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Caricature
Entertainment: A Surefire Way to Liven Up Your Wedding
Celebration
By
Ellen Zucker
Caricature
entertainment will make your wedding celebration stand out and
be remembered.
If you’ve
never seen caricatures drawn at an event, you’ll be amazed when
you see how popular they are with guests. Not only do they have
a great time, they leave with a memento to cherish.
This article
will discuss why it is a great idea to include caricature
entertainment at your wedding reception. Then it will furnish
tips on finding and booking the perfect artist for your event.
People love
to watch an artist draw. The transformation of blank paper into
a drawing that captures a guest's personality and character is
nothing short of magical. A competent caricature artist performs
this seemingly effortless feat in just a few short minutes.
And, so, an
audience will quickly form to watch the magic (and have some
good natured fun with the ‘victim in the hot seat.’)
In fact, the
better your guests know each other the more likely there will be
some ribbing. But that is part of the fun. Especially if you
have a family of practical jokers like mine.
Many people
think of party caricature as children’s entertainment. It is.
The 40 and 50 year-old kids have as much – or more – fun
as well as the little ones.
Which makes
it perfect for wedding receptions where there are few if any
chronological children present.
But what
makes caricature entertainment really special is that your
guests receive a keepsake to take home. Their drawing is a
one-of-a-kind memento they will cherish.
Clients have
shown me caricature drawings from ten, even twenty years ago.
Some had framed them and hung them on a wall.
For an added
touch, ask the artist to print an inscription such as “Jenny and
Joe’s Wedding, March 6, 2006” onto the drawing stock ahead of
time.
So, where do
you find a caricature artist?
• Word of mouth: Ask your friends, neighbors, colleagues in the
office. If they used someone and were happy, chances are you
will be, too.
• Your
wedding coordinator or event planner: She may offer to make the
arrangements for you.
• Venues,
caterers, DJs, and other vendors often have preferred vendor
lists.
• Search the
internet. You’ll be able to see the artist’s samples, too.
• Other
places: Booking agencies, the local convention and visitors
bureau or chamber of commerce, trade organizations such as ISES
(International Special Events Society - www.ises.com), the
Yellow Pages, and ads in hospitality industry and local
publications.
Choosing your
artist(s)
Since artist styles can range from mild to wild, you’ll want to
see artist samples of caricaturists under consideration. Since
most caricature artists have websites these days, it is easy to
view their samples online.
One benchmark
of a competent party caricature artist is that he ought to be
able to render a black & white likeness of a person's head and
shoulders (caricature portrait) in 5 minutes or less (10 minutes
for a couple). If your event is large, consider hiring more than
one artist.
Also, your
artist should have experience working in a special event
setting. That is because demands on a party artist are much
different than the demands on a studio or theme park artist.
Rates
Like other party performers, (and unlike artists at theme parks
or the boardwalk), caricature artists base their fee on an
hourly rate subject to a minimum.
Your artist
will furnish his or her own easel or drawing set up and supply
all drawing paper and art supplies.
When choosing
your artist, remember that maximum value and the lowest rate are
not the same.
It takes
years of experience to develop sufficient drawing skill to
maintain consistent quality and speed. And it takes experience
to develop the skill to handle some of the stickier
interpersonal aspects of party work. So expect students and
inexperienced artists to quote you a lower rate. But as the
adage goes, you get what you pay for.
Booking the
artist
If you are dealing directly with the artist, you will receive a
contract spelling out the details.
Most times,
you’ll be asked to pay a deposit to hold the reservation. The
balance will be due at the event.
Last, but not
least:
If you choose to add caricature entertainment to your wedding
reception, relax, enjoy yourself, and make sure you get your
turn in the ‘hot seat.”
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