A company holiday party is a great way to celebrate successes and promote company loyalty. Of companies surveyed, credit.com says that 73% plan some sort of holiday party. Here are a few tips to help you plan a fun and memorable event!
Start planning your company holiday party early.
Good venues get booked quickly. Weekend spots tend to fill up faster than weeknights. The holiday season is also a popular time for weddings, so have a backup location in mind when you call your favorite venue. You might need ample parking or easy access to public transportation and ride share services.
Know your holiday party budget.
What do you think about when someone says “coaster?” The ever-present drink coaster as we know them today has been around nearly 140 years!
A Brief History
In 1880 Friedrich Horn, a German printing company, designed the first cardboard beer mats, as they are sometimes called. Shortly after, the Robert Sputh Company of Dresden started making them out of wood pulp.
Today you can find drink coasters protecting tables and bars from condensation in nearly every bar, restaurant and home. They come in many materials, including wood, cardboard, bamboo, cork, marble, sandstone, slate and unglazed ceramics. The best drink coasters are porous and absorb condensation from the glass.
But the very best coasters are by Goofy Faces Caricature Artists!
How did It Start?
Make Memories Last Longer with a Custom Caricature
The good and the bad of having a camera that fits in the palm of your hand
If you’re of a certain age, you remember taking pictures on a camera – with film. Back in those dark ages, you waited, several days even, to see if the pictures were any good!
That Was Then
Remember how exciting it was to open that envelope and see if maybe, just maybe, there was one good family picture? Then you proudly showed it to everyone and displayed it in a photo album or frame. Every time you walk by it you fondly remember that special moment!
This is Now
Today we have some of the most sophisticated photographic tools in the palms of our hands, our smart phones. But when was the last time you printed a family picture from your phone and put it in a frame? Most people don’t.
Goofy Faces will be at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts Art & Apples Festival(r) September 6-8, 2019.
When you take hundreds of pictures at time, it can be overwhelming to choose just one. Oftentimes the images live on our phones and in our social media feeds, but they rarely make it to a coveted place on the wall for all the family to enjoy.
Make it Memorable
When you and your loved ones sit down for a custom, family caricature, you get a one-of-a-kind piece of art, featuring you! It’s more than a photo, it’s hand-drawn memory you will treasure forever. As summer winds down and kids head back to school, there’s still time to make memories and get a custom keepsake caricature you’ll treasure for years to come.
Enjoy an outing to your local zoo or aquarium. Most retail stands are open daily through Labor Day weekend, then weekends only through Halloween. Click here to see if we’re at a location near you!
Or check out local events like the upcoming Art & Apples Festival® in Rochester, MI, sponsored by Paint Creek Center for the Arts. While there, get your face painted or family caricature drawn by one of our artists so you can capture the moment and remember this special time.
We Love to Draw in the D!
We’ve had a whirlwind few weeks of drawing in the Motor City this summer so we thought we’d share all of the exciting events we’ve been a part of so far this season.
Bark in the Park
The Detroit Tigers held another Bark in the Park on June 25th at Comerica Park during a Tigers’ home game. Once again, Goofy Faces was hired to draw FREE caricatures of pets with their owners. This event was sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus and it was a howling success!
Hockeytown Draft Party
The Detroit Red Wings brought in Goofy Faces to light up their draft day party with both event caricature art and face painting. Hockey fans were thrilled by both the draft and the art!
Yelp! Party
Goofy Faces had an artist on-site drawing live eSketches™ for a huge party sponsored by Yelp! at the Boathouse on Belle Isle. The “Nauti by Nature” event was a benefit to support the Boathouse renovation fund.
Freedom Boat Club Summer Kick-Off
The Freedom Boat Club is nationwide organization that allows its members access to boats from coast to coast, without boat ownership or maintenance! They held a Summer Kick-Off event at Sindbad’s in Detroit and we were there drawing caricatures for guests. WLLZ’s own Doug Podell broadcast live during the party.
