Parenting: Picking a Perfect Santa Claus, advice for parents from Professional Santa Claus School, Susen Mesco article

Picking YOUR "Perfect" Santa Claus

by Susen Mesco, 
Master Santa Claus Trainer,

Sant-A-Grams  Since 1983!

Picking the "perfect" Santa Claus for your holiday gathering is not as easy as it sounds. ANY body can buy or rent a Santa Claus suit. Anyone can place an ad claiming to be a "Santa." Many party clowns buy a Santa suit and play" Santa during the holiday season.

YOU want and NEED the RIGHT Santa for your event.   

START EARLY. The very best Santas usually book up prime dates at the end of the previous holiday season. Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, along with Christmas eve are scarce after April prior to Christmas. Santa providers will usually still have Santas available at the last minute, since they always "save" a few Santas for just this reason on prime dates. People also cancel their events last minute, so there IS a Santa out there for you!   

Thoroughly interview your Santa provider or independent Santa, as to what they include as part of their "show" for your group. Find out their fees for any overtime. If you want Santa for 2 hours and have 30 children, know that the visits/photos will take about 40 minutes. Now you have 100 minutes where Santa should be performing and making this a memorable event for your group. Let the clowns make the balloon animals. Many Santas just assume you want them to come in, maybe read a story, visit with the children and hand out gifts. Professional Santas provide that, plus additional, quality, holiday entertainment appropriate for your group- age and size, that really makes it more fun!   

 The lowest priced Santa Claus is NOT necessarily the BEST Santa! But overpriced Santas with no entertainment value can be just as bad! Remember, professional Santas maintain their beards all year long (which is often costly at the salon) so they can work just 4-5 weeks each year! Insurances, background checks, quality costuming, Santa educational seminars, conferences they attend to hone their skills, should all be considered when selecting the right Santa for your event. In California, (hope you are sitting down,) some Santas are charging $500-1000 for a visit! In rural areas, Santas charge $75-$100 an hour.

A holiday gratuity is appropriate for your Santa IF he has truly entertained you and your guests. Santa is spending this holiday time away from his family and loved ones to be at your event. 15-20% is an appropriate tip in most cases. Let your heart & budget decide what is appropriate for your Santa!    

Ask to see a recent photo of the Santa in the outfit he will be wearing. There are numerous types of Santa outfits from the "Coca-Cola" to the Father Christmas robes, to highly stylized suits. Be sure your vision of the Santa Claus you want, walks through your door. Chat with your Santa about what type of outfit you prefer. Most Professional level Santas have 2-4 styles of Santa outfits available for you to choose from. American Events even has Coca Cola Santas, Father Christmas in white brocade, Long robed Santas and a fully sequined Santa suit (Elvis Santa) for celebrity events, parades, TV and glitz adult events!

If you are having a large or longer event, you will want to ask the Santa provider what options you have for entertainment for your group. For instance, American Events has a program called SantaFest that can be customized with elves, holiday theme party games, souvenir photos, refreshments and treats, holiday crafts, Mrs, Claus, Frosty, Rudolph, Teddy, Angels and even Petey Penguin costume characters. Live reindeer, hay wagon/sleigh rides, trackless train rides, and much more available to occupy the children until Santa arrives. When Santa does arrive, there can be a full Santa Claus show with interactive fun for your group with the entire cast of holiday characters.    

Most Santas work alone, some work with their Mrs. Claus or special elf. This is beneficial to help maintain control of groups with 12 or more children. The pricing may be a tad higher with the trained character assistant, but your experience will be much better when things are smooth and organized. An assistant who works with Santa is most beneficial to help organize and manage activities with large groups (15 or more) and those with many younger children.    
Ask your potential Santa to provide his training background. What certifications does he have? How long has it been since he has participated in recent Santa education? How often does he update his material & costuming? Who trained him? What are the credentials of the trainers? Quality training makes a huge difference in the caliber of the Santa appearing at your event.    

Most reputable Santa providers have an ANNUAL, NATIONAL BACKGROUND check done on EACH Santa they work with. This includes all 50 states and information back to the Santa's birth. Many independent Santas have a local check, such as a CBI (Colo. Bureau of Investigation). These local checks only go back 3 years in the state and only include felony convictions in that local state. A less than desirable Santa may have just moved here and he appears to have a perfectly clean record according to the CBI. Large Santa providers do not accept any background flaws in the Santas they work with. Again you may pay a bit more but you can be sure you are getting a "clean" Santa, without worry or incident.    

