Photo by Chad Kraus Photography

During the holidays, I’m an independent Mrs. Claus who works alone or with a few different Santas. Party planners often turn to me and Santa for advice on how to organize visits. 

First, thank you for asking! September through November is prime time to hire members of the Claus family. If you’ve already hired one or both of us for a scheduled event, you can always finesse. Even if it’s mid-December, many Santas and Mrs. Clauses might be happy to strategize with you.

Second, think of your celebration as a sandwich. The two slices of bread are the Clauses’ departure and arrival. What’s in between are the delicious layers. 

Here are 5 party planner pointers when you hire a Mr. and Mrs. C:

Memorable visits are short, from 30 to 60 minutes. Longer than that and we become an awkward member of the family. Everyone knows that Santa’s busy, so guests understand his exit, especially if the time slot is accurately marketed. On your flyers and social media posts, advertise a brief schedule, such as:

• 6 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the plaza

• 6:15 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus light the tree and pose for photos

• 7 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus wave goodbye

In these communications, commit to two or three highlights and when they happen. Stick to these times, so that you don’t have guests waiting for hours to see Santa. Remember you are dealing with overscheduled adults and overly stimulated children.

Plan backward in regard to your ideal time slot. How do you want your North Pole guests to leave your party — as a final walk-through or maybe a group photo? Leaving is just as important as arriving, especially for children who might be upset if the Big Guy suddenly disappears. As a group, sing one or two verses of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The song is a classic, a perfect segue.

Consider the type of sandwich. Photographs are usually the main “protein” of a holiday event involving St. Nick. Wonderful! Considering that most people have smartphone cameras, talk through a traffic flow pattern before the party. Set out a comfortable chair by the tree, out of the way of wait staff and caterers. Offer a stool for people who don’t want to sit in Santa’s lap, an increasing trend. Have an elf, staff person, or Mrs. Claus direct the photo line with clear entry and exit points for the excited youngsters. Designate someone to take photos for families, so Mom and Dad don’t have to be excluded. Offer a place to hide coats. Be sure to include vertical pictures, which look best on Instagram, and remind guests to tag your establishment.

Other activities could include a horse and buggy ride, a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the presentation of awards, or an ugly sweater contest with the Clauses as judges.

For tree lightings, invite us to preside near the tree. Do a countdown from 10 to 1 before you flip the switch. It’s such a simple piece of drama, but adults weep over this. So test the lights beforehand. Have some jokes handy in case there’s a glitch. Guests empathize with Charlie Brown moments, especially when you maintain merriness.

Warmup by building community. Successful events magnify all the resources around you. If the Girl Scouts want to sing carols, welcome them with a three-song limit. Invite elected officials to say a few words. They love being photographed with happy constituents doing good things for others. Allow leaders in your establishment to trumpet the year’s accomplishments and explain how to donate a toy for the annual Toy Drive. Maybe do a trivia contest or provide face painting for the kids. Offer a working mic to amplify quiet voices in large rooms. You are building anticipation and a network of positive change, not just for today but the year to come. Be bold. Be generous with your spirit, free of charge.

Grand entrances must spark joy. Now here we are at the top of our sandwich, the part that makes you want to take a bite. Coordinate, coordinate, coordinate. You know how dog owners talk to their pets before a walk? Are your ready for Santa? Huh? Huh? Who's a good boy?

Do that.

Make sure the Clauses are just around the corner, ready to enter away from their parked and hidden cars. (Note: We are costume characters who may also be wearing gloves while navigating umbrellas on rainy nights. We can’t answer every nervous text or call. We are aware.) 

We love walking into a party with our arms up, reveling in all of the joy of the season. Let us be your king and queen and consider the most beautiful spaces in your room. Maybe you have a balcony, a red carpet, or French doors. Allow us to linger near these places. Your guests will love the theater. Never underestimate the power of memory.

I am a Mrs. Claus during the holidays. I have performed for the Clinton family, guests at major department stores, and many, many families. My website is mrsclausnyc.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @mrsclausnyc.

Photo by Kevin Hagen, Wall Street Journal, December 2019

My Mrs. Claus status is on my day-job resume. It’s a small reference. You have to squint to find it. But it’s there. Sometimes, employers stumble on my Santa side hustle. Conversations are delightful. Workers with alter egos are awesome. Here’s why:

1. Costuming allows you to imagine a different life for yourself. Instead of using phrases like, “When I am this age, I will … ,” a Santa speaks in the present with language that is true now.

