Why in the world does any Santa "need" any kind of formal training?
We attracted so much spin off business, it was easy to transition, and bring my Santas along with me, into the world of civic, corporate & private bookings.
I understand and am devoted to the notion that Santa needs to remain traditional as part of his mystique.
I know how expensive things have become in this depressed economy!I realize that investing in new career on a fixed retirement budget is a hardship! But it's really a worthy and rewarding investment in yourself!
My wonderful father (90 years old) thinks mortgages should still be around $200 a month and hotel rooms over $40 are a rip off! Cell phones, (forget "Smart phones"!) and Facebook are a mystery! When he was "walking to school, BOTH ways uphill, bread was 5 cents...", now designer bread is $5! No doubt TIMES HAVE CHANGED! (Hopefully our current teachers instruct us to go back home the same way so we can go downhill at the end of the day! Wink!) But all joking aside...
1.) Over the past 15 years, our "Santa Entertainment Industry" has blossomed, matured, and become much more high profile. The number of Santas at top levels with whom you are "competing" for holiday entertainment dollars, even in smaller communities, has literally exploded!
2.) Across 95% of America, (excluding L.A. & N.Y.C.,) average families used to be satisfied with making, borrowing or buying Uncle Joe a $40 Sears Santa suit and having him show up on Christmas Eve for a visit. Elastic, black hairs and gym shoes showing. (Ewww!) The head janitor or even major of most towns would rent a suit and "play" Santa for the local parade. IF he had a real beard, that was a huge bonus! IF he didn't, it wasn't a big deal.
3.) Marketing, advertising and sophisticated audiences now demand MORE and are willing to pay more for their group and private holiday entertainment. They want the "REAL" thing and to be impressed and WOW'd for their investment! Ho Ho Hum doesn't cut it any longer!
4.) As generations X Y & Z, start becoming parents, (eeks!) they are used to electronic, interactive, visual and thumb activated, 3-D entertainment. HOW can a candy cane & a "Ho Ho Ho" compete with that? Through quality education!
So, if Santa is to remain "traditional," why would there be anything new to learn? Red suit, jingle bells, white beard, lap visits, photos, give out the gifts.. How hard can it be?
Well Ho! Ho! Ho! Rockin' Robin, the Polar Caps are a melting! Being able to combine all the NEW information and still keep it traditional, is one task your educational mentors have in guiding you along this "ancient" yet fantastically new and complex holiday adventure!
So, if Santa is to remain "traditional," why would there be anything new to learn? Red suit, jingle bells, white beard, lap visits, photos, give out the gifts.. How hard can it be?
Well Ho! Ho! Ho! Rockin' Robin, the Polar Caps are a melting! Being able to combine all the NEW information and still keep it traditional, is one task your educational mentors have in guiding you along this "ancient" yet fantastically new and complex holiday adventure!
The NEW breed of Santa understands what it takes to climb to the top and stay there! Marketing! Networking! And intensive, quality Education! There are reputable schools across the USA. Find the ones that are right for YOU and continue to grow by attending different ones each year! We are all VERY different in our format, style, content, focus and especially ideology.
It's NOT just all about the snowy beard or custom designed Adele suit, although her designs are magnificent! If THE HEART that is UNDER the beard and INSIDE that suit are not glowing with sincerity, imagination, energy and passion for the role, then the investments have been in vain.
The best way to get yourself to the top of your Santa career, and stay there is through education, implementation and being involved with QUALITY Santa community! Santa America, FB Santa's Workshop (Larry Shaw) JYSW, FB Business of Being Santa, FB ClausNet (Michael Rielly), BuckEye Santas of Ohio, and perhaps one of the ? ? ? ORBS groups, for example! The taking of action and sharing of information. Leaving the politics out.
If YOU think your conversations with the children are unimaginative, repetitive and boring... Guess what? So do they! (Sorry!) Learn, through Santa education, to make every conversation, even 500 of them a day, different and exciting! Sounds hard but it's really easy!!! And way more fun than cattle herding the little ones!
If, you get excited about making your grand entrance to the mall, corporate party or home visit, but find yourself un-amused by your own repeat, stale performance once you arrive on your "stage," then it's time to engage in a new thought process about your "act." Santa Training can give you fresh ideas to make your presentations exciting again! - For your guests and yourself!
If, after an hour or two of visiting with the children, you remember you need to get your oil changed or pay the electric bill when you get home... then someone isn't engaged in BEing Santa! Santa Education will teach you tools, tricks and tips to staying in character, for however long you are "on stage."
If your holiday calendar is, or is not, as full as you want it to be, so you are covering your Santa expenses (gas, insurance, dry cleaning, beard grooming, costuming, etc.) with little padding for that world cruise vacation, flying lessons or tiara for the Mrs., then maybe your client list needs to be revamped so you perform to get the kind of referrals and tips that bring you pleasure and success on all levels? The Santa School you pick should give you the knowledge, tools and support to easily accomplish this!
