Hourly & Travel Rate

Rates for Chinese Calligraphy Event, Workshop or Demonstration
(To save your calculation, total charge may be confirmed by e-mail.)

Total cost of the event = ( Hourly Rate x Number of Hours )
+ Extra Mileage Charge

Setup and cleaning time before and after the writing will not be charged.
Setup usually takes 15 minutes before the event begins.

For travel within 10 miles of Preston & Campbell area, Dallas, Texas
Event Categories	Hourly rate	*Paper (different colors), ink & supplies**	Comment
School, Church, Museum Events	$85	Included
Cultural Events (e.g. Asian Heritage Festival)	$80 or Charge Per Person	Included
Group Class or Workshop	$75	Not included The "educational" rate does not include students' tools and all supplies.	Model (sample) sheets will be provided by Joshua. Lecture notes may be downloaded and printed by the event organizer.
Wedding	$100	Included	Joshua may provide special decorative pieces.
Small Business	$90	Included	If paid in advance with credit card, $85 per hour.
Corporation	$100	Included
Charity / Fundraising	Negotiated and Charge Per Person	Included	Recover cost of paper

* Due to the technical considerations of ink absorbency and compatibility between paper and brush, Joshua Hough only writes on authentic Chinese calligraphy paper (Shuan Paper), preferably chosen by Joshua. Chinese brushes and ink are most compatible with Shuan Paper. Please do not provide your own papers if they are not authentic Shuan Paper.

If you wish to purchase Shuan Paper for your events, you may shop from the following vendor that sells the same "red with gold flecks" paper as I use in the public events:

www.orientalartsupply.com/products/paper_specialty.cfm

P4GR: Red Gold (Colored Gold Fleck Shuan Paper)
Dimensions: 27" x 54" per sheet
List Price: $17.50 for 5 Individual Sheets

Each 27" x 54" sheet makes about 6 names as I write in the public events. All papers are included in the hourly rate except for classes. If you wish to buy your paper, please handle with extreme care. The paper should arrive unfolded. Please roll and do not fold the paper. It takes me about one hour to trim the full size paper into 45 sheets of 18" x 6" size very precisely for writing names before each event. Any folds will hinder the smooth motion of Chinese brush writing and should be avoided.

Due to Asian cultural custom, if using a calligraphy brush, Asian people write lucky phrases and people's names on red paper, never on purely white paper without anything added.

For travel more than 10 miles of Preston & Campbell area
Extra Mileage Charges apply

Additional $20 will be charged per additional five miles in a one-way trip (i.e., $20 for additional 10 miles in a round trip.) Mileages will be based on results from "www.MapQuest.com."

For events scheduled to start during high-traffic time (between 5:30 and 6:30 PM, Monday to Friday, except national holidays), Extra Mileage Charge will be $40 for additional 10 miles per round trip due to my travel from my accounting office to the event.

Example: For a school event of 2 hours located 24 miles from Campbell & Preston area.

Charge by Hour = $85 x 2 = $170
24 - 10 = 14 miles (counted as 3 additional five-miles)
Extra Mileage Charge = $20 x 3 additional five-miles = $60

Total cost = $170 + $60 = $230

Number of pieces to be completed for each event &
Recommended settings for optimal service

Due to the technicality of Chinese writing brush, I usually write between 9 to 15 (usually 12) English "first names" (average of 40 to 50 Chinese characters) per hour if I am not interrupted. Faster speed will absolutely distort the artistic essence of Chinese brush writing and disappoint each recipient. A Chinese calligraphy brush is totally different from a pen, a pencil, and a watercolor brush.

The English names are translated "phonetically".
Example: Elizabeth (4 Chinese characters), Jane (1 Chinese character), Catherine (3 Chinese characters).

If the event is outdoors, this estimated quantity will most be reduced due to the wind blowing the thin and light Chinese calligraphy paper, especially when the wind is strong and the "paper weight" cannot stabilize the paper and the audiences and I will be looking for blown away paper... Any trivial movement of the paper during brush writing will distort a brushstroke to a certain level. I serve all of the audiences with respect and sincerity. I deeply respect each piece I write and believe that every one, including non-Chinese, will be able to tell the artistic difference if the piece is done with all due submission and respect.

A book containing common questions and answers regarding Chinese language and calligraphy will be presented to the audiences, so the proportion of writing time will least likely be affected.

Two tables indoors with two chairs are recommended for stable writing and uninterrupted speed of writing to better serve our audiences with more artistic results. Table cloth is usually not recommended. The ink will not stain the table.

As the quantity may be the event organizer's main concern and the artistic quality of each piece may be the individual recipient's and my concern, we would appreciate if we understand this: if Chinese calligraphic brush writing is rushed, the artistic quality will surely be less perfect. A good Chinese calligraphy work is everlasting - no matter how we look at it, today or in the future, it's always worthy of the viewers' appreciation.

Some name samples are listed at www.art-virtue.com/studio/c1_name/index.htm.

Names may be obtained at negotiated prices (starting from $15 per first name) before or after the event. Those who do not get their names during the event may order from online. Discount is available for orders of multiple copies.