Hi guys, it’s Ben ‘Pen’ Jones here again. Thank you to everyone who clicks on and reads my blogs, every click helps people see what I can do and me to get work. I love ya!
In this blogpost I’ll be teaching the nervous and un-initiated how to hire a caricaturist, a little bit about what kind of events I attend(hint; it’s everything), what you can expect from me as a caricaturist and more.
HIRE A CARICATURIST – How to start
So you’d like to make your birthday, corporate do or wedding a memorable one, and have heard all about the fun and frolics of hiring a live caricaturist eh?
Are you unsure as to what conditions a caricaturist for hire needs to work in, how they go about doing what they do and perhaps most importantly, what he or she charges?
As you head to google at the start of your mission I’d say it’s important to check that a caricaturist has plenty of impartial reviews, on platforms like google (I like to pride myself on mine and I like
to think it’s indicative of my quality as a provider. Here they are- 😉 https://g.page/r/CU7nDC2mgvgfEAI/review). Agency websites are also a good place to find the caricaturist that suits you, but remember agencies charge commission which will probably make the service more expensive for you and possibly see that less money goes to the caricaturist.
Seeking out a caricaturist that is local to you is a good idea as they are more likely to be able to reach you and be affordable, but don’t be put off as most caricaturists will travel and can let you know.
I for example have travelled as far as Glasgow from my home of Birmingham to caricature at events, though I am more likely to be found in Coventry, Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke, Stafford, Shrewsbury,
Crewe or London! Once you’ve found your ideal caricaturist online, send them a message(don’t be shy!)
HIRE A CARICATURIST – Communication
I love to chat(possibly too much!), so there are few things I love more than talking about what I do as a caricaturist. This is why a phone call is a good way of getting through to me*, although I do also
have my website event form here – https://penjones.co.uk/booking-enquiries/ if you’d prefer to hire me using that method.
The main questions I have for anyone interested in hiring a caricaturist are as follows;
1; On what date are you holding your event?
2; What is the address of your event?
3; How long do you require a caricaturist for?
4; What kind of event is it?
Once I have this information I can work out if I am available and give you a quote for my services. No question is too silly at this point. After all, if you haven’t book a caricaturist (or any entertainer for that matter) in the past then there’s no reason to know how it all works. Once you’ve decided how long you want to hire a caricaturist for on the day and we’ve settled on a quote then the date can be secured with a deposit (50% of the total fee) with the rest generally payable at any time before the date. It’s important to state though that everything can be negotiable, as long as both parties are happy with the deal!
*It’s 07515177374, using which you can get more of a feel for my personality!
HIRE A CARICATURIST – The big day
Being a caricaturist I’m one of the more low maintenance entertainers you can hire, with my only needs on the day being a small table and three chairs in a well lit area*. I usually only need ten minutes to
set up but I like to arrive half an hour before start time just to get my bearings. If there is a ‘star of the day’, say a birthday boy/girl or the wedding couple I offer to caricature those lucky people first, but other
than that anyone who comes to me first gets their drawing. Fortune favours the bold(or the inebriated!)
I draw my quick black and white caricatures on A4, taking roughly 5 minutes per person drawn, and I accept people on their own or groups(though with groups larger than 5 the caricatures get a tad small per person!). All caricatures when finished are placed in a quality plastic sleeve and given to the ‘model’, who promptly burst into laughter(not tears, ideally!).
*That is unless you need me to mix and mingle with the guests, which involves EVEN LESS set up time!
HIRE PEN JONES – It’s that simple, baby!
And so that’s it! If you’re wanting to hire a caricaturist and you’ve got any questions I haven’t answered in this blogpost just email me at the link here https://penjones.co.uk/contact/ with any questions, big or small and I’ll get back to you pronto.
Remember, even if you don’t book with me, I’m here to help, because I want your event to be EXCELLENT!
Happy parties everyone,
Ben ‘Pen’ Jones