My Santa Guy

Being Santa requires flexibility, preparation and a bundle of joy. Santa Kent loves "chair time" with kids and making Christmas pictures special, but having appeared at everything from Customer Appreciation Events to Photography Studio sessions, to Tree Lighting Ceremonies for thousands to different kinds of home parties, both large and small, to Churches and Schools and Company Christmas Parties... well Santa has to be ready to make every event very special and regardless of the venue, leave everyone with more warmth, joy and excitement for Christmas and perhaps convince a few doubters that they met the real Santa this year.

While growing that white "crumb catcher" of a beard, Kent had the opportunity to secure a "Bachelor of Santa Claus" and attend advanced classes from 3 International Hall of Fame Santas. All suits, vests and leather is custom made to make Santa as authentic as possible. He is a Member of the Santa Claus Conservatory and a Founding Member of the Worldwide Santa Claus Network. Kent brings props and books and loves telling stories about Santa, the North Pole and as a past Elder of a very large local Church, he loves including the story of the first Christmas (as clients allow). In addition to dawning the Red Suit, Kent owns an Insurance Agency that specializes in Commercial Property & Casualty and Employee Benefits.

Santa Kent's Handy Hints for a great Holiday Visit:
1. Provide a cell number of someone at the event who will have it on.
2. Have your camera ready. Be sure to have memory space on your camera and batteries necessary to take the photos you want. Be sure to recharge your video camera batteries.
3. Reserve a special parking place for Santa. It should be very near where he is visiting. People often stop Santa and delay his entry if there is much distance.
4. If the visit is at your home, leave an opening at the end of your driveway. Put a temporary barrier in the space. Have some fun and put a sign out "Reserved for Santa!" or back one car down the driveway with a space in front. When Santa calls that he is there, whoever greets him outside can pull the car up in the driveway and Santa can park right behind.
5. 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 and email instructions. 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 and avoid delays from interacting with others on the way in.
6. Have your gifts ready. Santa does not always bring candy canes or gifts with him. He will hand out your candy and gifts and can carry in one bag of presents (40 lbs. or less) 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 two 35-gallon trash bags. He will then transfer the gifts to his "Santa" bags. If the second bag or more is required, Santa will usually ask a couple of the 'big kids' (adults) to be honorary Elves and instruct them to bring in the extra gifts. 
7. Have a sturdy chair for Santa. Folding chairs, plastic chairs, and low chairs (the one's you sink into) are not good. Santa likes a chair that is sturdy and stable. 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.
8. Place the chair near your Christmas tree or in a Holiday setting, maybe in front of a decorated wall or any festive backdrop. 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 to allow room for others to gather around and behind Santa's chair for group photos. Please, not close to a lighted fireplace. Santa’s wool and fur suit is really warm and no one wants a “sweaty” Santa in the pictures.
9. Get everyone together before Santa enters. Timing is everything. Minutes spent getting everyone together reduce the "quality" time. Santa will call you 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 perhaps to sing some Christmas Carols. If Santa is to bring in presents, the person meeting him can help fill his bag. Then, at the right moment, Santa can pop in and join everyone in the singing. If you have a large group of children to see Santa, you should assign someone to be Santa's helper and coordinate the children as they each visit Santa.
10. 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.