Do you want to start live engraving at weddings?
On-site calligraphy and engraving is a lucrative art, particularly in India, where there is a lot of potential to boom as the market is still unexplored.
You may have the skills and the experience, but on-site personalization is an entirely different ball game, and if done incorrectly, you risk losing not just the money but also your health.
So how do you navigate as a live artist in weddings?
Tips To Follow As A Wedding Engraver
1. One thing you need to prepare yourself for as a wedding engraver is the quantity of products you’ll work on. Trust me, it sounds easy but it can be quite challenging to engrave over 100 products in an hour, particularly for inexperienced engraving artists.
The number of individual orders that engraving artists typically complete in an hour can range from 20 to 30 products, but when they are live engraving at a wedding carnival, the quantity can reach up to 300 or more.
2. You shouldn't rely only on the default engraving device. Because our hands are naturally drawn to that one machine, we all have a favorite.
Avoid the mistake of bringing along just one engraving machine. On the off chance that something happens to your beloved machine, you should always have a backup machine on hand.
3. Be honest with the event planner/client about your requirements. This is important because it affects not only your engraving but also your physical health.
Don’t hesitate to ask for a comfortable setup – a comfortable chair, (preferably with a cushion to aid the engraving), a table of appropriate height, and proper lighting. You can also request a person from the event manager’s team to assist you if you’re covering the event alone.
4. Get some rest!!!! Don’t go on back-to-back events without proper rest, even though you may be tempted to. I did that, and I don't want to experience the amount of sleep I lost or the fatigue I felt afterward again. I now approach events in a way that balances my downtime.
5. Quote the client according to their personalization requirements. It happens often that people want more services at lower prices. Don’t let them guilt you into thinking that your skills and experience are not worth the pay.
6. Be clear about your payment terms right from the beginning. Sometimes, people agree to the price you quote, only to reject it later, after you’ve provided the services.
Get a written agreement from them so they can't back out later. Also, I’ve found that the best approach is to ask for 50% payment at the time of booking, and the rest 50% before you begin live engraving at the event.
Personal Experience As A Wedding Engraver
I have had my fair share of ups and downs while engraving at weddings. Fortunately, most of my experiences as a wedding engraver have been incredible thanks to the wonderful planners who’ve never shied away from offering their full support.
However, I've also had situations where the client attempted to con me by undervaluing my work and didn’t pay me what we agreed upon while finalizing the booking. I was hesitant to object because I was a beginner then, but I've since changed greatly.
I also recall being at an event in a remote location and to be honest, I was a little worried about how I was going to get back because the client had declined to make transportation arrangements.
So yes, all that glitter is definitely not gold. When you engrave live at events, you will encounter a variety of scenarios and acquire a great deal of experience. Just make sure one or two bad experiences don’t dim your shine. Know your worth and be proud to showcase it!
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