Q.  OK, how much does it cost?

A.  From as little as £120, which will be for a minimum of 90 minutes, includes all your drawing materials, two bottles of wine and all travelling expenses!  Send us an an email with your requirements and once we have established what you need, we will provide you with a fixed price.

Q.  Why don't you charge per head like everyone else?

Q.  How long is each session?

A.  A minimum of 90 minutes and two hours is common at no extra cost!  That's 50%-100% longer than other operators offer and incredible value for money!  Make sure you bear that in mind when you are comparing us to other people.

Q.  Do we need to pay a deposit?

A.  A reasonable deposit is required to secure a slot and it's fully refundable provided you cancel no less than six weeks before your scheduled event.

Q.  When do we pay the balance?

A.  On the day, not before you've even had the party!

Q.  We can't quite confirm yet.  Can you hold a slot for us?

A.  Yes, we can hold a slot for you on a first refusal basis before you confirm with a deposit.

Q.  We're new to this.  Any tips so we don't get caught out?

A.  Well, don't accept any delay at all in confirming availability and who exactly will be modelling for you.  If someone can't do that instantly, they are probably searching for a model. 

If you buy a car, you wouldn't expect to pay a deposit and wait for the dealer to find a car to your specification, or worse still, just tell you the car will be fine and not to worry.  So why do that when you are booking your party?  That's just more hassle and stress and you don't need that when you are organising a hen do.

Next, demand to see photos of the model working at hen parties.  If they can't provide those pictures immediately, then either they haven't done it before, or they have something to hide.  Do you want to be the guinea pigs?

Lastly, never pay a deposit until you are happy with all the arrangements, including the model you will be using.  We only ask for a deposit when everything has been agreed between us.  To give you complete peace of mind, it's fully refundable if you cancel no less than six weeks before the event.

Q.  We are under pressure to get something arranged.  How quickly can you tell us if you are available on our chosen date?

A.  We will reply as soon as we receive your inquiry (our aim is always within 24 hours) and tell you at the time whether we can help or not. 

What we won't do, is say we can definitely help and then try to find you a model.  This is a common trick - hook you in and then you wait why they try and source a model.  If we can't confirm instant, guaranteed availability, we'll be up front with you about that.

It happens all the time and we can show you ads where agencies and other providers are franctically searching for a model, having told customers it's all sorted!

We give you immediate confirmation of availability.  We get lots of business where the promised model hasn't been available, or the hens aren't happy with his look and/or lack of experience.  We also find ourselves helping out at the last minute when people have been let down by other providers.  We're rather proud of the fact that we have never let a client down.

Q.  How early should we book?

A.  It's important to emphasise that it's best to make your booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.  We would recommend you book at least three months in advance, as the more notice you can provide, the better your chance of getting a particular slot.

Q.  Actually, we've been let down by someone - do you do short notice bookings?

A.  We will always try to help if we can.  It will come down to whether we are available and where you want to hold the session, but in principle, no problem.  Just get in touch.  Watch out for announcements on the home page - hen dos are sometimes postponed and then we will often offer the slot at a special rate!

Q.  Is hen party life drawing suitable for everyone?

A.  Pretty much!  We have had hens aged from 18 to 75 at our events and there's often a fair spread of ages present.  After all, some people get married two or three times now, so there's no longer a stereotypical group of hens.  It's very common for the bride's mum, prospective MIL, or both, to come along.  The most important things are a sense of humour and a willingness to have a go at drawing.

Q.  We are a pretty loud group, will that matter?

A.  Nope, just be yourselves and you'll have to go some to surprise us!

Q.  What kind of venues do you use?

A.  It's really up to you.  We tend to recommend places like church halls or community centres to keep costs down, and we find that suits the majority of hens.

Q.  Can you come to us, say at our hotel, house or rented cottage?

A.  Yes we can and we do.  In addition to front rooms, we've run sessions at some very unusual venues, including youth hostels, yurts, beaches and gardens, as well as church halls, hotel rooms and Center Parcs lodges.  In the summer, we often do sessions outside.  Nothing nicer than drawing a nude in the sunshine with a glass of Pimms or Champagne!

Q.  We will all be dressed up for the weekend.  Will that matter?

A.  Not at all.  The majority of ladies are just dressed normally, but we've had groups dressed as nurses, some very strange headgear, every variety of sash and people in their pyjamas and slippers! 

Q.  What time do we have to run the session?

A.  It's really up to you.  The afternoon is most popular, prior to going out, but we do an increasing number of events where people are staying in to party.  It's also an interesting event to wake up to after a night out, and has been known to banish hangovers!

