Frequently Asked Questions
Caricature Questions Answered
Artists & Speed
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About 3–5 minutes per person for black & white, or 8–10 minutes per person for color.
Black & White Caricatures
Each artist averages 3–5 minutes per person, or 12–16 people per hour. The best option when you want the most caricatures drawn at the fastest speed.Color Caricatures
Each artist averages 8–10 minutes per person, or 6–8 people per hour. Great for small events or when hiring multiple artists. -
Yes! Couples, families, or everyone in your office. We'll fit as many people on a page as you'd like!
Drawing speeds stay the same per person, so you can enjoy getting drawn with whoever you choose!
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Choosing the right number of caricature artists depends on your guest count, the number of hours you book, and how many guests you want drawn. Every event is different, but here's what we've found generally works best.
For a 2-hour booking, we recommend:
Black & White Caricatures
Under 50 guests: 1-2 artists
50-100 guests: 2-3 artists
100-250 guests: 3-4 artists
250-500 guests: 4-6 artists
500+ guests: 6-8 artists
Color Caricatures
Under 50 guests: 2-3 artists
50-100 guests: 3-5 artists
100-250 guests: 4-6 artists
250-500 guests: 6-8 artists
500+ guests: 8 artists
Want our best recommendation? Comment "help me decide" on the quote form and we'll help you find the right fit.
Pricing & Payment
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Caricature artists cost $200 per hour, per artist, for black and white, and $250 per hour, per artist, for color, with a 2-hour minimum booking.
Black & White Caricatures: ($200/hr)*
Color Caricatures: ($250/hr)*
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Drawing Protectors: (+$50/hr)* Crystal clear, flap-sealed sleeves with sturdy backing to protect and display each drawing.
Custom Printed Paper: ($125+ per event) Add your logo or a personal message so guests remember your event for years to come.
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*All rates priced per hour, per artist.
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Request a quote, and we'll provide exact pricing for your event.
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Credit and debit card, ACH bank transfer, CashApp, or business check.
Payments are billed through Square online invoicing, so you can pay by card right from the invoice, or mail a check if that's easier for your office.
Need a W-9 or vendor setup paperwork? Just let us know and we'll send it over.
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When you hire us, everyone at the event is drawn for free with no additional cost to attendees. Your guests get to sit back, enjoy the fun, and go home with a one-of-a-kind keepsake!
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To keep things fair to the many clients who book us at full price, we don't offer free or donated services. No budget? No problem. Here are three ways organizers make it work:
Charge per caricature. Set up a table and collect a few dollars per drawing. The sales can recoup your cost, or raise money on top of it.
Feature a local sponsor. A local business covers the fee, and we'll print their logo on each sheet of drawing paper.
Bring in the crowd. Everyone loves free caricatures! Featuring caricatures in your event promotion is a great way to boost attendance and ticket sales, which often more than pays for the booking.
Request a quote and we'll help you find the right fit.
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Community events often have great attendance and a tight entertainment budget. If caricatures are outside your budget, here's how other organizers have covered the cost:
PTO or PTA funds. Parent groups often have discretionary money set aside for interactive student and family experiences.
A local business sponsor. A neighborhood business covers the fee, and we print their logo directly on the drawing paper. Every family takes their branding home, keeps it for years, and shares it online.
Neighborhood and homeowners associations. Many have block-party or community outreach funds meant to benefit area families.
Your district's education foundation. Micro-grants are frequently available for community-wide events that serve district families.
City parks and recreation. If your event uses municipal space, the parks department may be able to split or cover the fee from its community events budget
Event Day
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Setting up for your event is simple!
What you provide: All we need is 3 chairs (2 guest chairs facing 1 artist chair), good lighting (to see those great facial features), and space for guests to gather and watch. For outdoor events, a tent or covered area works great. No table needed!
What we provide: We bring the rest! Artists provide their own easels, paper, markers, and all the materials to draw you FUNNY!
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Absolutely! If you're thinking about extending, just let us know before your event and we'll make sure your artists are available to keep drawing. Overtime can be added in 30-minute increments and is billed at the same hourly rate. Didn't realize how much you'd love it? If your artists' schedules allow, just say the word and we'll keep the fun going!
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DRAWING SMILES Caricatures is fully insured and can provide a certificate of insurance (COI) if you require one. If your venue needs to be named on the policy, or has other insurance requirements, just send them over and we'll make sure we’re all set for your event.
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We serve events within a 200-mile radius of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Whether you're in the heart of downtown or many cornfields away, we'll travel to draw caricatures at your event!
For events that would take a pretty long time to bike to, we charge a travel fee of 70¢ per round-trip mile, per artist. We'll travel for free to events within 20 miles of Minneapolis.
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We'll draw you and your BFF, too! We're a great fit for pet expos, adoption events, Animal Humane Society fundraisers, community dog shows, and Woofstock festivals across the Twin Cities and Minnesota. Tails will be wagged…
Events & Booking
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Caricatures are great for occasions of all types!
Celebrations: weddings, engagement parties, bridal and baby showers, anniversaries, birthdays, sweet sixteens, quinceañeras, bar and bat mitzvahs, retirements, graduation open houses, family reunions, Halloween parties, and milestone parties of every kind.
Company events: holiday parties, corporate events, company picnics and summer outings, conventions, trade shows, expos, conferences, sales meetings, networking mixers, job fairs, product launches, grand openings, brand activations, retail and mall promotions, and customer and employee appreciations.
Schools: senior all-night grad parties, post-prom, homecoming, school dances, spring flings, family fun nights, school carnivals, college orientations, alumni reunions, and campus events.
Community: festivals, county and state fairs, block parties, fundraisers and galas, sports tournaments, special gatherings at churches, casinos, resorts, and senior living communities, and pet events.
Don't see yours on the list? Ask us. We've drawn at just about everything. Request a quote.
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The sooner you book, the more likely you get your desired date and time. Many weddings and summer events book six to twelve months out, and holiday parties fill up through the fall. Multi-artist events are best booked early to guarantee coverage. Three months ahead is a good rule of thumb, but we book last-minute events all the time!
Our roster runs deep, but the best dates go to whoever asks first. Check our availability.
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