Do you know the "formula" for answering ANY impossible question? Come find out at school!
What should you have in your Santa toy bag / repertoire for those special moments? Awkward moments? Scary moments? Unexpected moments in front of a crowd? And how can you pull it off with nothing but your imagination and personality, when you do not have your bag with you? We'll show you what you need to know to be empty handed and get raved reviews!
Did you know that if your contract / appearance agreement, is not worded exactly properly, your client can be called on the carpet by the IRS, to pay YOUR taxes! Yes- your CLIENT!!! What a P.R. nightmare THAT would be! I found out things about contract law, that even my attorneys didn't know. Federal coffers are so empty, that the government agencies are turning over every stone, even at the North Pole, to try to find money. Where do you find out how to structure your contracts? How do you negotiate a better-for-you contract with a mall /photo company? At Santa School, of course! It could mean thousands of dollars, back into your pocket for your tuition investment!
Did you know that if your contract / appearance agreement, is not worded exactly properly, your client can be called on the carpet by the IRS, to pay YOUR taxes! Yes- your CLIENT!!! What a P.R. nightmare THAT would be! I found out things about contract law, that even my attorneys didn't know. Federal coffers are so empty, that the government agencies are turning over every stone, even at the North Pole, to try to find money. Where do you find out how to structure your contracts? How do you negotiate a better-for-you contract with a mall /photo company? At Santa School, of course! It could mean thousands of dollars, back into your pocket for your tuition investment!
Who do you call, AFTER you graduate, for extreme professional support year-round to keep your career on track? The school you pick should work with you personally to achieve your goals!
If you have that burning desire and everyone is telling you you "look" like Santa, If children are coming up to you at Denny's, If mini-vans full of little ones are honking at you, but you don't know where to start...
If you are focused more on how you look externally, than on how you are impacting the lives you encounter...
If you think about the money, rather than the joy, so that the income flows easily and naturally as an afterthought...
If you think you are at the top of your game or conversely, you are boring yourself to tears with your performances and conversations...
If you are serious about helping the Santa industry maintain the revered tradition of Santa while infusing modern technology to appease a new, youthful generation of parents, but have no idea how to merge both ends of the spectrum...
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| Santa Garth and Zoo Buddy 2012 |
Then investing in yourself, FOR THE CHILDREN, renewing your Santa mindset, connecting with one of the several Professional Santa Claus Schools that syncs best with YOUR personality, will refresh and stimulate your enthusiasm, give you insights you cannot find anywhere else, provide you with the tips, tricks, tools and new points of view to have you impressing yourself with your newly instilled pride and accomplishments!
Yes! It IS an investment, an effort, perhaps a great sacrifice, and maybe even a bit humbling to admit you need an internal make-over to freshen up or get you started, but you'll find (I guarantee it!) that investment will come back to you, 10 fold, almost immediately (this upcoming season)!
Seriously investigate the educational opportunities that are out there for new and veteran Santas! Dig deep! Speak personally with the school's leaders! What is their overall vision? Their commitment to YOU over time? Their level of support? Do they offer continuing education / marketing assistance and placement to keep you growing? Are they easily available to you AFTER you graduate? Are they active year-round or just at training time? What is their experience? Success rate? Their viewpoints on things most important to you about BEcoming / BEing the kind of Santa YOU want to BE? Speak with recent grads of that school to get candid insights on their experience! Consider the tuition (which can be 100% tax deductible)... How are your tuition dollars used to benefit YOU- are food, accessories, perks and things you'll want and need included? (Remember: "You get what you pay for!") Look for scholarships and creative ways to work with the school you want to attend!
Get involved with your closest quality Santa organizations... attend regularly and find ways to bring education related to BEing / BEcoming better Santas into your gatherings! (PSCS will bring 1/2, 1 & 2 day sessions anywhere in the country for Santa groups- organized or informal!)
Don't skimp! YOU are worth it! The CHILDREN (as well as their parents, seniors and adults) desperately need the magic, the warmth, new memories and the escape that a real, high quality, creative, dedicated Santa provides in today's confusing, violent and frightening world!
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| Hop in your sleigh to be in Denver on labor Day Weekend! |
It's NOT about the suit! It's NOT about the beard!
It's about the CHILDREN, the MAGIC and the LOVE you have INSIDE of you!
Let's stir it up! Grab these new ideas and make it more fun and rewarding for everyone!
See you at Professional Santa Claus School Conference
in Denver, over the Labor Day Weekend!
in Denver, over the Labor Day Weekend!
(We'll show you how, by THIS season, to double, even triple +++ your investment back into your pocket!)
Susen C. Mesco
303-665-8280
Master Santa Claus Trainer since
1983!
31st Annual Professional
Santa Claus School Denver, CO
August 30 – September 3, 2013
www.AmerEvents.com/santa-claus-school