Whether with an audience of one, a gathering of hundreds, or an online presence that touches tens of thousands, we all want to captivate people with what we say. Today’s show covers the specifics of capturing the attention of others with your words. Join us to learn more!

Eva DeVirgilis is an actress and makeup artist. She created a TEDx talk that went viral with nearly one million views. HER Magazine recognized her talk as one of their “Top inspirational TEDtalks to Help You Change Your Life.” Eva has the secret to getting your message so clean, targeted, and engaging that it has the potential to go viral, or at least help you speak in ways that cause people to sit up and take notice. In one-on-one conversations, a boardroom, and groups from 10-10,000, Eva has helpful tips for a tight, focused, engaging message to attract people to you and what you do. She shares specifics about prep work, breathing exercises, and creating your hook. Her coaching is the secret weapon for many top-earning executives, industry leaders, politicians, and influencers, and she empowers many thought leaders to communicate at their highest potential. She brings 20 years of experience in TV, comedy, and business to help you find the creative, passionate, dynamic speaker within you. Eva has taught Creative Presentations at VCU School of Business and loves to help people tell their stories. 

Show Highlights:

• How Eva’s path unfolded to merge her passions of performing, being a makeup artist, and reaching people around the world with her TEDx talk
• How Eva’s talk helped her become a creative communications consultant to help others share their message
• Where to begin with any talk or presentation: Think about your audience--
• What do you want to make them do?
• What do you want to make them feel?
• “Hook them right away, make them feel something, and compel them to action.”
• How Eva’s plan for her TEDx talk narrowed her message to women to forgive themselves, accept themselves, and stop saying, “I’m sorry”
• What Eva learned from Darren Lacroix and Craig Valentine: “Your audience is always listening to WIIFM radio.” (“What’s in it for me?”)
• The bottom line is that it’s all about the audience. 
• How to hook your audience:
• A short, engaging story
• A compelling question
• A shocking fact or statistic
• A compelling quote
• An unusual prop
• Humor
• What do you want your audience to do and feel?
• Have an objective that you want them to do (Eva explains how to use action verbs.)
• Have an objective that you want them to feel (Eva explains what words to use.)
• Why you need a script for a talk or presentation
• How to use your voice as a tool to comfort, activate, and engage
• How to do prep work to center yourself with breathing exercises (4-7-8 breaths) and stretching
• How to go to your big idea after your hook:
• Tell the audience why you are there.
• Use 14 words or less.
• Keep it simple. (Eva explains how to use Patricia Fripp’s formula: “Every _____ can ______ by _____.”)
• Why your intro should come after the hook and big idea
• Why you should chunk your main points into three sections:
• Use the 10-20-30 rule for presentations.
• “Don’t be the sideshow to your slideshow.”
• Back up your main points with evidence, a personal story, or play.
• Why your presentation bullet points need to go away
• How to  wrap up with a Q & A by asking, “What questions do you have for me?”
• How to state your call to action in 14 words or less and use a DTM (drop the mike) statement for your final moment
• Remember that your final statement is about your audience, especially those who haven’t heard you before and may not hear you again.

Resources:

To find out more about Eva, visit her website:  www.EvaDeVirgilis.com   

Watch Eva’s TEDx talk:  In my chair — a makeup artists perspective on beauty – TEDxTokyo

Find Eva on Twitter and Facebook.

Mentioned in this episode:  The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane

Darren LaCroix, Craig Valentine, and Patricia Fripp