Life drawing has a reputation for calm, so the prank lands hard: the stag arrives expecting a glass of wine and a sketchbook, and finds out he is the evening's subject.
How the evening runs
- The group is told it is a creative evening. The stag is handed a pencil and a pad like everyone else.
- A professional model warms up the class with short poses, so the room feels normal.
- Halfway through, the host announces "a special model" and the groom is invited to the front.
- He sits on the stool, in the clothing level agreed with the host, while the group sketches.
- The class ends with the sketches held up, a prize for the worst drawing and a toast.
Clothing levels
The stitch-up works at any level, because the embarrassment is the point. We agree the groom's level with the best man before the evening starts: fully dressed in costume, in swimwear, or in whatever the group has chosen. Nobody is made to go beyond what was agreed, and the host can switch to a costume pose at any time.
Variations
- The costume classThe groom poses in a ridiculous outfit, such as a Roman toga or a superhero cape.
- The double modelA professional model poses beside him, so he is not alone on stage.
- The speed roundTwo-minute poses, so the group can try several poses before the main one.
- The prize classA scoreboard decides who gets the worst drawing, and the loser pays for the next round.
Practical notes
- It runs in a private venue, usually in the evening before dinner.
- Drinks are included in some packages and are served during the class.
- Phones stay away during the pose, and photos of the finished drawings are fine.
- A group of 8 to 20 works best.
Questions people ask
Does the groom have to take his clothes off?
No. The level is agreed in advance and he can change it at any time.
Is it only for men?
No. The format works for any stag or hen group.
How long does it take?
About 90 minutes, including breaks.
Do we need to be good at drawing?
No. A bad drawing makes it better.
Where we run it
Open a city guide for local notes and how this works there.
Life drawing stitch-up in ManchesterSee the Manchester guide
Life drawing stitch-up in LiverpoolSee the Liverpool guide
Life drawing stitch-up in NewcastleSee the Newcastle guide
Life drawing stitch-up in EdinburghSee the Edinburgh guide
Life drawing stitch-up in BrightonSee the Brighton guide
Life drawing stitch-up in DublinSee the Dublin guide