At The Trade Entertainment, our cigar roller packages currently start at $900, with options for larger quantities depending on your guest count and event.
But when you hire a live cigar roller, you’re getting much more than a box of cigars. You’re adding an experience.
Guests can watch cigars being hand-rolled right in front of them, interact with an experienced cigar roller, learn about the tobacco and different cigar options, and then leave with a hand-rolled cigar as a souvenir from your event.
We’ve provided cigar rollers for everything from birthday parties and weddings to corporate events, and while they’re extremely popular for Cuban-themed parties, you definitely don’t need a Cuban theme to have one.
Here’s what you should know before hiring a cigar roller in Houston.
What are Typical Rates in Houston
Our current cigar roller pricing is based primarily on the number of cigars you’d like to provide:
- 50 cigars: $900
- 75 cigars: $1,125
- 100 cigars: $1,350
- 150 cigars: $1,700
- 300 cigars: $3,000
The cigar roller performs live rolling for approximately two to three hours depending on the package, or until the cigars run out.
When choosing a package, remember that you don’t necessarily need one cigar for every person attending your event. Your event type, guest demographics and whether the cigars are being enjoyed at the event or taken home can all affect the quantity you need.
We can help you determine which package makes the most sense for your event.
What It Actually Takes to Run It
This is where things get real. We are usually onsite before the park even opens. Sometimes we are setting up the night before, but if not, we are there early, around 6AM, getting everything in place. From there, it is nonstop coordination.
We have a full team helping make it happen:
- Sound engineers
- Stage managers
- Crew running equipment
- Drivers moving performers and gear around the festival grounds
Getting entertainers, instruments, and equipment to the right place at the right time is a constant effort, especially in a space that large.
And then there’s the schedule. Every act has a set time, and everything has to stay on track.
Our three kids love being part of this weekend. They enjoy everything the festival has to offer, but their favorite part is easily getting rides on the golf carts as we move around the grounds.
What Happens When You Hire a Live Cigar Roller?
One of the reasons we love cigar rolling as event entertainment is that it doesn’t require an enormous footprint or complicated setup.
The client provides a table, chair and tablecloth, and our cigar roller typically arrives approximately 20 minutes before the scheduled start time to prepare.
The roller also arrives with several cigars already rolled.
This is important because when guests first discover the cigar station, you don’t want everyone standing in line waiting for the first cigar to be finished. Guests can begin receiving cigars while the live rolling experience gets underway.
From there, the cigar roller begins hand-rolling cigars on site. Guests can stop and watch the process, talk with the roller, ask questions about the tobacco and learn more about the cigars they’re receiving.
And yes, the cigars can be smoked right away.
Of course, guests can also take them home as a souvenir.
What Kind of Cigars Are Rolled?
We offer Nicaraguan puros, meaning the tobacco used in the cigars is from Nicaragua.
Guests can choose from different cigar profiles, including mild, medium and fullbodied options, with shade-grown, natural and maduro selections.
Having a knowledgeable cigar roller on site is part of what makes the experience so interesting.
Instead of simply picking up a cigar from a box, guests can talk with the roller about the different options, ask questions and learn more about what they’re choosing.
Custom Cigar Bands for Weddings and Corporate Events
One of our favorite parts of offering cigar rolling is the opportunity to customize the cigars. Custom cigar bands can turn the cigar itself into a branded keepsake from the event.
For a wedding, that might be the couple’s initials and wedding date. For a corporate event, it could be the company’s logo. And for sponsored events, the sponsor’s logo can be featured on the cigar bands. We’ve even had sponsors cover the cigar experience itself, making the customized cigars part of their presence at the event.
The Trade Entertainment generally does not create the artwork. Clients provide their completed logo or design as a JPEG or PDF, and we take it from there. It’s a relatively small detail that can make the finished experience feel much more personalized.
Can I Order Cigars for VIP Gifts Before the Event?
Absolutely. Sometimes clients want cigars for more than the live cigar-rolling portion of their event.
