Kris Kringle’s Wisdom

By Santa Fuzzy

I guess no one wants to share stories, advice, or hints with me. I haven’t received anything from anyone yet. Hope that folks are reading this for what it is. That’s one persons views, opinions and suggestions. Enough said, I’ll press on with this month’s story.

It’s getting that time of year when you really need to be thinking about the upcoming season. If you want to be a mall Santa, than contact the different places that find the Santas and place them in the malls. Let them know what you are looking for and they will place you. They usually pick the Santas early enough so that arrangements can be made, transportation to the area, accommodations, and other necessities.

But, if you are planning on striking out as a home or special occasion Santa, then you need to do lots of things now. Your best bet is to find an agent in your area. This could be anyone who has connections with the public and private sector and preferable a terrific advertising capability. This will make your work easier. Even if you have an agent, there are other things you can do to increase your business during the season.

Always carry around a card with you. Leave it where ever you visit and always talk to whomever you can about what you can and cannot do. If you are in a restaurant, try something like a meal with Santa period of time. This will give them the opportunity to bring in more revenue and the kids will love it. If you want adult parties, there are a lot of places to search for them. Just make sure that whatever type of visit you would like to do, you are well versed in the activity and you create the atmosphere that will keep the folks asking for you year after year. Nothing is worse than a bad visit by Santa.

Now I have built some relationships over the years that are terrific. Since I recently moved to the East Coast, I had my contacts on the West Coast call their company offices, customer offices, or others that they know and had a ready clientele waiting when I arrived. If you don’t have anyone to fall back on, try going to the different photographers and asking them if they would be interested in taking some Santa pictures at a daycare center, or other locations you can think that folks might want a Santa. Discuss your ideas with them and let them know what you would like for your participation.

Make up your own modeling cut sheet. Have your picture on the front (or a couple of terrific shots of you) and on the back side have what you would charge for your visit. Make sure to have several methods of how to contact you. Now you will have to be prepared for the calls when they come, but if you indicate that you usually are booked for the season before the middle of November, then you might get some earlier calls.

One thing I like to do is that if I raise my prices, I make up some certificates that indicate the old price to all my old clients if they can bring in one or more bookings from new customers. This doesn’t sound like much, but believe it or not, my old customers rarely use the certificate themselves and ask if another family can use it. Of course I allow it. That gives me another family to bring in.

With this all said, I can honestly let you know that I averaged one (1) visit per day from the 28^th of November through the 25^th of December. Actually it was a little bit more but not quite one and a half. That isn’t too bad. I controlled my visits so that I would usually have 2 visits on each Friday, 3 or 4 visits on each Saturday and the same for Sunday. During the week (Monday through Thursday) I would have 2 visits between these 4 days. Life was grand. I would be busy, yet I had “me” time. (Which was needed from time to time.)

This year, I have already started booking my visits. If I perform well for a couple of Charities I am doing Christmas in July visits for, then I might have more bookings by the end of August. Life is grand.

At this moment, I am putting together greeting cards that I will send to a few select groups, families, and businesses that I wish to work for again. The front of these folding greeting cards I print a picture of me. On the inside, I send them the discount certificate I created and note that reminds them they need to book me early if they would like to get me again.

By my phone, I have my payment schedule so that I can assist with those who don’t want me for a full hour or for those who couldn’t afford to have me for more than a quick drop by and pass out gifts to the children. I also have a few thought for what Santa may need and how to treat Santa when he arrives. This will help those who plan the parties. They don’t always realize that Santa is not a young hombre by any means and that parking a long way away from the door may attract attention they really don’t want. Of course that depends on the area they are located.

Last but not least, I have a list to help me remember all the things that I can do during my visit. This will preclude me from missing a very important opportunity when I am called. I have had several calls in the past that started out asking if I would do balloon animals. I had one who wanted me to ride a unicycle. Still others asked if I was afraid of heights because they wanted to fly me in. My favorite was being brought in by a team of horses drawing a sleigh. Good thing I know something about that.

Your business will grow each year if you only do two things. The first is to get out and hustle yourself. Make everyday an opportunity to increase your visits during the season. The second is to make sure you are the best Santa around. You don’t have to do magic tricks and you don’t have juggle. You do have to please the “main reason” for your visit, the children (or adults if it a company party).

TIP OF THE MONTH

Your breath is the most important thing during your visit. Children have always gotten past the fake beards and Sears Santa Suits. They see in their eyes only the vision of Santa and the elves, the reindeer and all the toys. But…… And I must really say this, BUT, if your breath is bad, the whole visit will be bad. The children will not want to hug you. They won’t even want to sit on your lap. I use to use the candy canes to keep my breath fresh, but all that sugar finally got to me. Now I have found those small strips you place on your tongue are terrific. One just before I make my visit is enough. If the visit is going to be more than an hour, I try to sneak one ever hour. I also watch what I eat during the season too! Nothing spicy or will create bad breath or other situations we won’t go into here.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

I have found that more and more companies are wanting a Santa at their holiday party. I found out as I entered the hall for one party, I was asked to read a naught and nice list that someone in the company made up. After reading a few items on each side, I asked if I could appoint some elves to assist with this task. They weren’t too pleased with my suggestion but agreed. What I did then was look for the two folks who looked like they caused the most mischief and assigned them the Naught and Nice keepers of the list. As they read the lines, they were to walk over to the person they were talking about. I would either admonish them and tell them it is not too late to be good or I would give them a big hug. At the end of the list I handed out a bag of candy to the nicest person (by popular vote) and the naughtiest person (again by popular vote) received a lump of coal. It was a gentleman who was the naughtiest so I ended this activity by telling him so that everyone could hear that I had someone outside that wanted to meet them. After that laughter settled down, I turned to the nice person, who happened to be a lady, and I told her that she could met me outside after the party and I would teach her to be bad. This to received laughter.

The end thought for all this is to be prepared for anything. Party planners have been notorious for wanting Santa to do things at the party. If you don’t feel comfortable doing them, by all means don’t. But if you do feel a little froggie at the occasion, then by all means, enjoy the moment.

That’s all for now. Don’t forget to send your experiences, tips and questions. I will be more than happy to answer them or publish them here for others to assist with their answers. We don’t have to agree but we all have some great ideas that we could share.

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Santa Fuzzy