Funny TikTok Street Interviews
TikTok street interviews, also known as vox pops, are all the rage nowadays. They allow people to gather public opinion on a variety of issues in real time.
However, there are some issues with this trend. People can be harassed or even made to look stupid.
One example is the “take it or double it” challenge.
1. Billy on the Street
There are few people who can run around with a camera and ask random strangers questions like New York comedian Billy Eichner. His cult-following Billy on the Street, which began on Funny or Die and has since been picked up by Tru TV, features Eichner ambushing pedestrians with crazy pop culture trivia questions that they must answer correctly to win money.
This year, the series has included a round with Lupita Nyong’o where participants try to guess her movies, and a Lightning Round with Jon Hamm where contestants attempt to list their favorite romantic comedies. Billy and Elena also challenge New Yorkers to guess their most patriotic songs, and have them complete a Scientology-inspired obstacle course with Rachel Dratch.
The episodes feature Eichner’s signature interview style that falls somewhere between the gossipy best friend you just met and a rabid attack dog. While some of the videos have gotten criticism for their content, most of the interviews are hilarious.
2. What’s Poppin? with Davis
Davis Burleson has 1.7 million followers across his davisburleson and _whatspoppinshow TikTok accounts. He also has a YouTube channel where he does impressions of Jeffree Star, which has earned him millions of views.
The Houston native and New School student is a natural in front of the camera, and he has an impressive ability to ask people questions about their lives that are sure to entertain. He recently collaborated with Beatnic, an eclectic vegan eatery that serves a variety of delicious dishes.
Ideally, the best time to conduct a man on the street interview is at a party or mixer when everyone is already loosened up and chatting. Oftentimes, these events are held after the work day has ended or at night, and are usually accompanied by drinks. This is the perfect environment for a funny man on the street interview. The interviewees are loosened up and ready to talk about anything. All you have to do is prepare a strong premise and start asking some questions.
3. TikTok Interviews
There are a number of popular TikTok creators that interview people on the street to find out what they think about certain topics. Some of these accounts focus on controversial issues, such as abortion or racism, while others are more lighthearted in nature. For example, the account Salary Transparent Street asks random people about their salaries and other aspects of their careers.
However, these interviews are not always fair or accurate. For instance, some interviewees have reported that the creator will purposely skew their responses in order to get more views. In addition, the presence of the interviewer may influence the data that is collected.
If you’re interested in working for TikTok, be prepared to go through a series of progressive interviews. These interviews will usually be conducted over video call, and each round is eliminatory – you must pass each one in order to move on to the next. Many of the questions will center around real-life problems that the company faces, and you should be prepared to answer them thoroughly.
4. Recesstherapy
For the past six months, Julian Shapiro-Barnum has been interviewing children for his Recess Therapy web series. He’s talked to kids all over New York City about a range of topics, from the summer vibe to lying and even that taboo subject, peeing in your pants.
One of the key benefits of a street interview or face-to-face interviews is that the interviewer can catch both verbal and non-verbal cues from the respondent. They can also note down additional information about the surroundings or environment that is peculiar to the specific place where they’re conducting the interview. This is called Computer-assisted personal interviewing or CAPI.
Many individuals who participate in these types of interviews have complained that the interviewer will offer food as an incentive to take part, and that people with larger bodies are often disproportionately targeted with negative comments about their weight. That type of exploitation can be harmful to the interviewee’s self-image and overall well-being.