When Should You Book a Live Illustrator for Your Event? (Earlier Than You Think)

May 4
2 min read

Here’s a slightly awkward truth about booking a live illustrator:

If you wait until you’re 100% sure you need one…you’ll probably be too late.

Why Live Illustrators Get Booked So Early

This isn’t about scarcity for the sake of it. It’s about timing. Here’s what usually happens. An event gets planned. The agenda comes together.Speakers are confirmed. And then - somewhere further down the line - someone says: “Should we get that illustrated thing?”

At which point… most of the good live illustrators are already booked. Not because they’re rare in a dramatic, unicorn sense. But because the people who’ve worked with them before understand the value before the event happens, not after.

The “We’ll Decide Later” Trap

It’s completely understandable. Live illustration can feel like something you decide on once everything else is in place. A finishing touch. A “nice extra.” But in reality, it works best when it’s part of the thinking from the beginning. Leaving it too late often means:

limited availability
fewer options
or missing out entirely

And that’s frustrating - especially when the event itself is something you’ve invested time, energy, and budget into getting right.

Why Booking Early Makes a Difference

When you bring a live illustrator into your plans earlier, you get more than just a booking secured.

You get:

time to align on your goals and outcomes
the opportunity to shape how ideas will be captured
a smoother, more intentional experience overall

And practically speaking? You actually get the illustrator you want.

It’s a Bit Like… (Bear With Me)

Booking a live illustrator is a bit like incusrance, sunscreen or booking childcare... the benefit is obvious.It just becomes slightly less useful if you leave it too late.

When Is the Right Time to Book a Live Illustrator?

A good rule of thumb:

👉 As soon as your event is confirmed and the date is in the diary.

You don’t need every detail finalised.You don’t need a perfectly polished agenda.

You just need to know:

roughly what the event is
when it’s happening
and that the ideas actually matter

From there, everything else can be shaped together.

Current Availability

A practical update (because this is usually the bit people want to know):

I’m currently fully booked for May.

I’ve got a handful of dates left for June and July.

So if you’re planning a conference, strategy day, panel, training event or workshop…and you want the ideas to be captured clearly, remembered, and actually used afterwards, this is roughly the moment to make that call.

Final Thought

Live illustration works best when it’s not an afterthought. It’s not just about capturing what happens.It’s about supporting how people understand, connect, and remember the ideas in the room. And that starts before the event even begins.