FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Party event caricature entertainment is per hour with a 2 hour minimum for casual, informal smallish events, (3 for weddings or larger formal/banquet hall events) but I have the discretion to waive that depending on circumstances/distance, and with an added surcharge. I will travel beyond 50 miles, but generally not more than 2.5 hour travel time, unless accommodations are involved and included in price which would be noted, or if there are unique circumstances (friend living in area which is the case in northern NJ and Lake Winnipesaukee, NH etc). There is a travel fee added to total as travel increases past 24 miles from home base, depending on distance, which is include in price. For gigs, my current rate is $145 (2025) , and there are packages available for 3 hour + gigs that include an add- on such as a commission, special drawing paper and or sign-in board. Commission work including portraits, caricatures or home renderings from studio are priced per project, anywhere from $40 generally to a few hundred dollars, depending on what it is, and size of the final, generally no larger than 18 x 24, plus shipping if needed. Graphic design is usually calculated by an estimated price per hour fee, and then a total is estimated from that, usually including a round of tweaks or minor changes. I tend to try to do a $400-$500 logo flat fee for smaller businesses (this usually involves a handful of designs in sketch form, one - two favorites digitized with color options if desired, then a final choice) but that could also vary depending on the scope of the project, the use and how many creative options the customer wants to see explored before making a decision.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Once a quote is viewed, if there's not enough detail on the front end or on my response, we will have further discussion. If they decide to book me or hire me, I would then draft up either a booking agreement contract or an art work order (commissions) and send via email, which would then be returned signed with a deposit before entertaining at an event or proceeding to final artwork. Payment is now excepted via thumbtack, generally for deposits with gig balances being paid to me directly via check or cash at the event. For commission work, which I have yet to get through Thumbtack, it may be paid in full upfront or it may be paid with a deposit and a stipulated due date at which time the artwork would be shipped or uploaded if digital. Caricature entertainment and portrait or artwork, generally is 1/4 to 50% deposit and balance paid upon delivery or at event, cash or check. Other projects may have other terms. In addition, I have a pool of caricature friends/colleagues, 5-10 of these I have subcontracted for several years if more than one artist is requested. Or if I am unavailable, I will determine the client style preference (be it similar to mine or very different), and will try and accommodate sending substitute artist.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BFA in Graphic Communications from an established CT art school, and designed full and part time for 25+ years! In the past, I joined an international caricature society and am subscribed to their social media group. During the COVID shutdown I taught myself to draw and create caricatures on my iPad to add digital options to my ETSY shop ( JTPortraicatures), of which I sold over a dozen wedding Change the Date caricature graphics for use on postcards and magnets, with couples drawn complete with masks! I am not forging ahead right now with live digital, mostly because of equipment involved, but I did get some input about it. On a related note, I did do few virtual events, drawing on my iPad, one through an agent via Zoom, but that has not taken off for me. In addition, I did take some seminars and workshops regarding my design career and am self-taught in all the design and production software I use.