HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a caricaturist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A caricaturist in Ireland costs €100–€250 per hour, typically around €150. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a caricaturist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers caricaturist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — event Entertainment Packages — caricaturists may also offer packages that combine their services with other forms of entertainment, such as live music or photo booths.
- How does their experience change the price?A more experienced professional charges more and usually works faster. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length of the event change the price?A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of guests change the price?The quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Generally, caricaturists do not provide additional entertainment services, such as music or photography, unless specified in a package deal — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a caricaturist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers caricaturist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — event Entertainment Packages — caricaturists may also offer packages that combine their services with other forms of entertainment, such as live music or photo booths.
A good answer: A more experienced professional charges more and usually works faster. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Generally, caricaturists do not provide additional entertainment services, such as music or photography, unless specified in a package deal — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a caricaturist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — digital Caricature Options — in addition to traditional paper drawings, some caricaturists provide digital caricature services.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the caricaturist starts, and an itemised invoice after — live Caricature Drawings — caricaturists typically provide live drawing services at events such as weddings, parties, and corporate functions.
Getting the quote right
- Their experience — a more experienced professional charges more and usually works faster.
- Length of the event — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours.
- Number of guests — the quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked.
- Complexity of the artwork — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: their experience — a more experienced professional charges more and usually works faster
- They will not talk about it: length of the event — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours
- They will not talk about it: number of guests — the quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked
- A price for the caricaturist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the caricaturist has begun
What a caricaturist costs: €100–€250 per hour
Most caricaturists quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Event caricaturist and Digital caricaturist each carry their own band. Caricaturist price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Caricaturists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTheir experience — a more experienced professional charges more and usually works faster — that is what the caricaturist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLength of the event — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfNumber of guests — the quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the artwork — a complicated brief needs a conversation before any work starts — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the caricaturist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, any specific requests for style or format — the look you want decides the method, and the method sets the price.
- Live Caricature Drawings
- Caricaturists typically provide live drawing services at events such as weddings, parties, and corporate functions.
- Digital Caricature Options
- In addition to traditional paper drawings, some caricaturists provide digital caricature services.
- Event Entertainment Packages
- Caricaturists may also offer packages that combine their services with other forms of entertainment, such as live music or photo booths.
- Event Caricaturist
- Provides live caricature drawing at events, allowing guests to receive a personalised sketch on the spot.
- Digital Caricaturist
- Creates caricatures digitally, which can be printed or shared electronically, perfect for modern events.
- Wedding Caricaturist
- Specialises in capturing the essence of couples and their guests during wedding celebrations.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a caricaturist: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a caricaturist can vary based on several factors, including their experience, the length of the event, and the number of guests. High-demand artists may charge more, while those with less experience might offer lower rates.
Caricaturists usually work for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours at events, although this can vary depending on the size of the event and the number of guests. Longer bookings may be available for larger gatherings or special occasions.
For most events, a general professional caricaturist is sufficient, as they typically have the skills to entertain a wide range of audiences. However, if you're looking for a specific style or theme, it may be worth seeking out a specialist.
While some caricaturists may offer last-minute bookings, availability can vary significantly. It's best to reach out as early as possible to secure a booking, especially for popular dates or larger events.
Yes, hiring multiple caricaturists for larger events can enhance the experience and reduce wait times for guests. Many artists are open to working together, and you can often negotiate a package deal for multiple bookings.
Generally, caricaturists do not provide additional entertainment services, such as music or photography, unless specified in a package deal. It's also important to clarify if materials like frames or prints are included in the service.
MORE GUIDES