The Detroit Fireworks
Once again, UAW-Ford brought in a couple of Goofy Faces artists to draw & entertain school groups and guests during the Ford Fireworks Festival at the UAW Program Center in downtown Detroit
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
The DMCVB booked 2 Goofy Faces artists to draw caricatures of guests from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals while they attended a party taking place at The Fillmore. Guests from across the country got to experience the best that Detroit and Goofy Faces has to offer.
UAW-Ford Safe Overnight Summer Camp
UAW-Ford hosted a Safe Summer Camp experience at Riverside Marina over the 4th of July weekend with fun and educational outdoor activities. Goofy Faces was hired to provide 2 caricature artists to entertain happy campers with their kids.
Goofy Faces books events nationwide and is proud to provide art & entertainment in our home town of Detroit, MI.
Consider adding event caricature art and/or face painting to create a more memorable experience at your next private party or corporate event. Learn more: https://goofyfaces.com/events/
Hiring an Event Caricature Artist Through Goofy Faces
If you’ve never hired an Event Caricature Artist for a party or event, you may not know exactly how to go about it. Here, we’re answering the typical questions we get from customers who hire our artists for bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, kid’s birthday parties, corporate events and more.
What kinds of caricature art can I choose from?
At Goofy Faces, we have several offerings for event caricature. For a more traditional approach, consider having a few artists draw black & white or color caricatures on card stock. For something unique, consider Caricature Coasters. They are smaller and quicker black & white drawings on 4” x 4” thick cardboard coasters. Or, go high-tech and hire an eSketch™ artist, who will work on a digital tablet with a large color monitor where guests can watch the work come to life. Full color prints are provided for each guest!
Can I get an event caricature artist in any city in the U.S. through Goofy Faces?
We have artists in most major markets throughout the United States. So if your party is in Miami or Memphis, Detroit or Dallas, we probably have someone nearby. Simply plug in your zip code on our Book an Artist page to find an artist near you.
How many event caricature artists should I hire for my party?
That depends on how many guests you will have at your event and how long it will last. You can count on about 60% of guests wanting to have their caricature drawn. Our artists average between 10 and 15 B&W drawings per hour (one person per drawing), or 5 to 7 color drawings per hour.
Here’s an example for a wedding reception:
To do some quick math, if you have 200 guests, 60% of them are getting drawn and the event lasts for 3 hours.
200 guests x 60% = 120 black and white drawings
120 drawings / 10 drawings per hour = 12 hours
12 hours / 3 hours = 4 artists
In this case, we would recommend you hire 4 artists to ensure there is plenty of time to cover the guests who would like a souvenir drawing from your party.
How do I hire event caricature art?
This part is super easy. Once you’ve found the artist you’d like to work with on our Book an Artist page, you’ll click on their profile listing to see more details about them, and click the “I’m Interested in Booking an Artist” button. Then you’ll be able to fill out a form to check their availability and get the process started.
Of course, you can always call us at 866-886-6640 during our business hours – 9AM to 5PM EST, Monday through Friday, and we’ll answer any questions you have and help you book your event caricature artist.
What Your Event Caricature Artist Wants You to Know
Let’s say you’re at a grad party or a wedding reception and there’s an event caricature artist drawing away. People are gathered around, laughing and talking about the drawing. As you’re watching, do you ever wonder what the unwritten rules are? Is it okay to talk to the artist? We spoke to our team of event caricature artists and here’s what they told us.
Yes, it’s okay to talk to us while we draw.
At Goofy Faces, all of our artists are screened for their ability to converse with the crowd. We may not answer your question or comment right away if we’re concentrating, but we typically don’t mind chatting as we draw.
Don’t get mad; find your sense of humor.
Event caricature art is meant to be satirical. We’re designing a funny cartoon, based on your specific features and your unique personality. It’s not a literal representation so please don’t take offense. In fact, we’ve all had our own caricatures done of ourselves so we know what it is like to be in the other chair!