We recently worked with a corporate client who wanted 200 cigars total, but 100 of those cigars were specifically for VIP corporate clients. Rather than hoping those guests would make it to the cigar station during the event, the client wanted to guarantee that each VIP received one. So 100 cigars were prepared in advance to be included in their corporate gift bags. We can work with clients on arrangements like this and, depending on the event, can ship or deliver pre-rolled cigars in advance or bring them with us ready to distribute.
This is especially useful for corporate gifting, VIP bags, weddings and other events where you want certain guests to be guaranteed a cigar.
Why Hire a Live Cigar Roller Instead of Just Buying Cigars?
Anyone can preorder cigars and put them out at a party. A live cigar roller turns the cigars into entertainment.
There’s something fascinating about watching a skilled roller work. Guests naturally gather around the table, ask questions and interact with the process. It becomes an experience rather than simply another party favor.
That’s also why cigar rolling works for so many different types of events. We’ve provided cigar rollers for birthdays, weddings, corporate events and themed parties. They can be sophisticated enough for an upscale corporate event but still interactive and fun enough for a birthday celebration. And at the end of the night, guests get something they can take home.
Add Cigar Models for an Even Bigger Experience
If the budget allows, another fun addition is a cigar model or multiple cigar models. Think of the vintage cigarette girls who once circulated through parties and clubs carrying small trays.
Our cigar models can walk throughout the event with cigars displayed on trays while dressed to coordinate with the theme. They’re especially fun for vintage circus events and Cuban-themed parties, but the look can be customized for other themes as well.
Pairing cigar models with the live cigar roller takes the experience beyond a single station and carries it throughout the party.
Can a Cigar Roller Be Indoors or Outdoors?
Before booking, we’ll need to know whether your event will be indoors or outdoors. For outdoor events, the cigar roller needs to be protected from the elements and provided with adequate shade.
You’ll also want to check the smoking policies for your particular venue.
The cigar rolling itself can still be part of the event experience even when smoking is restricted to a designated outdoor area, but understanding your venue’s rules beforehand makes planning much easier.
One Thing People Forget: Ashtrays!
Here’s a small detail that can save you a last-minute headache. If guests are going to smoke their cigars at your event, make sure you have ashtrays. It sounds obvious until you’re in the middle of an event and realize nobody thought about them.
We once worked an event where the client hadn’t realized they needed to provide ashtrays. Once everyone figured out what was missing, someone had to make a lastminute run to Target to find ashtrays and bring them back to the event. We’ve never forgotten that one. So now it’s something we remind clients about: if guests will be enjoying the cigars on site, plan ahead for where they’ll smoke and make sure appropriate ashtrays are available.
Are Cigar Rollers Only for Cuban-Themed Parties?
Definitely not. Cigar rollers are extremely popular for Cuban and Havana Nights themes, and they fit those events beautifully. But that’s only one possibility.
We’ve booked cigar rollers for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, private parties and other celebrations that had nothing to do with a Cuban theme.
For weddings, the personalized cigar band makes a memorable favor. For corporate events, branded cigars create a unique promotional or VIP gift. For birthdays and private parties, the live rolling itself becomes part of the entertainment. The experience can be dressed up, themed or kept classic depending on the event.
How Much Space Does a Cigar Roller Need?
Not much, and that’s another reason we love booking them. Unlike some entertainment that requires a stage, extensive production or a large performance area, cigar rolling has a relatively simple footprint.
You’ll generally need to provide:
- One table
- One chair
- A tablecloth
- A protected/shaded location if outdoors
- Ashtrays if guests will be smoking on site
That’s about it.
For the amount of space required, the impact can be surprisingly big.
Hiring a Cigar Roller for Your Houston Event
A live cigar roller is one of those entertainment options that checks several boxes at once. It’s live entertainment, an interactive experience and a guest favor all in one. That’s probably what we like most about offering it.
The setup isn’t complicated, you don’t need a huge amount of space, and yet it creates an experience guests remember. Then they get to leave your event with a hand-rolled cigar as a souvenir.
Whether you’re planning a Houston wedding, corporate event, birthday party, Cubanthemed celebration or something completely different, The Trade Entertainment can help you determine the right number of cigars and customize the experience for your event.
