Yes, in less than six months Santa will be arriving at your favorite mall or shopping center. We'll still be snacking on the kids Halloween candy as we start wearing our red suits and begin receiving the children with thier requests and to collect those special holiday photos.
During the next few months, I am going to do something differenct. I have been writing and teaching on the work of Santa for a few years now. This plus my 42 years of wearing the red suit has given me little bits of knowledge that I want to share.
This will never be the total of what I offer in my School4Santas, but I plan to offer pieces from the school, plus lots of other tidbits that I hope will be useful to Santas and Mrs. Claus everywhere.
Some of the information will be from "How to Get a Head Start on the Holidays", my web site that helps you have more fun with the holiday season while reducing stress. I'll be giving out informtion on how to be organized in keeping up with the manydemands of the holiday season.
And I will be writing some new articles. I you have a problems, a questions or something you would like to know about, please let me know. I will try to answer all of the requests that I receive.
Showing posts with label Santa Claus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santa Claus. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Finding Non-Holiday or Year-Round work
Santa Tips and Suggestions
FINDING ADDITIONAL NON-HOLIDAY WORK
– By Santa Tim Connaghan
Most Santas think about getting work for holiday season next November and December. But what if you are looking for some additional income now?
You will find there are a variety of ways to find some extra income on weekends and during the summer months. But it does take a special effort and sometimes it also needs a willingness not to be seen as a Santa.
There are quite a few professional entertainers, who actually started as magicians and party entertainers and eventually became Santas.
If you did not already know, you can often find work as another character. If you have some sort of additional talent, you can often become a party entertainer.
A few Santas actually worked this past Easter as, can you guess? Yes, they were Easter Bunnies. I do not envy them wearing those warm outfits, but because they know how to work with children, I can imagine they were the perfect choice for those operations.
There are also many Santas who work as magicians, pirates, wizards and other characters. For those who sport a real beard, the pirate and wizard characters are quite popular right now.
I have even done some parties as Dumbledore. I only had to look like Dumbledore and there was no requirement to do any magic. Some Santas have appeared at book stores in the same way.
Two Santas that I know of, appear as the King at Medieval Times in Orlando, Florida and Buena Park, California. A few others actually work at the renaissance faires.
If you desire to work in any of these areas, and have some theater or other talent, you might be able to sign on with one or more party entertainment companies.
Another way to find additional work is to promote yourself as a “Summer Santa.” My company has been supplying Santas for county fairs and other summer events for the past few years. It has been so good that I actually have a web site, www.summer-santa.com
There are Santas working at Santa Claus, Indiana; the North Pole, NY and other holiday themed parks. But don’t go calling for work there, as all of the positions were filled months ago and most of the Santas have been there for years.
Quite a few Santas have contacted their local county fairs, chambers of commerce, water parks and other summer festivals and venues, offering their services. And many have been able to find some added income or arrange a trade for admissions or other services.
One Santa working a fair, two years ago, told me he did it in exchange for free admissions which he gave to friends and some under privileged children. But, while doing the fair, he got to know one of the fair’s major sponsors, who owned a few auto dealerships. Guess who ended up getting paid to be Santa in that dealer's television commercials.
Other Santas have gotten work at theme attractions as prospectors and western characters. If you have read Ed Butchart’s second ‘Red Suit Diary,’ you will see him tell about his work as an old rail road engineer. It was just walking around the theme park and adding some ‘character’ and realism to the attractions.
Jobs like the ones above will not just drop in your lap. You have to go look for them. You must be pro-active in searching for additional work.
Again, I hope this month’s information will help some of you in your efforts to find some other avenues of working or volunteering during the weekends and summer months.
Remember, that you can also post all kinds of questions on one or more of the various chat groups and many of your fellow Santas will be glad to give you advice, answers and opinions on whatever you ask.
Good Luck.
Santa Tim Connaghan
Santa@santahollywood.com
FINDING ADDITIONAL NON-HOLIDAY WORK
– By Santa Tim Connaghan
Most Santas think about getting work for holiday season next November and December. But what if you are looking for some additional income now?
You will find there are a variety of ways to find some extra income on weekends and during the summer months. But it does take a special effort and sometimes it also needs a willingness not to be seen as a Santa.
There are quite a few professional entertainers, who actually started as magicians and party entertainers and eventually became Santas.
If you did not already know, you can often find work as another character. If you have some sort of additional talent, you can often become a party entertainer.
A few Santas actually worked this past Easter as, can you guess? Yes, they were Easter Bunnies. I do not envy them wearing those warm outfits, but because they know how to work with children, I can imagine they were the perfect choice for those operations.
There are also many Santas who work as magicians, pirates, wizards and other characters. For those who sport a real beard, the pirate and wizard characters are quite popular right now.
I have even done some parties as Dumbledore. I only had to look like Dumbledore and there was no requirement to do any magic. Some Santas have appeared at book stores in the same way.
