Behind-the-scene commentary from Greg Evans:
” Once we decided to invite readers to submit designs for Toni’s wedding dress, the work …Read More
Behind-the-scene commentary from Greg Evans:
Once we decided to invite readers to submit designs for Toni’s wedding dress, the work really began. Well, Karen’s work. We had no idea if we’d get 12 submissions or 12,000 but we needed a way to host them. Karen found a webpage genius and together, they built a new site: LuannFan.com. With the clock ticking, they had to figure out how to explain to readers the submission process, create a template for the drawings, make a numbered gallery, plug in a voting system and write a whole lot of rules and regulations governing the contest (unfortunately, due to some issue the lawyers at Universal Syndicate had, only U.S. entries could be accepted). Meanwhile, I was busy assembling all the strips for the Brad and Toni collections you’re reading. I also set up the donation to FireHero.org and drew all the new art for the site. Universal was very helpful in posting images on the GoComics “Luann” page that linked to LuannFan.com.
All the pressure and work was well worth it. Fans really enjoyed the contest. We got 600 dress entries and 46,000 votes.
Karen also set up a “Wedding GuestBook” that fans could “sign” to receive weekly email wedding updates from “Emily Love,” the owner of the strip’s wedding venue, Cottage 4-2. I remember scoffing at that idea, maintaining that nobody will sign a fake guestbook for the fictitious wedding of comic strip characters in order to get weekly emails from “Emily Love.”
1,800 people signed the book. AND 250 posted wedding wishes to the cartoon couple.
Moral: Never underestimate the power of fans – or the wisdom of your child.