Your Guide to Working With a Live Calligrapher in St. Louis
As a live calligrapher and engraving artist in St. Louis, I specialize in creating personable, memorable experiences that leave guests with something truly special to take home. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, retail activation, brand launch, or holiday party, live calligraphy and on-site engraving add a hands-on element guests love.
So, how does it all work?
Step One: Reach Out & Share Your Event Details
The first step is getting in touch and sharing the basics of your event. The most important logistical detail is your event date. Holiday season (November and December) books especially far in advance, so I always recommend reaching out early for holiday retail events, corporate parties, and Christmas activations.
If I’m not available for your date, I work with a trusted network of professional calligraphers and engraving artists and am happy to provide referrals.
To help me give accurate recommendations and pricing, I’ll ask a few clarifying questions, including:
Number of attendees
Type of event (corporate, retail, private, public-facing)
Event theme or brand aesthetic
Items you’d like personalized
Event location and timing
In your initial message, it’s especially helpful to include the estimated guest count, the item you’re hoping to personalize, the event location, and your timeframe.
My live calligraphy and engraving rates start at $200/hour, which includes supplies, materials, and local travel within the Greater St. Louis area. This gives you a solid baseline for budgeting.
Step Two: Creative Direction & Personalization Ideas
Once availability is confirmed, we collaborate on creative direction. Some clients come to me knowing exactly what they want, like:
“I’m looking to hire a live engraving artist to engrave perfume bottles in-store.”
“I need a calligrapher to personalize 300 ornaments for a corporate holiday party.”
Other times, it’s more open-ended, like:
“I’m sourcing vendors on behalf of my client for a western-themed gala and am looking for an interactive guest experience.”
That’s where I step in with professional recommendations. For a western theme (fun!), I might suggest debossed leather belt buckles, engraved stainless steel flasks, or even a collaboration with a boot company for on-site boot customization.
You’ll either arrange to have the items ready at the event or, if in-studio personalization is needed ahead of time, you can ship items directly to my studio. I’ll then transport everything to the event myself.
Step Three: Contract & Booking
Once the details are finalized, I’ll send over a contract and invoice for a 25% deposit, which officially holds your spot on my calendar. After that, you’re booked!
If you’re hosting a public-facing or retail event, I’m also happy to promote it on my own social media channels leading up to the event.
Event Day: Setup & Guest Experience
On the day of the event, I arrive early to set up and check in with the point of contact. For retail events or gift-with-purchase activations, I’ll make sure sales staff know to send customers my way after checkout.
My setup requirements are simple:
One table and chair
Access to a power source (for engraving tools or heat tools when working with leather)
I bring all materials with me and typically wear all black, as requested by most clients, though I’m always happy to dress on theme or follow a specific vendor dress code.
For high-volume events, I use personalization forms to keep everything running smoothly. These forms are also my secret weapon for gathering data, like which items were most popular or how many purchases were directly tied to having a live artist on-site.
During the Event
During the event, I manage volume, personalize items, chat with guests, and keep the experience fun and efficient. Most live calligraphy and engraving activations take under five minutes per item. The longest part is usually guests deciding what they want written!
Pro tip for high-volume events: offering one preset option (like a name or initials) helps reduce decision fatigue and keeps the line moving.
I also intentionally use quick-drying inks and efficient engraving techniques for live activations so guests can take their items with them immediately.
After the Event
Once the event wraps, I handle cleanup (calligraphy, engraving, and debossing are surprisingly clean activations) and pack up. Afterward, I compile and send over post-event data, including:
Items personalized
General timing trends (busiest vs. slowest moments)
Anecdotal highlights (like the customer who purchased five bottles of Chanel perfume just to have them engraved on-site)
This information is especially helpful for brands and corporate clients planning future events and helps me give an accurate prediction of how many items I can personalize in a set timeframe.
Interested in hiring a live calligrapher or engraving artist in St. Louis?
Email me at emma@emmavonderhaar.com or share your event details here. I’d love to work with you and help create an unforgettable guest experience.