Parenting - Are Natural Bearded Santas better than Embellished (Fake-Bearded) Santas?

Parenting - Santa’s Beard- Natural? Or Embellished?

Which is better?

by Susen Mesco, 
Master Santa Claus Trainer,

Professional Santa Claus School Conference, Denver, CO 
President, American Events & Promotions
Home of the Original "Sant-A-Gram"
Reserve a Professional Santa for YOUR Holiday event!

Are “natural” bearded Santas better than “embellished” Santas?

The 1st Santa on the left is a Natural Bearded Santa... wonderful voice, great blue eyes and marvelous Santa Claus!

The  2nd Santa, on the right, is a slim, athletic, bald and believe-it-or-not- Jewish, school teacher, who is also an amazingly enthusiastic Santa!

Both Santas are highly requested and have hundreds of happy clients! Our clients love working with them and request them year after year!

I also have several Santas with active careers in MILITARY / POLICE. They are superb Santas but unable to "sport" whiskers due to their careers. 

The designer beards do NOT effect the way the children love or perceive them! Children see and feel the MAGIC, not the details like adults and teens do!

American Events works with hundreds of natural bearded Santas with flourishing careers  (15 years or so) and numerous natural bearded Santas that I have had to sever ties with, due to their apathy and lack of passion for continuing learning and growing their careers.They thought because they looked like Santa, that was "enough." It wasn't! Santa is so much more interactive to the lives he touches than just looking authentic!

SO... Who makes "the best Santa"?

The most recognizable outward symbol of Santa Claus is his beard. 
BUT Santa Claus starts IN THE HEART! Santa Claus is all about caring and love and tradition… 

Santa cannot forget why we are here, what our job is, and the real meaning of the season!
Sharing! Spreading love!

Most “natural” bearded Santas are very proud of their snowy white beards. (There are even associations geared ONLY for gentlemen who have white whiskers who enjoy dressing as Santa Claus during the Christmas season. ) 

And YES! A picture perfect Santa Claus is a marvelous sight! But we must look deeper to see if Santa exists INSIDE, too!

Over the years,many, many men without bushy white whiskers have attended Professional Santa Claus School. For many reasons they don’t have natural beards: military, job safety, wife doesn’t like the whiskers, can’t grow a full beard or they just do not want a beard. Yet their hearts and desires, are exactly the same as fellows with natural beards. When they don the uncomfortable strap on or spirit gum beards, they are constantly (often painfully) reminded they are no longer Joe or Bob or Keith. They are portraying Santa Claus! An entirely different being.

Although having a quality natural beard is much more comfortable, it can be so comfortable that it allows Santa to easily slip back into your personality, rather than remaining as Santa Claus. 

The fellows who venture into the chair with the embellished beards are painfully (and constantly) reminded they are NOT themselves every time they move or talk.

ALL Santas, embellished and natural, deserve respect and honor for the love they share and the magic they bring to the children of the world.

THE ANSWER: No one type of Santa Claus (natural or embellished) is more desirable than another in the eyes of the child who reveres and dreams of the time he/she will spend chatting with our last mythical hero. It is the love, care and joy that beams from Santa Claus that makes him so charismatic, not the costume or the kind of beard.

IT IS NOT THE BEARD THAT MAKES THE SANTA!  

Look into the heart... that is where Santa Claus is truly found!

Parents! 
Pick your preferred Santa Claus by his motivation and humanity, 
NOT by his beard or outward appearance!

Susen Mesco

Master Santa Claus Trainer since 1983!
American Events Sant-A-Grams 
Reserve YOUR Santa Online Today!
303-665-8280

Santa's Smile... How is yours??

Santa's Smile... How is yours??

by Susen Mesco, Master Santa Claus Trainer,

Professional Santa Claus School Conference, Denver, CO

9 November 2010 @ 01:21

Santas! Take a good, hard, objective look at your photos with the children.
(Not your posed, publicity photos.)

When working with children, you never know when that flash will go off.

Are you always ready with the perfect Santa smile?
That’s your job, “to be ready”, after you’ve greeted and posed the children properly.  

One of the biggest reasons many Santa Claus (es) are NOT selected by clients for their Christmas events- whether they are home visits or huge advertising campaigns, is YOUR SMILE.
(It’s not the beard!)  

How does your smile look in 20 of 20 candid photos?

Much like a superficial beauty contest, a client selecting a Santa Claus for their Christmas gathering, is most often based upon the visual appearance.    

Being a great Santa Claus should always start on the INSIDE, but selecting a Santa Claus is subjective.  

Getting selected to be Santa for more events makes it more fun and rewarding!
The little things all add up!

Here is a great Professional Santa Claus tip…If your teeth need dental work to straighten, add missing teeth, correct defects, etc… save up and get the work done as soon as possible!!!!
One simple thing you can do, for under $50, is whiten your teeth.
(Do no try to hide your teeth with your mustache!) Our last blog talked about one “Norman Rockwell” characteristic of a good looking Santa is his little red lips!  

Besides, if your mustache is hiding your mouth, you could look more like a walrus than a Santa.  Your mustache should always give the long distance outline of a smiley face… not drawn downward,
bringing the attention UPWARDS towards your sparkling eyes.  

Smoking, drinking coffee, soda or tea will yellow your teeth. Yellow teeth, against a snow white beard, are even more evident of looking “old” and worn. Do whatever you need to to create a bright, white smile. It is a good example for the children to whom you are reminding to brush their teeth, for you, Santa Claus, to have nice, white teeth.     
    
Go online TODAY! Find and Download a coupon for a whitening kit. If you start now, within 3 weeks, your teeth should be 6-7 shades whiter! It’s safe, fast and an inexpensive addition to the funds you invest in your outfit to be a great Santa Claus!

Susen Mesco

Master Santa Claus Trainer since 1983!

31^st Annual Professional Santa Claus School Conference 2013