One of the best things about our hen party life drawing classes is that they fill a good sized time slot - say 10-12, 2-4 or 4-6.  We find hens like that, rather than rushing from one short activity to another.

Q.  Does it have to be at the weekend?

A.  No, you can book us for any time that suits you.  We often do weekday events.

Q.  Can we just book the model?

A.  Yes.  You can book the model alone or the model with a tutor.  We always make a recommendation based on your particular circumstances, but the final choice is yours.

Q.  Can we take pictures?

A.  Yes you can, and we won't publish them all over the web!

Q.  What equipment will we need?

A.  None whatsoever.  We supply everything you need.

Q.  Do we have to be able to draw?

A.  Absolutely not!  However, you will receive plenty of encouragement, instruction and helpful hints and tips.  It's not about producing the best drawing.  It's about enjoying yourselves doing something different.

Q.  What exactly will we do?

A.  After you meet your model/tutor, and the session is explained, you'll be taken through a range of drawing exercises while your model adopts different poses.  While you draw, you'll get lots of hints and tips from the model or tutor.  You don't have to worry about anything - all organisation is taken care of for you.

Q.  Can we choose the poses?

Q.  How many hens can attend?

A.  It's really only limited by the size of the venue, but a typical group size ranges from 8-16 hens.

Q.  Will the model be naked?

A.  That's the point of life drawing!

Q.  Is the model attractive?

Q.  Are refreshments provided or can we bring our own?

A.  As long as the venue doesn't impose any restrictions, then you can bring your own.  Some alcohol usually goes down well, so remember we supply two bottles of wine as part of the deal!

Q.  Which areas do you cover?

A.  We run hen life drawing parties mostly in London, Brighton, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Bristol and Bath, but we will quote to come absolutely anywhere.  We were in France and Ireland a couple of weeks ago and we will be in Spain in the summer!  We are in St Ives, Birmingham, Horsham, Guildford, Frome, Bideford, Worthing, Jersey, Chichester, Norwich, Liverpool, Manchester and Milton Keynes shortly, so we get around!

Q.  We won't know exact numbers until a few days before.  Will that matter or change the price?

A.  No problem. We understand the difficulties organisers face and are used to numbers changing.  You also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing our price is fixed.

Q.  Can men come?

A.  No, it's strictly for the ladies.  The only male present will be your model.  Even the tutor is female.

Q.  Our group is gay, can you provide a female model for girls and a male model for guys?

A.  No problem.  Just email us if that's what you're looking for.

Q.  How do we know you are reputable?

A.  We only use professional models and qualified artists, with impeccable professional reputations and references to match.  Then there's our feedback, which is exceptional.  It's not difficult to spot a dodgy operator.  Finally, look at the emphasis on this site.  It's different.

Q.  Are you a member of the Register of Artists' Models (RAM)?

A.  Our main model was.  He was modelling extensively and very successfully for RAM hen parties (loads of testimonials available from those hens) but was not allowed to remain a member when he set up in competition with henlifedrawing.co.uk.  He is a member of various model registers (there are lots besides RAM) and forums.

RAM are an unofficial body, with no mandate to judge who else is or isn't suitable to run hen life parties, or model for them.  Since RAM market hen parties themselves, you might ask yourself how impartial they can be and just why they are so critical of other operators?

We don't like their business model or their objectifying approach to models, but we do like the fact that these things differentiate them from us, and that helps you to make the right choice.

Q.  How do we know you won't send someone else along?

A.  We would only do that with your prior permission, and if you didn't like the look of the model, we would return your deposit in full.  It has never happened yet.

Q.  Is this the only modelling you do?

A.  No, any model we use is a regular at a range of more conventional life, painting, portrait and sculpture classes too.  Demand like that, from professional tutors and studios, is another factor that should give you confidence that you are getting a great model.

Q.  How do we make an enquiry or book?

A.  Just contact us at the email address provided.  Please try and let us have as many details as you can at this stage, as it makes it easier for us to quote.

Once we have established exactly what you need, we will provide you with a fixed price quotation.

Q.  What do you need to know when we make an enquiry?

A.  As a minimum, it helps if you can tell us:

• Your preferred date(s)
• What time you would like the session to start
• Likely numbers
• The town where you would like the event to be run
• Whether you have a venue already organised
• A phone number is helpful and we only phone by arrangement

If you have any other questions, just ask!  We don't use hard sell tactics here.

Email us at:

info@henlifedrawing.co.uk