What insurance does the Santa have? If you are working with a Professional Santa Claus firm, they carry a policy with $2-3 million limits that will cover Santa at your event. Most independent Santas do not have this insurance.    How long has your Santa been doing your specific type of event? You'll want a Santa that is highly competent, enthusiastic, creative and fun but not so experienced that they are "stale" and bored.  

The big question... NATURAL BEARD or EMBELLISHED? With 28 years in the Santa Claus industry, I assure you that it is not the beard or the $5000 outfit that make a great Santa. Children are usually so magically overwhelmed with their anticipation of Santa Claus that they rarely can tell the difference until they are 6-8 years old. Many of the Santas with natural beards feel they do not have to work at performing or try as hard because they just look like Santa Claus and most people accept that as enough. It is NOT! These are childhood memories that can never be recaptured. A slacker Santa Claus is unacceptable in any situation! Many natural bearded Santas are very good. Most all of the fellows using the "embellished" whiskers, work 3 times as hard to make the experience a great one. So do not discount the value of an "embellished" Santa Claus. Don't judge the Santa by his whiskers! 

Spend time speaking with your Santa provider firm, so they know exactly what you are looking for... If you want a Santa to lead sing alongs- be sure Santa can sing. If you need a Santa who can ice skate- they have one! If you want Santa to read or tell a story, be sure his presentation and grammar are excellent. If you need a Santa well versed in working with adult corporate groups, find out what that Santa does that is unique for adult groups. If you need a Santa Claus for a media event, be sure he is quick witted or has the specific look you want. For a day care / school, be sure the Santa is patient with the little ones. If you have deaf children attending, be sure the Santa knows ASL. etc. 

The major benefit of working with a large, quality Santa Claus provider is that there is NO CHANCE you will be left without a Santa. Many independent Santas schedule an event but may get sick or even worse- get a higher paying event and leave you without a much anticipated Santa Claus. A provider with 10-80 Professional Santas on staff, ALWAYS HAS A BACK-UP SANTA ready in case of an emergency and can hand pick the Santa Claus is most suited for your important event. 

Susen Mesco
Founder & Director -
Professional Santa Claus School Denver

Co-Star - Becoming Santa The Movie
President, American Events & Promotions
Creator of the Original "Sant-A-Gram"

303-665-8280

Parenting: How to have a great visit with Santa Claus

Parenting: How to have a great visit with Santa Claus

By Susen Mesco - Master Santa...

Sharing the magical tradition of Santa Claus with our children is a very special joy of parenthood. We have great expectations that our child will have a wonderful and smooth visit with Santa Claus, which does not always happen.

Over the past 31 years, I have personally trained thousands of Professional Santas. We go to great lengths to be sure our Santas are prepared, understand the development of children as well as being patient and compassionate with any hesitant child. There are over 40 tools that a quality PROFESSIONAL Santa Claus should have and use, beyond patience and a soft friendly tone, to manage these delicate situations. It is 80% the Santa Claus' responsibility to help make it a relaxing and positively memorable experience for you and your children!

There are many effective, small things, you can do to be certain 
YOUR child has a marvelous visit with Santa Claus;

1. Take your child to see Santa Claus at "off-peak" hours (such as a weekday mornings) when there is less stress of waiting in long lines.

2. Be sure your child nap time or meal time does not coincide with your visit. If the child is hungry or cranky this can intensify any reactions.

3. Make a few passes by the Santa Claus area and wave to / warm up for the visit. "There is Santa Claus! He is very nice! Mommy/Daddy likes Santa! He has a soft red suit, isn't it pretty?" Watch your child's facial expressions to see when they give you the signal they are comfortable with Santa from a distance.

4. Make sure you are not rushed or distracted. Children will sense any "Let's hurry and get this over with" emotions.

5. Talk about Santa Claus as you wait to see him. "Santa is very kind... Santa loves toys... Santa lives at the North Pole... Keep it light, fun and positive. (Refrain from the; "Santa comes to check on you when you are sleeping... Santa knows if you've been naughty/nice... These comments can be misinterpreted by children as relatively creepy behavior and make them skeptical.)

6. Be cheerful and whimsical. Laugh and be sure YOU are having fun. This allows the child to feel safe and secure.

7. If your child hesitates when you arrive at Santa's chair, take a few steps back until the child's tension ceases. Wave at Santa. This may be all there is to the first visit. Since, children do not have the same concept of time as adults, you can walk away, do a short unrelated activity and come back to see Santa again. And again as needed to  make it a positive experience. You'll find your child will get a little closer each time you try. "That was fun! Wave good-bye, we'll come back again sometime soon to talk to Santa..."

Allow the child to get a bit closer each time on their own terms. Follow your child's lead. 