We all have a unique art style.
If you’re looking to hire an event caricature artist, it’s best to find an artist who has a style that you like, rather than trying to push your artist to rework their style to your preferences. That’s just one reason we offer you a portfolio of art to review BEFORE you hire the artist.
It’s not as easy as it looks.
Many artists wish our subjects knew that, although it looks easy, event caricature art is actually much more difficult to learn than traditional portraiture. It requires the same degree of understanding of a human face of traditional artistry, but it takes more imagination and a lot more speed.
Please don’t ask us to start early or end late.
Unless you’re willing to extend the financial contract, please don’t ask the event caricature artist to start before their scheduled time or work past their set end time. If we’re not too tired, we might do it but the simple act of waiting in line does not mean that we will be able to draw every person in line. An experienced artist (like the ones you hire through GoofyFaces.com) will let you know how many more people they can do before their time is up.
Do you have more questions about hiring an event caricature artist? Start with our FAQ page here:
The Early Incarnations of Caricature
We’re Caricature Art geeks so, of course, the history of the art form intrigues us. Since so many people enjoy getting their caricature drawn, we thought you might find its history interesting, too. While there are pages and pages of historical reference on this art style through the ages, we’re going to give you a brief background of caricature.
What is it?
Encyclopedia Britannica defines caricature as:
“ … the distorted presentation of a person, type, or action. Commonly, a salient feature or characteristic of the subject is seized upon and exaggerated, or features of animals, birds, or vegetables are substituted for parts of the human being, or analogy is made to animal actions. Generally, one thinks of caricature as being a line drawing and meant for publication for the amusement of people to whom the original is known; the personal trait is usually present.”
A great caricature artist knows how to look at an individual, determine what features make them unique—like their larger chin, high forehead or unique eye placement—and exaggerates those features to create a stylized, typically humorous, image of the person.
Where it began
Did you know that caricature art, also known as satirical art, has been around since our earliest history? Examples of this art form show up in cave murals and Egyptian tombs. However, it wasn’t until the sixteenth century that the word caricature evolved from the Annibale Carracci and his brother Agostino. The word Caricature was used to describe the exaggerated portraits they sketched in their art school in Italy in the late 1500s.
The early incarnations of caricature
Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, caricature style was being used as commentary on public figures and politics. Social satire was popular for centuries in Europe and the U.S. As printing technology began to develop in the 17th century, artists could have their work distributed widely on cards and bulletins, which further elevated the art form.
Royal family members, political figures and wealthy celebrities were the primary targets of the satirical artists, who weren’t the least bit afraid of being biting or even cruel in their art.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when monthly magazine publications like Vanity Fair were launched, caricature art became even more popular. The artists made statements about cultural and political happenings, gaining huge audiences for their wit and rancor.
Today, with a global political climate that’s as lively as it’s ever been, caricature art is still popular in both printed and online publications.
The Event Caricature Artist
Many caricature artists “perform” live, creating their artwork at events or entertainment venues. From museums and weddings to boardwalks and beach parties, thousands of artists in the United States currently make a living doing live event caricature art. It’s a position that requires training and practice, which all of our Goofy Faces artists get before they join our team.
Throughout human history, caricature art has been a way to communicate and connect with others. Today, you can hire artists to create custom caricature for your guests at your wedding, retirement party, fundraiser, picnic or any other event. We’d love to provide the event caricature artist for your next party. Get in touch or book an artist here:
Getting Drawn? 5 Things Your Event Caricature Artist Wants You to Know
Caricature art became a form of satirical entertainment in the sixteenth century. Since then, as event caricature artists have become more commonplace, we’re pretty sure people have wondered what things look like from the artist’s point-of-view.
We talked to our team of event caricature artists to find out what they’d like their caricature subjects to know.
