Serving in and around Knoxville Tennessee for over 10 years!
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If you've scheduled Santa to visit your home or
Special Event, he's prepared a little list of handy hints to help make
his visit a most enjoyable event!
1. Have your camera(s) 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 and digital
camera batteries.
2. 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.
3. 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. Anymore, 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.
4. Get everyone together, before Santa enters. Timing is
everything. You may have scheduled Santa for a set amount of time, which
begins when he arrives. If everyone is scattered around the house or
office, you loose 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.
5. Santa has his own chair that he can bring to the event, but in
situations where the chair cannot be brought into the space please 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.
6. 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.
7. 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!
8. 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, you can hand him the
envelope and say, "Thank you Santa, and here is a Christmas card from
all of us."
Here's hoping that you have a wonderful time and
that you get some great photos. Have a wonderful Holiday Season!