Think Your Workplace Is a Circus? Inside a Greatest Showman-Themed Corporate Event
Think your workplace is a circus?
This one actually was.
The Alabama Primary Health Care Association recently held its 41st Annual Conference & Expo at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The theme was The Greatest Showman, and when I say they went ALL OUT, I mean it.
This was no “stick a couple of circus decorations on the tables and call it a theme” kind of event. They committed.
And when you’re planning a Greatest Showman theme, what could possibly fit better than caricatures? We’ve been hanging around circuses forever!
That’s where I came in. They hired me to draw circus-themed caricatures for the occasion.
Not many live artists draw bodies at events like this because they take extra time, and speed is important at a large event. But I specialize in speed and little cartoon bodies for themed events, so I knew I was up to the task.
Corporate Entertainment for a Greatest Showman Themed Event
For a themed corporate event like this, I didn’t want guests choosing from the same drawings I might use at any other event.
If we were doing The Greatest Showman, we were DOING The Greatest Showman.
So I rewatched the movie and created an entirely new circus-themed body board
specifically for the conference.
I originally planned on about 10 or 12 choices.
I ended up with 16. Why? I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess. But actually, there were just too many fun ideas; I couldn't narrow it down!
Guests could choose to become a:
Ringmaster
Strongman
Trapeze artist
Fire breather
Lion tamer
Elephant rider
Juggler
Human Cannonball
and many more...
And, of course, a caricature artist
That last one was a bit of a joke, but someone actually picked the caricature artist!
Why a Circus-Themed Body Board Works for Large Corporate Events
There were around 200 people attending the conference, so speed mattered.
The body board lets guests decide what they want to be before they ever sit in my chair.
This saves time at larger events. Aside from the guests choosing before they sit down, I’ve also practiced the bodies ahead of time, so I can concentrate on drawing their faces and keep the line moving.
I’m one of the fastest caricature artists in the world and can draw approximately 20 to 30 people per hour. (The variation depends on what people choose and how fast they get into and out of my chair)
That makes my themed live caricatures especially well suited for conferences and large corporate events where you want entertainment that guests can actually participate in without disappearing for half an hour to get drawn. Most executives can spare five minutes or less.
For this event, the awards banquet was happening inside while I was set up in the vestibule near the bar. The organizers left the doors open on purpose so everyone couod continue watching even if they came to get drawn.
Guests could slip out, choose their circus character, get a flattering caricature in just a few minutes, and head right back into the banquet. It worked perfectly, and everyone who wanted a caricature drawing was able to get drawn and still hear what was going on in the ballroom.
When Guests Become Part of the Greatest Showman Theme
These guests understood the assignment. Most of the people came in costume, which made it so much more fun! There were top hats, tails, sequins, and glitter everywhere. Some really did look like they had stepped straight out of the circus.
Their costumes made the drawings even more fun! Everyone came dressed as a different circus character. They had them assigned ahead of time so there would be a good variety without a lot of repetition, which I thought was smart.
There was a lion tamer, a juggler, a knife thrower and plenty of others. Several, like the knife thrower, weren’t even on my body board. And that was perfectly fine. Guests can always make something up. I enjoy the challenge! It's what keeps my job interesting.
I drew them all. And a couple of people weren't dressed up, or wanted to be something other than what they dressed up as. That was fine too. For example, a good number of people wanted to be elephant riders! That was one I made up because I thought it would be fun.
When I was doing research for the body boards, I found out that The Greatest Showman used no real elephants because they did not want to harm or exploit the endangered creatures.
I guarantee you there were no real elephants involved in the creating of this fun evening.
Thirteen People. One Circus-Themed Caricature.
One of the biggest drawings of the night was for the team who hired me.
Before the event began, I started drawing members of their team individually. Then I drew each person again on one large team caricature.
Thirteen people on one page. Even for me, that's a lot!
By the end of the night, all 13 members of the team had made it onto the page.
It became a keepsake from their conference that was completely unique to their group and their event.
The Noblest Art: Making Others Happy
There’s a quote attributed to P.T. Barnum at the end of The Greatest Showman:
“The noblest art is that of making others happy.”
That seemed particularly appropriate for the evening.
After 27 years of drawing at corporate events, weddings, conferences, trade shows and parties, the reaction at the end is still the best part for me.
Seeing people love their drawing is why I do what I do. I joke that caricatures are the only thing I’ve ever stuck with for nearly thirty years, including husbands! (Third time's the charm, right?)
Planning a Circus-Themed or Greatest Showman Corporate Event?
If you’re planning a circus-themed corporate event or Greatest Showman theme, live caricatures fit right in. Your guests get to become part of the circus, and they leave with a personalized keepsake from the event.
I can create custom circus-themed body choices for your company, just like I did for this conference. Ringmasters, strongmen, trapeze artists, lion tamers, elephant riders, or something completely made up for your group. If you have another theme in mind, I can create custom drawings for that too.
Corporate life may be a circus, but your corporate entertainment doesn’t have to be!
Learn more about live caricatures for conferences, company parties, employee appreciation events, trade shows and other corporate events at the link below.
I’d love to come draw a crowd for you!
Planning a Greatest Showman Themed Wedding?
Circus themes are some of the most popular themes I draw, and that makes sense. Caricatures and circuses just go together! Plus, your guests get entertainment during the wedding and a personalized favor to take home.
In fact, the very first wedding I ever drew was a circus-themed wedding. Since then, I’ve drawn at many Greatest Showman and circus-themed weddings, first birthday parties, corporate events and nonprofit events. I’ve even done county fair themes!
If you’re planning a Greatest Showman themed wedding or circus-themed event, I can create custom body choices to fit your theme and turn your guests into ringmasters, trapeze artists, strongmen, lion tamers and more.
I’d love to come draw a crowd for yours!
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