Tips for Hiring a Caricaturist

Don't miss out on this popular party vendor.

Maddie Sheely

Account Specialist + Contributor

Caricaturists are incredible artists that can create beautiful, creative, funny drawings in a short amount of time. It's no wonder why caricaturists have become a popular entertainment choice for a wide variety of celebrations. 

Caricature artists are being booked for all types of events including corporate events, birthday parties, and even weddings. When you are interested in hiring a caricaturist, it may be hard to figure out exactly what kind of artist you want to hire. That's why we've asked some of our top caricaturists to help guide you through the selection process.

Here are some things to keep in mind when hiring a caricature artist:

Analyze the Art

"When you are looking to hire a caricaturist, you should consider how well he/she achieves a likeness as well as humorous, but not necessarily offensive exaggeration of the subject.  Look at their samples and compare the drawing to the actual person," advises Dan Springer

There can be a difference between their drawings at a live event versus being commissioned to draw a caricature from a photo for a gift. Make sure you ask your potential Caricaturist for samples of both ‘live’ (drawing live at an event) and studio caricaturist photos so you can take a look at both types of services to make the right selection for the services you are requesting.

Dig for Details

There are a lot of details you should look into before booking a performer for your upcoming celebration! While you may already know some of the questions you want to ask, we've outlined a few that our performers believe to be the most important. 

"Before hiring, one should speak directly with the caricaturist to learn something of his/her personality and professional demeanor. A client should ask about the number of years of practical experience drawing on-site and the speed at which he or she can draw the subjects with some true resemblance. Also, what paper size and medium the artist will be using," shared  S. Liane Brown.

Caricatures & Silhouettes By Emily Byrne explains that you should always check a performer's client feedback to see what kind of reviews they have received. Remember, it's okay to ask for references when booking a performer, it's important to know that other clients have been happy with their work! 

If you need more advice on additional questions to ask any potential vendors, here’s a helpful article on 7 Topics to Discuss Before Paying a Nonrefundable Deposit.

Will they be Entertaining?

Probably the most overlooked point to consider when hiring a caricaturist is whether or not the artist can be entertaining. Will he/she interact with the guests or just look down and draw. This is just as important as their choice of paper size, color v. black and white, and many other smaller details. 

"Each guest should leave the easel in a better mood than when they arrived, and with a souvenir that captures their spirit and reminds them of the fun they had at your party! Also, jokes should be included at no extra charge," shared Caricatures & Face Paint By Party Pros.

Decisions, Decisions

Another important aspect to think about is whether you want the artist to work in color, or black in white. There is often the perception that color is superior, but some purists prefer black and white. 

Caricaturists can produce many more black and white caricatures per hour than color. Some clients want the artist to give the person posing the choice, but in that case people almost always pick color. If you are concerned about getting a large number of drawings done, then you should opt for black and white. 

When you hire a caricaturist for an event, you are hiring them to provide entertainment as well as wonderful keepsakes for your guests. It is important that you do your research to make sure you find the right fit for you and your event.

We love caricaturists so much here at The Bash that we asked our friend and member JT Art & Design to transform our entire team into fabulous works of art. Check out our fun About Us page to see the results.

Find a caricature artist for your next event here on The Bash.

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