A1 Santa

Visit Rates
Santa's schedule fills up very early.

$225.00 for the first hour (Plan on allowing Santa up to 5 min per child)
$75.00 each additional 1/2 hour

​CHRISTMAS EVE
$500 for the first hour (Plan on allowing Santa up to 5 min per child)
$75.00 for each additional ½ hour

CHRISTMAS DAY
$600 for the first hour (Plan on allowing Santa up to 5 min per child)
$250.00 for each additional ½ hour

CORP/OFFICE PARTIES $250.00 per hour, two hour minimum)
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HAVE YOUR CAMERA READY
Be sure to have all cameras, camcorders and batteries necessary to take the photos you want. Be sure your batteries are fresh. Consider where Santa will be seated for pictures and take some sample shots at the same time of day. Alter the lighting accordingly. Don’t rely on flashes for the bulk of the lighting or red-eye is pretty much guaranteed. Also, make sure you know how to use your camera or camcorder since there is no worse time to learn than just after a once in a lifetime moment has passed!

CONSIDER SANTA’S ARRIVAL

Ideally, Santa’s arrival should be out of view of your guests, especially doubting teens. Santa can reasonably explain why he’s driving a van instead of a sleigh, but it’s better to not have to. If Santa will need to fill his sac, privacy will be an even greater concern. Also remember that Santa’s hair and suit are quickly mussed by rain, so having a greeter with an umbrella is a good idea in wet weather. And the suit is quite warm, so unless you want a sweaty Santa, he needs to park close to your event. A helpful neighbor’s garage can be ideal in wet or warm weather.If there is a balance due to Santa, place it inside a Christmas card or envelope. It never looks appropriate when someone gives cash to Santa. This business needs to be done before Santa begins his visit.

HAVE YOUR GIFTS READY

Santa will hand out your candy and gifts and can carry in one bag of presents (no more than can fit in a 50 gallon lawn bag) for children or guests. Gifts should be labeled in a very legible handwriting, and if there are any challenging pronunciations they should be communicated to Santa before the event. Tags should be taped on well lest they fall off in Santa’s sack. It is also a good idea to write the names on the wrapping paper-just in case. It might be a good idea to have a couple of extra presents on hand as well, in case of an unplanned extra guest.

HAVE A SPECIAL CHAIR FOR SANTA

Folding chairs, plastic chairs, and low chairs (the one’s you sink into) are not good. Santa needs a chair that is sturdy and stable that will allow his thigh bone to be parallel to the floor, or the kids will slide. A good, sturdy straight-back dining chair with no arms works well. He should be able to sit comfortably with the chair supporting him plus a child on each knee.

PLACE THE CHAIR IN A HOLIDAY SETTING

Maybe in front of a decorated wall or any festive type of backdrop, and your photos will have more impact. 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. Fireplaces do look nice but remember putting Santa too close to a real fire is not good for his comfort or health. For the best pictures, adjust overhead lighting and place table or floor lamps to adequately light the scene. Flashes should only be used to “fill” not to light the scene. Finally, having a clock in Santa’s view can help him to pace his visit.

SANTA NEVER BREAKS FROM HIS CHARACTER

This is very important and something most adults do without thinking about the implications. Please don’t say things to Santa such as “Why you’re one of the best Santas I’ve ever seen”. Don’t ask questions about when he started playing Santa or where did he get his costumes. It’s very important that you treat him as Santa Claus and not as someone that plays Santa Claus. Also, Santa is a wholesome, child-oriented character. Please instruct your guests to not compromise that image by having Santa hand out adult only gifts, or behaving in a lewd manner either with or in the presence of Santa. Please help keep the wonder of Christmas alive for your children and others.

GATHER BEFORE SANTA ENTERS

Timing is everything. Santa’s contracted time begins the minute he arrives. Minutes spent getting everyone together are part of your contracted time. If everyone is scattered around the house, you lose valuable time. You and Santa can coordinate so that he
should call when he is five minutes away from arriving. That’s your cue to have someone go outside to meet Santa, and for you to get everyone together and maybe to sing some Christmas Carols. If Santa is to bring in presents, the person meeting him can help him fill his bag. Then, at the right moment, Santa can pop in.

SANTA’S PRIORITIES

Santa wants to give his full attention to each child, not to managing an “operation”. If you have a large group of children to see Santa, you should assign someone to assist Santa’s helper and coordinate the children as they each visit Santa. This helper can check for dirty hands, use sanitizing wipes if necessary, help with sorting and distributing gifts, and help to ease nerves and pose the children for photos. And Santa wants to include 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.

CONCLUSION OF THE VISIT

Santa cannot be a clock-watcher, so if the host notices that time is running short an interjection of “Hey Santa, how about a story” can signal the end is near. Santa always likes to end his visit with a retelling of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas" or a Christmas song. Know that at the end of the story Santa will make his exit wishing a “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night”.

We hope this list will help you to plan and execute your vision of the perfect home visit from Santa, and we sincerely thank you for enlisting us to help you realize that vision

A1 Santa is a seasoned and experienced professional actor and storyteller, bringing a wealth of expertise to his performances. With over 40 years of experience, his work has taken him to various locations on the West Coast, including Anchorage, Alaska, Seattle, Washington, San Francisco, and Southern California.

His background as a retired theatre teacher and director for grades K-12 adds an educational dimension to his skills, which can be particularly valuable for events involving children. He has not only performed but also taught and guided young actors, making him well-equipped to engage with audiences of all ages.

Furthermore, his notable acting roles as Oliver Warbucks in "Annie" and The Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" and Mr. Lundie in "Brigadoon" showcase his versatility as a performer, as these are iconic and demanding roles in the world of theater. A1 Santa brings a strong theatrical background to his portrayal of Santa Claus, making his appearances both entertaining and engaging.

Reserve a spot for Santa’s sleigh. Parking is important, especially if it’s limited (or your house is on a hill). Ask your Santa if they need a space reserved for them. One great method: Have someone park in Santa’s spot, then right before he arrives, pull the car out and leave a sign that says “Reserved for Santa.”
Prepare your seating arrangements. After Santa makes his entrance, he should have a designated place to sit. The best kind of chair for Santa is a strong one, preferably with a straight back and without arms. When Santa has someone in his lap, he needs his feet flat on the floor. Often a dining room table chair will work just fine, and you can dress it up with a pretty Christmas blanket. Forest green or dark blue look great in photos!
Where to put Santa’s chair? We recommend putting it near the Christmas tree or someplace well-lit with a festive background. Avoid putting Santa near the roaring fireplace; he’s already very warm. Keeping the house a little cool is great for Ol’ St. Nick. Avoid putting him in front of lots of glass because you’ll get flash bounce and glare in your photos. Arrange the chair so the kids can sit down in front of him.
Think about background noise. A Christmas performance is for the whole family. When the music is blaring or the crowd is loud and rowdy, some of the magic will be lost if Santa can’t be heard. While Santa is there, have everybody join in and have your revelers tone it down until Santa heads for the sleigh.
Have your payment ready. If you arranged your Santa visit with a split payment (a deposit paid earlier with the remainder due at the time of the visit) or if you want to give Santa a holiday tip, the best method is to have the payment and/or tip in a Christmas card and envelope at the front door, ready to hand to Santa when he comes in.