How much should I ask for caricatures?
May 12, 2015 9:57 PM Subscribe
I'm trying my hand at caricatures for parties. I've done an event (for free) and gotten really good feedback, but I have no idea what sort of rate I should be asking for. I want to do kids' parties. Any suggestions?
So I've been a commercial artist in the past. I have a lot of experience. But I realize that doing parties is about entertaining as much as the actual drawing. After the last event, I think I'm up to it but I have no idea how much to charge. Any suggestions? Here's a sample 15 minute drawing from the last event.">
So I've been a commercial artist in the past. I have a lot of experience. But I realize that doing parties is about entertaining as much as the actual drawing. After the last event, I think I'm up to it but I have no idea how much to charge. Any suggestions? Here's a sample 15 minute drawing from the last event.">
Charge an hourly rate to the host?
We had a henna artist at a party and that seemed the easiest way.
posted by taff at 10:00 PM on May 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
We had a henna artist at a party and that seemed the easiest way.
posted by taff at 10:00 PM on May 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Can you call up a bunch of caricature artists or other entertainers who do kids' parties and ask them what they generally charge?
Hourly rate is a good idea, but you might want to come up with a range, depending on location, how far you have to travel, how many guests there are and whether they want color or b&w drawings. Or charge a higher amount for the first hour and less for subsequent hours.
posted by aka burlap at 12:26 AM on May 13, 2015
Hourly rate is a good idea, but you might want to come up with a range, depending on location, how far you have to travel, how many guests there are and whether they want color or b&w drawings. Or charge a higher amount for the first hour and less for subsequent hours.
posted by aka burlap at 12:26 AM on May 13, 2015
I worked as a caricature artist many years ago. So long ago that I don't know what the going rates would be. But if you're doing kids' parties, you'd kind of have to charge the host. I mean, you're not going to have the kids pay you, right?
I worked boardwalks, nightclubs and school reunions. FWIW, boardwalks were far and away the best gigs. You set up your easel in a crowded place and just bang out those drawings. You can make good money like that and the people are just there to goof off so you're part of the fun. At nightclubs and reunions people want to seem cool. Getting caricatured is not cool. You get a lot fewer takers, and people will be a lot more fussy about their likeness. Also, anybody who sits in your chair is probably drunk and/or kind of sad and lonely. Maybe parties are different, but I'd be wary.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 12:48 AM on May 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
I worked boardwalks, nightclubs and school reunions. FWIW, boardwalks were far and away the best gigs. You set up your easel in a crowded place and just bang out those drawings. You can make good money like that and the people are just there to goof off so you're part of the fun. At nightclubs and reunions people want to seem cool. Getting caricatured is not cool. You get a lot fewer takers, and people will be a lot more fussy about their likeness. Also, anybody who sits in your chair is probably drunk and/or kind of sad and lonely. Maybe parties are different, but I'd be wary.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 12:48 AM on May 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
Best answer: A friend and I had this idea that hiring a caricature artist for a party would be tons of fun, so we contacted a few - they all were about $150/hr, two or three hour minimum, and some of them had a travel fee depending on how far they were from the event. We also got asked if we wanted quicker black and white drawings that were mostly heads (which meant more drawings overall), or color drawings that were more intricate (but would result in fewer drawings in a night). This was a few years ago, and in a more rural/suburban area.
posted by missmary6 at 1:54 AM on May 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by missmary6 at 1:54 AM on May 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've hired one in the past. Once for a birthday party in 2010 for an adult. If I remember they charged me $175 for one hour minimum, $100 per hour thereafter, charged in quarter hour increments. I believe this artist has been doing it for a long long time.
The second time (2014) I had them do a drawing by emailing them photos and I paid about $200.
What I was told is to keep in mind that if I wanted color it would take longer per portrait and of course raise the final cost.
I see that you're in MA, which doesn't mean anything other than I may use you in a couple of months. But also...if you want I can memail you the website of the person I used so you can get an idea of how he presents himself.
posted by eatcake at 4:47 AM on May 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
The second time (2014) I had them do a drawing by emailing them photos and I paid about $200.
What I was told is to keep in mind that if I wanted color it would take longer per portrait and of course raise the final cost.
I see that you're in MA, which doesn't mean anything other than I may use you in a couple of months. But also...if you want I can memail you the website of the person I used so you can get an idea of how he presents himself.
posted by eatcake at 4:47 AM on May 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Charge extra if travel time is more than 1 hour(1/2 hour each way). That's part of why you charge more for the 1st hour - you have to clear your schedule, travel, deal with billing, etc. Even if you work an hour and a half, it takes up most of your (weekend) day, so charge enough to make it worthwhile. People respect you more when you charge accordingly. If customer has booked you for 1 hour, schedule at least an extra hour of time, just in case they want you to stay longer.
You may want to require a deposit, but it's a pain to arrange.
Email is fine, but send a boilerplate email saying
I agree to pay Biddeford 175 for one hour of services. One hour is the minimum. Additional time will be in 1/2 hour increments, at 100/hour.
Payment is required on arrival.
Customer has
Biddeford will arrive at ______(time) on ______ (date). Biddeford will draw caricature portraits of customer and guests.
Caricature portraits take approximately 15 minutes to draw; customer should book adequate time for guests.
There's probably more. I think you'll have fun, and do grownup parties.
posted by theora55 at 7:50 AM on May 13, 2015
You may want to require a deposit, but it's a pain to arrange.
Email is fine, but send a boilerplate email saying
I agree to pay Biddeford 175 for one hour of services. One hour is the minimum. Additional time will be in 1/2 hour increments, at 100/hour.
Payment is required on arrival.
Customer has
Biddeford will arrive at ______(time) on ______ (date). Biddeford will draw caricature portraits of customer and guests.
Caricature portraits take approximately 15 minutes to draw; customer should book adequate time for guests.
There's probably more. I think you'll have fun, and do grownup parties.
posted by theora55 at 7:50 AM on May 13, 2015
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posted by biddeford at 9:59 PM on May 12, 2015