the band has to say before you say the next question. Just go in, have a few generic questions in your head. Ask those questions and then more questions will formed from their answers. Don't let anything they say make you forget why you are there. When I watch old interviews, I start laughing at how young we were and how the bands played with our heads! They taught us about masturbation, partying and playing video games...and we listened!
MVP: Being a good listener is great, but what would you consider questions that you always have in your mind when you go to see and band and you're going to interview them?
ZR: Favorite city to play, inspirations, how they got started, how they know each other, what's your name, what do you do for the band, name of the band, how did you get it? Stuff like that.
MVP: How about asking them about the specific video, or what it was like to shoot it, and who directed it?
ZR: We would ask if they have a single out. And if they say yes, then we go, "do you have a video for this single?" Then if they say no, you feel kind of stupid. But if they say yes, then you just sort of go with that.
MVP: Any closing thoughts as we finish up this interview?
ZR: I have salsa all over me.