How to Interview Friends and Influence People

How do you become friends with someone instantly? This is something that Noel has been practicing for years now, and has gotten pretty damn good at it. “That’s a skill that I’ve learned via doing thousands of interviews…I can be friends with someone instantaneously.” And while he has a lot of practice, Noel himself is a natural at it. Tall, red hair, big smile, and wearing a charming blue suit, strangers seemed to be drawn to him like a magnet as we walked through Washington Square Park. Left and right people would come up to say hi, ask if they could take a photo, or often, just have a quick conversation.  Luckily, Noel’s an extrovert and loves the experience. “I’m obsessed with collaboration. I’m obsessed with meeting new people.”

One of the biggest reasons Noel does man on the street interviews is because he draws his comedic energy from others. “Oftentimes I feel that I’m not funny when I’m by myself,” he tells me. “It’s a great challenge. How can you be funny in the first 6 seconds? How can you make the viewer laugh immediately?” The man on the street style interviews act as sort of a two-person puzzle. Noel works with comedians of all backgrounds, especially ones with improv sensibilities. For him, above everything else, it’s to make someone have a good time, whether they are participating or viewing. 

This is something I think about a lot. If you’re making something, shouldn’t it be enjoyable for everyone around? I find myself thinking the answer is no. That maybe it should be enjoyable for the viewer, but for the artist, it should be a challenge that makes your head hurt and won’t feel better until you figure the answer out. But meeting someone like Noel has me thinking differently. There’s a best of both worlds mentality when artist and audience become one and the same. Noel lends his mic to allow other people’s voices to speak loud, sometimes louder than his own. “I think deep down everyone wants to be questioned… they want to stand out a little bit,” his friends and sometimes creative partner, Maggie Elder, adds in thoughtfully. Even the shyest person wants a  moment to shine. 

As for Noel’s future, the world’s his street to interview. “I’m riddled with plans, drowning in just concepts and ideas and plans at all times, [but] my lifelong plan is to make as many people laugh as possible…I love New York and I’m never leaving.”