Learning from the moonlighting gig...

I drew caricatures at another prom this evening. Quick-sketch party caricatures have been a sideline gig for me for a number of years now. I always partly dread hauling my booty and my supplies all over creation to jump into potentially stressful situations. Don't they know that I'm a soon-to-be-famous caricature illustrator (he says with tongue firmly in cheek)? But I almost always end up coming of each event with a big smile on my face. Tonight was a good example. Why? Here are some reasons:

1. $$$. This sideline gig pays rather well. If I were to focus on this as my main career, I'm sure I could make a comfortable living. I know some event caricaturists that drive pretty nifty cars and live in pretty spiffy digs.

2. Research and development. There is no better training in capturing likenesses like having an endless line of eager subjects... and the pressure to draw them well and quickly. This will sound like I'm tooting my horn, but when I get into "the zone" I'm incredibly proud of the way I'm able to capture folks; and with a solid line – especially of couples, when I'm only changing out paper every other guest – I'm getting faster and faster when demand necessitates. Tonight, I estimate my average speed at 34 faces per hour (one face every 1.76 minutes). This is incredibly valuable when I'm at my desk at home with a looming deadline and I need to conceptualize an illustration.

3. Organizational skills. It doesn't always work out well, but when I'm on my game, a quick-sketch gig is a huge lesson in the balance of forethought and thinking on my feet. I drew for four hours tonight. While I reserve the right to take a break now and then, I try not to stop drawing for the entire duration so folks don't have to wait longer than they already are. This is especially a goal if I'm the lone artist at a party like tonight. So I've got to be sure I've got everything I need closely at hand, and I've got to try to plan on not needing to visit the facilities if at all possible. Now, while I try not to leave my station, it's unwise and possibly unhealthy to draw nonstop for hours on end, so occasionally I'll take a moment while bagging a caricature, or I'll take a few more seconds than usual to chat with guests before I draw them... while stretching my drawing hand or stretching my legs. When it comes to the end of the party, I do my absolute best to cut off the line accurately so guests aren't waiting in vain. Tonight, with a half hour to go, I cut off the line after eight couples. And as I revealed the final drawing, the final chord played on the last dance song of the night. Perfect. Rather satisfying and fulfilling.

4. Social observations. It's always intriguing to see how some people react when someone is staring right at them for two minutes. Because I'm careful about not making folks feel overly self-conscious, I've developed a sort of quick-read system where I take in rather broad strokes and spend most of the time looking at the paper. But when I look up, there are the folks that stare right back, the folks who get the giggles, the folks that are quick to point out the flaws they don't want pointed out, the folks that really have a hard time staying focused on looking in my direction, the folks who are really nervous, and the folks that get aggressively flirty. Interesting. Also, since prom season necessitates drawing a lot of folks with braces, I've begun asking the kids if they want me to draw the braces or not. Most of them want them included, but some don't. Another interesting situation I witness often is the herd of kids with the definite "alpha dog" leader who seems to steer the cutting up and the jeering and the rowdiness. I always hear them coming when they're in my line, and I always dread them because I've seen some caricaturists just get eaten alive. But I've resolved to treat everyone in my line with respect unless they're really out of line. I do my best to go along with their joking (within reason) and I try very hard to really pay the attention to these kids that they seem to really need. I had two such groups last night. And I'm happy to say everything went smoothly. No matter how negative, vulgar, or obnoxious they had been while waiting in line, as each sat at my table, they returned my respect and behaved. And as each of the two "alpha dogs" sat for me with their dates, it was amazing how quiet the crowd got. I heard a lot of "THAT'S TOTALLY YOU MAN!!" and "THAT'S TIGHT!!" and stuff like that. I think that when it comes down to it, everyone appreciates (and possibly even needs) someone paying attention to them – really trying to "see" them – for a few seconds, especially when they get the results to take home.

So there. I've übergeeked out on you with a glimpse into one aspect of my work life. I can't help but think back to the times I'd hear my Dad talk about how he approached his career, how he constantly tries to find better ways of doing things and finds seems to find joy in streamlining and economizing. We're pretty similar in that way.

Well, I've finally got to get to bed. Tomorrow, I've got church followed by a trip about 40 miles south for a work-related show visit. Then it's back home to sit in front of the TV with my sketch pad as the Tonys air on CBS. It'll be a good day. I wish you all the same. Take care! Peace and love.