Another Season

Our first gig is next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to light the Tree in Princeton again. We are so glad that they appreciate my Santa; I know he loves to do it. It is a bit of a trek for us, but worth it. I love to see the faces of the people in the crowd as they experience the joy of the season - the 'noise' is happier once the ceremony is complete. For a brief moment, there is more civility. The next day, everything goes back to normal.

We make adaptations because of this season and my Santa's gig. For instance, since he had off from his regular job, we had our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. We did the whole bit - all that was missing were the parades on TV. This gives us the real Thanksgiving day to pack up and get ready for Princeton, and reduces the stress in case he has to work.

We do not exchange Christmas gifts with each other. Not that we do not feel the spirit, but when we need or want something, we save up for it and buy it when it is on sale. Besides, I hate surprises! So that saves us shopping anxiety for Black Friday as well as the entire Christmas shopping season.

We work up a grid each year now, so we do not wear the same costume two years in a row to our repeat customers, unless they request it. The grid also tells us if we have received the contract back yet, the address for the gig and any other pertinent data. It has become invaluable.

There is a whole coordination of planning each year and it does not get any easier, just more recognition as to what to expect.

Thanksgiving

November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving to a Professional Santa (PS) is the real start to the busy season. Some PS's work this day, particularly for parades (think Macy's). Can be a grueling day, but very exciting and rewarding.

In our case, the day after the holiday is very big, for it means lighting the tree in Princeton, NJ. Last year the count was 10,000 people watching one guy in a red suit turn on a tree. But it is much more than that - choirs singing, bands, getting the crowd to count down to the moment of the tree lighting. The people who run this show in Princeton know that having Santa there brings the crowds - and the money.

And we can honestly say that the real start for this PS was working in Princeton. It started almost 20 years ago being the weekend Santa walking around Palmer Square in the costume from A Christmas Carol - the Ghost of Christmas Past. That costume was a very authentic and heavy, being all fur and so long that it swept the ground. If it was a warm winter day, it was unbearably hot. If it rained, it dragged. If it snowed, well, that was okay - warm and cozy. Speaking as Ms Claus, this when I realized that my Santa needed lighter weight costumes, or at least a selection for the weather conditions.

Anyway, the people who had hired him liked how my Santa handled crowds and customers and offered to let him light the tree the next year. How wonderful, as my Santa loves being the center of attention. That first year he did not come down off that high for a week! And he still gets excited about this event.

So we are making the three-hour drive down to Princeton again tomorrow. We have moved away from NJ this year, but there is a commitment to go back. It is supposed to be clear and cold and possibly snowy - perfect!