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Handy Hints for a Visit from Santa
- Have your cameras ready. Be sure to have all the film,
videotape and batteries necessary to take the photos you
want or need to get. Be sure to recharge your video camera
batteries.
- Reserve a special parking place for
Santa. It should be as close as possible to where he is
visiting. And remember,
Santa is a senior citizen. If he parks down the street
or around the corner and has to walk all the way to your
home, or office, he might be a bit winded or exhausted
when he gets there. Remember, he's wearing a heavy velvet
suit that gets very hot (even in December).
If the visit is at your home, leave an opening at the end
of your driveway. Just put a temporary barrier in the space.
Use a box, a chair or a sawhorse. Have some fun and put
a sign out "Reserved for Santa!"
If your event is at a company facility, office building
or hotel, try to make arrangements for Santa to park in
a valet or loading area. Again, you can mark the area with
a fun sign. This makes it easier for him to be fresh and
ready to bring joy to your guests.
- Have your gifts ready. Santa normally does not bring
any candy canes or gifts with him. He will hand out your
candy and gifts and can carry in one bag of presents for
children or guests. They should be well labeled. We suggest
a large black marking pen and writing directly on the gift,
as tags can easily fall off. All packages should fit into
one 35-gallon trash bag. Any more, and it may be too heavy
or awkward for him to bring in.
If you have more than one bag, check with Santa and see
if there is a way to have the gifts near his chair before
he arrives or if there is a way for you to have "helpers" to
bring the extra gifts in.
- Get everyone together, before Santa
enters. Timing is everything. You have scheduled Santa
for a set amount of
time, which begins the minute he arrives. Unless otherwise
arranged, he will not stay longer than he has been booked
for. If everyone is scattered around the house or office,
you lose valuable time. Santa and you can coordinate.
He should call you when he is five minutes away from arriving.
That's your cue to get everyone together, maybe to sing
some Christmas carols, and to have someone go outside to
meet Santa. If Santa is to bring in presents, the person
meeting him can help fill Santa's bag. Then, at the right
moment, Santa can pop in and join everyone in their singing.
If you have a large group of children to see Santa, you
should assign someone to be Santa's helper and coordinate
the order of children as they each visit Santa.
- Have a sturdy chair for Santa to sit
in. Folding chairs and low chairs (the ones you sink into)
are not good.
Santa usually likes a chair that is sturdy and stable.
A good straight-back dining chair, with no arms, works
well. He should be able to sit comfortably and the chair
needs to support him plus a child on each knee.
- Place the chair near your Christmas
tree or in a holiday setting, maybe in front of a fireplace
with stockings hanging,
or any festive type of backdrop. Your photos will have
more impact when the background has a festive look. Place
a wreath, a few Christmas cards or your children's drawings
on the wall to make a wonderful difference. Leave a foot
or two between the chair and the tree or wall. This will
allow room
for others to gather around and behind Santa's chair for
group photos.
- Think about photos with everyone. Yes, some teenagers
will shy away or think it is too childish, to have a photo
with Santa. Don't worry; Santa can stand up for a "buddy" photo.
What about grandma and grandpa? Take a photo with Santa
and Grandma Hugging. And, nothing is more fun than having
Santa ask Grandpa if he's been a good boy!
- If there is a balance or payment due to Santa, place
it inside a Christmas card or envelope. It never looks
appropriate when someone gives cash to Santa. So, as Santa
is departing, hand him the envelope and say, "Thank
you Santa, and here is a Christmas card from all of us."
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Michael Butler