Joker, Batman's Enemy

I admit – I love cartoons of the super hero variety. Nothing beats a man in tights who’s out to save the world. Batman, Spiderman, Justice League, He-Man, you name it, cartoon heroes are just so fun to watch.

And no matter which cartoon hero I watch, there’s always a bad guy. Cartoon villains may wear different clothes, but their mode of operation is the same. Whether it’s Scarface, Magneto, Rhino, Skeletor or Poison Ivy, the baddest cartoon characters tend to be very predictable.

It’s this predictability that you can use to plan your virtual event. I’m serious. If you look really close, you can use the same things cartoon villains use to plan your virtual event. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the factors below:

Announce Your Name. Cartoon villains always say who they are. Always. They don’t even asked to be introduced. They enter the room, then state their name. This is no different from your virtual event. You’ll need to craft a memorable name for your virtual event. This is key. A memorable name for your virtual event helps people remember what it is. Just like a cartoon villain.

Skeletor, He-Man's Enemy

State Your Purpose. Whether it’s taking over the world or defeating their arch nemesis, cartoon villains always state why they’re being so bad. Even before anyone can utter the question “Why?”, cartoon villains will proudly proclaim why they’re trying to destroy the city, the world or the good guy.

Your virtual event must have a purpose. It has to. Without one possible attendees will be confused as to why you’re hosting your virtual event. Develop a mission statement for your virtual event so your purpose is loud and clear.

Look for Joint Ventures. No matter which cartoon villain I watch, they always pitch to the good guy why they should join forces. The Joker did it with Batman, the Green Goblin did it with Spiderman and Magneto did it with Professor X. Cartoon villains will continue extend the hand of partnership to cartoon heroes. Of course, the cartoon hero will say no, but the threat of rejection means nothing to the cartoon villain. The hint of global domination with someone the world respects is too tasty to pass up.

For your virtual event, you need to get over the fear of rejection when approaching those you’d like to work with. Whether you’d like the person to speak at your virtual event or to promote it as an affiliate, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Even if the answer is no, it’s better to try than not to try at all.

Green Goblin, Spiderman's Enemy

Make a Loud Entrance. Cartoon villains do it. Every time. It’s against their DNA to enter a room quietly. For example, the Green Goblin releases pumpkins that explode. The Joker releases laughing gas to make people laugh hysterically until they collapse. Nothing is mundane when the cartoon villain enters the room.

When you launch your virtual event, think of a way to make a splash so you can get lots of attention. Maybe you can run a contest, offer a scholarship or some other tactic that gets people to take notice of your virtual event. Be creative just like a cartoon villain would.

Announce Your Return. When cartoon villains are finally caught (they’re typically in handcuffs by the end of the episode), they’ll always proclaim that they’ll be back. They may be defeated physically, but their mental toughness is to be admired. When you host a virtual event, make plans to repeat the event a year later. And of course, tell all your attendees that it’ll happen.

What are some other traits that cartoon villains possess that would be good to model when planning your virtual event? Leave your comments below.