If the child is just not responding to this certain Santa Claus... go elsewhere to find a more amiable Santa.

8. Toddlers need to have a familiar face in sight to remain secure. A parent should be nearby. Perhaps mom/dad can sit next to Santa with baby on the parent's lap for a great photo. 3-4 year olds can watch mom/dad go up and sit and chat with Santa so they see it is fun, happy and most of all safe, BEFORE the child approaches confidently.

9. Santa in books and on TV or in videos is very different to the child than the big, red, furry real Santa. Trying to explain this is just like the Santa we read about in our book- is NOT the same thing as this big, strange guy at the mall. Focus on the setting and explain to the child why Santa Claus has bells or why there are elves here, or why Santa Claus is wearing a heavy winter suit and beard. Getting to understand these symbols of Christmas little at a time will help your child have the fullest experience possible.

10. Never force a child or allow untrained "elves/photographers" to simply hurl your child up onto Santa's lap. It should be about the EXPERIENCE- NOT THE PHOTO! A "crying" photo may be cute in years to come, but it is a very traumatic, frightening situation for your child. Don't let the photo elf force you into a photo! Find locations where you can take your own photo for FREE! (Larimer Square, Streets at Southglenn, Promenades at Centerra, Loveland Outlets...)

11. A GREAT Santa should have numerous ways to assist you in helping your child have a positive, calm and smooth encounter. If Santa has been trained properly, Santa will do most of "the work" to get your child up, onto his lap, confidently and without issue.

12. Allow your child to hold their favorite small toy or blanket for security. When the child has something they can control/have power over, they have some confidence in the unique situation. Take "binkies" out the split second before the photo is taken, then return them!

13. Keep sugary snacks, sodas and carbs to a minimum before going to see Santa. Use a wet wipe to clean up faces and fingers before visiting with Santa. Dress your child in blue or green or pink... anything but red!

14. Allow older siblings to go up to see Santa while the younger child watches the smiles and laughter for awhile. ASK the younger child IF they want to go up to see Santa. They may at first say "No" That is fine. Come back again once the child has had a chance to process the experience and listen to older children relating their fun experience.

15. Using bribes or scoldings only frustrates the situation of a hesitant child. Saying, "Well, then I guess Santa won't bring you anything if you don't go talk to him..." is a tactic that does not address to bonafide fears your child has.

16. If the child simply won't go see Santa today... Have them write a letter or cut out pictures of the toys they like and arrange to go back to just give it to Santa. Chances are, at this "letter delivery" visit, after they have given Santa their letter, (they have to approach to give it to him!) your child MAY be ready /willing, to go chat with Santa.

17. If you are in a Santa visitor line and there are a host of screaming, crying, fussy other visitors... Rather than catch the contagious wave of anxiety, I'd highly suggest if at all possible to get out of line and return when a happier guest list is awaiting. If everyone is crying, you'll want to pick a different time or setting or Santa!

18. DO NOT wait until the last few days before Christmas to go see Santa Claus! Most untrained Santas are burned out and as cranky as the children, stress levels for everyone are higher and rushing this beautiful experience is unfair to the child and diminishes your joy of sharing this magical tradition with your child. 

19. Children develop differently, even within the same family. If your daughter loved Santa Claus, your son may react differently at the same age. Allow your child to react, express his/her hesitation and move into the Santa experience at their own pace. You are NOT a bad parent and have done nothing wrong in raising your child if they react adversely to the situations with Santa Claus on the first few attempts to make contact. Don't get frustrated!

20. For best results, contact an established Professional Santa Claus firm, like American Events Sant-A-Grams, that will send a professionally trained & outfitted Santa Claus, that fits best with your needs, to your private home/group party. Discuss in detail what kind of Santa you would like and find out what Santa includes as activities and entertainment value as part of your visit. The children will be in a familiar setting. This greatly reduces their stress and increases everyone's enjoyment. When you get a great Santa Claus (with a verified national background check and trained with excellent presentation skills to entertain), your child(ren) will have a marvelous time! It is well worth the investment in sharing this wonderful tradition with your children, family and neighbors.

21. Be sure your selected Santa has cleared an intensive NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK, is INSURED and can tell your what the plans are should he be unable to appear as contracted? Is an equally talented, and experienced Santa available as guaranteed his "back-up," so your planned event is stress-free for YOU, too!

Susen Mesco

Professional Santas for Colorado & Beyond Since 1983!
American Events & Promotions, Denver, CO
Founder & Director of Professional Santa Claus School Denver 
Sant-A-Grams  SantFest On Tour 
303-665-8280
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