You don’t have to smile the whole time we’re drawing you. If you’re a little nervous or just want to talk to the people who’ve attended the event with you, no worries! We’ll ask you to smile when we need a reference for the drawing.
You don’t have to sit still like a statue. If you’re in the chair, it’s okay to fidget, look around and talk. Just be sure to relax. We’ll ask you to move to a specific position or look at us if we need you to.
Caricature art is meant to be FUN. It’s not a portrait. We exaggerate your features on purpose, so please don’t take offense. And, we’re sorry, but admitting your insecurities beforehand will not lead to a better caricature. If your nose or your chin are part of what makes you look like “YOU,” we’ll use it in the drawing. Our lighthearted style is part of the fun and entertainment of caricature art. Seriously? We’re not making fun of you, we’re having fun WITH you.
Every artist has their own style. Subjects should know that every artist has a different style. Some try to make their subjects look cute while others prefer more extreme exaggeration. You’ll get a feel for the event caricature artist’s unique style if you look at their samples BEFORE you sit in their chair. If their style doesn’t appeal to you, it’s probably best to select an artist that better suits your preferences.
We LOVE unique accessories like glasses, patterns and funky earrings. If you have a unique style, we can have even more fun with your caricature. Your signature look—whether it’s your super-stylish glasses, your love of patterns, or your penchant for funky earrings—makes it even easier for us to capture your personality in your caricature.
Is there anything else you’d like to know? Send us an email and we’ll do our best to get you an answer!
Interested in for your next event? Start here:
Improving Employee Engagement Using Caricature Art
Employee engagement is a hot topic in the workplace. Employers of all sizes are paying increasing attention to keeping their employees happy and how doing so affects their business goals. According to inc.com, improving employee engagement doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. In fact, employee events, recognition for loyalty and accomplishments, and acknowledging employees’ families are all things that can move the needle in a positive direction for employee engagement.
Employee engagement: The extent to which employees feel passionate about their jobs, are committed to the organization and put discretionary effort into their work. (Source: CustomInsight.com)
Here are five ways you can incorporate caricature art into your initiatives to improve employee engagement:
Employee Appreciation Mixers
Employees who have friendships with their coworkers have higher feelings of wellbeing, motivation and job satisfaction, according to an online survey by Paychex. You can encourage those friendships by holding quarterly or bi-annual employee appreciation events at your place of business. Pick a theme and bring in lunch or afternoon snacks. For the finishing touch, hire two or three event caricature artists to create whimsical mementos for your team to take home.
At Goofy Faces, we offer traditional caricatures, eSketchesTM, and caricature coasters. And we can print your custom employee appreciation message and logo in color on the paper, so your team members will think of you every time they see it.
Employee Anniversary Recognition
Do you have employees that have been with you for an extended period of time – like five, ten or even twenty years? Acknowledging those important anniversaries with custom caricature art makes a memorable statement that you appreciate their loyalty.
Team or Departmental Recognition
When a team wins a new piece of business, or works through a crisis to a positive end, consider recognizing those efforts with a team image created using caricature art.
Charitable Campaigns
Many companies use charitable fundraising and volunteering to create a more cohesive team environment. From penny drives and potlucks to bake sales and bowling events, employees work together to hit a goal and then relish the feeling of success and team spirit when they hit the target.
To add more oomph to a fundraising event, underwrite the cost of having a caricature artist or two on-site, so that employees can donate $10 to get a drawing, which goes to the chosen charity. And – BONUS! – they can take home a memento of the event.
Family-Friendly Company-Sponsored Events
Don’t forget to acknowledge your employees’ families and the part they play in supporting your team members. One way to recognize them is to hold an annual family-friendly event, like a company picnic or party at a venue that’s family-friendly. Consider hiring a few event caricature artists to be on-site to add to the fun. We promise, they’ll love it!
Explore more ways to use event and studio caricature art services to increase employee engagement at our website at www.goofyfaces.com.
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