Two Santas that I know of, appear as the King at Medieval Times in Orlando, Florida and Buena Park, California. A few others actually work at the renaissance faires.
If you desire to work in any of these areas, and have some theater or other talent, you might be able to sign on with one or more party entertainment companies.
Another way to find additional work is to promote yourself as a “Summer Santa.” My company has been supplying Santas for county fairs and other summer events for the past few years. It has been so good that I actually have a web site, www.summer-santa.com
There are Santas working at Santa Claus, Indiana; the North Pole, NY and other holiday themed parks. But don’t go calling for work there, as all of the positions were filled months ago and most of the Santas have been there for years.
Quite a few Santas have contacted their local county fairs, chambers of commerce, water parks and other summer festivals and venues, offering their services. And many have been able to find some added income or arrange a trade for admissions or other services.
One Santa working a fair, two years ago, told me he did it in exchange for free admissions which he gave to friends and some under privileged children. But, while doing the fair, he got to know one of the fair’s major sponsors, who owned a few auto dealerships. Guess who ended up getting paid to be Santa in that dealer's television commercials.
Other Santas have gotten work at theme attractions as prospectors and western characters. If you have read Ed Butchart’s second ‘Red Suit Diary,’ you will see him tell about his work as an old rail road engineer. It was just walking around the theme park and adding some ‘character’ and realism to the attractions.
Jobs like the ones above will not just drop in your lap. You have to go look for them. You must be pro-active in searching for additional work.
Again, I hope this month’s information will help some of you in your efforts to find some other avenues of working or volunteering during the weekends and summer months.
Remember, that you can also post all kinds of questions on one or more of the various chat groups and many of your fellow Santas will be glad to give you advice, answers and opinions on whatever you ask.
Good Luck.
Santa Tim Connaghan
Santa@santahollywood.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Santa Hollywood lead group of Santas to North Pole
A group of fifty, including 21 real bearded Santas, plus their Mrs. Clauses and friends, will be taking the trip of a lifetime May 23 to June 3 as the enjoy a Princess Cruise-Tour to Alaska and the North Pole. Santa Hollywood and RealSantas.com is hosting this special 12-day excursion which begins with a one week cruise aboard the beautiful Diamond Princess and is followed by a five day inland excursion to our final destination, the North Pole!
The Princess Cruise -Tour begins with an 8-day, 7-night Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise visiting Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, with two full days of scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park and the College Fiords. This will be followed by a 4-night Rail and coach tour through Denali National Park, featuring 2-nights at Denali Princess Lodge and ending with 2-nights in Fairbanks prior to their return home.
Click here to see a detailed itinerary for the Santas
The Princess Cruise -Tour begins with an 8-day, 7-night Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise visiting Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, with two full days of scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park and the College Fiords. This will be followed by a 4-night Rail and coach tour through Denali National Park, featuring 2-nights at Denali Princess Lodge and ending with 2-nights in Fairbanks prior to their return home.
Click here to see a detailed itinerary for the Santas
While at sea, the Santas and Mrs. Claus will be completing their studies at the International University of Santa Claus (aka "School4Santas"). At the schools conclusion on May 29, onboard the Diamond Princess, the graduates will be receiving their official Bachelor or Masters Degrees in Santaclausology.
While visiting Ketchikan, local resident and Santa Jim Wingren, and his Mrs. Claus (Connie) have arranged some very special actvities. To begin with Gloria Allen, owner of Seahorse Ventures will be hosting everyone to a special complimentary tour of Ketchikan aboard their fabulous Trolley's, each pulled by a team of four beautiful draft horses. Following our Tour Santa Jim and Connie have arranged for us to have lunch at Seamer's. And after a fine meal, we will have some time to shop during our stroll back to the Diamond Princess.
For all of the IUSC graduates, their true reward and honor will occur on the last day of their trip. They will take a very special and magical visit to the North Pole!
On Tuesday afternoon, June 2nd, The Santas, Mrs. Claus and guests, will board a special and exclusive coach which will transport them to "101 St. Nicholas Drive," site of The Santa Claus House at the North Pole!
The City of North Pole and The Santa Claus House have arranged a special reception event and have invited all North Pole citizens to welcome the Santas and Mrs. Claus as they arrive. They have discussed having a proclamation read by the mayor and announced there will be a little party with cake being served to everyone.
Following this there will be group photos and shopping at the Famous Santa Claus House. The Santa Claus house has announced that they will be giving each member of the cruise, a personalized deed to a piece of North Pole property, along with a small package of other gifts.
Everyone and all will have the opportunity to see all of the sites at the North Pole
The finale of the visit will be a special ceremony in an adjacent park where Santa Ben and Susan Williams and Santa David & Carol Smith. will renew their wedding vows. Plus Reception, Group Photo, Shopping, etc.
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