2. Monday morning gives you secret rock star status. While co-workers drag themselves out of bed, you radiate from the weekend’s festivities.

3. Your daily wardrobe is out of Central Casting. Superman wore briefs over tights, a human resources nightmare. But Clark Kent sported thick-rimmed glasses and character-driven jackets that had a style all their own.

4. You have a backstory. During meetings, you reflect on it and smile.

5. You see possibilities where others don’t, while never leaving the office. That means you might be the person to dance at the water cooler.

On July 1, Anne Kadet of the Wall Street Journal was a lovely guest in Naughty or Nice: NYC Santas Interview a WSJ Reporter. The virtual talk included phrases we need to be aware of, including “off the record.” This phrase means nothing. Be smart when using it or when hearing it from a member of the press. She also talked us through her process of finding and pitching stories.

In the past, Anne has interviewed several New York City Santas, including Glen Heroy, Maura McMahon O’Meara, and Ann Votaw.

To protect privacy, we did not record the session. Afterwards, we Santas had a nice chat about how Christmas is looking around the country. Radio City has cancelled its show for the first time ever since the 1930s.

To see a video of Santas ho-ho-ho-ing for a reporter, click here.

Gary Dreifus, Vice President of the New York City Santas, presented "Does Santa NEED Magic,” a virtual talk that reflected his more than 35 years of experience as a magician. Gary is also producer of Magic at Coney!!, a variety show highlighting world-class magicians that now runs every Saturday at 1 PM.

On August 2, we looked at whether or not Santa needs magic. This hour-long Zoom discussion, led by club vice president Gary Dreifus, examined appropriate holiday “effects” — don’t use the word “tricks” — like Murphy’s Magic Haunted Key or the Haunted Key Deluxe. Rather than card tricks that deflect from your wholesome character and “diffuse your brand,” select effects that tell a story about the North Pole.

For tree lightings and close-up encounters with children, Gary — and several Santas — recommends D’lite Light Up Magic Thumbs. 

Gary, top left, was the presenter of the Aug. 2 talk, “Does Santa NEED Magic?”

Lonnie Cooper as a Macy’s Santa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, June 2, 2020—As an entertainment professional, Lonnie Cooper has performed “every job you can possibly imagine,” including road manager, actor, producer, and elephant sanitation in the Big Apple Circus.

But when he became a Macy’s Santa in 2014, he sat in the most famous Santa chair in the world.

“It’s not a stretch to say it saved my life,” he said.

Lonnie joined the New York City Santas on May 17 as a special guest. The Michigan native and Manhattan resident talked about the store’s identical suits, multiple Santas in multiple houses, the new acceptance of real beards, and David Sedaris’ Santaland Diaries.

What does Lonnie want for Christmas? For Santaland to open this December 2020.

Enjoy the video here.

Upcoming online talks include:

Sunday, June 7, 3 PM: “Meet Timothy Connaghan, also known as ‘National Santa.’” Postponed as of 6/6/20. We will do this one another time.

Sunday, June 14, 3 PM: “Dream It ... Design It, Virtual Visits” with Deanna Golden and Judi Broderick of Santa Nana’s Holiday University. This NYC Santas exclusive is only for Clauses living in the tri-state area or who perform here each season. This brainstorming session gets into the details of what you will actually do during virtual visits. Deanna and Judi will host on WebEx, a platform some families may prefer to Zoom. If you are an NYC Santa, please email nycsantas@gmail.com to register by June 11.

Wednesday, July 1, 3 PM (30 minutes): “Naughty or Nice: NYC Santas Interview a Wall Street Journal Reporter.” Afraid to talk to journalists? Let’s pull out our own pens and notebooks to fire pressing questions at Anne Kadet of the Wall Street Journal. What do reporters look for in a juicy story? How do they create headlines that drive traffic? And how as Clauses can we help out members of the media and feel more comfortable as ourselves while in character? This may be a thorny year for news coverage. Develop confidence in preparation of the “green journalism” days of December. Click here to register.

Stay tuned for late summer and fall discussions about whether or not Santa does magic. Yes, this is a controversial topic. Also, we will try to cover more serious subjects, including how to talk to children and families who’ve lost loved ones during COVID-19.

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Our virtual background contest was so much fun. Read on to find who won. Photo by Anthony Piselli.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NEW YORK—Backgrounds may be all the rage this holiday season as Santas explore digital options during a global pandemic that discourages crowds. We are prepared to move forward whatever the odds.

On Sunday, April 19, we of the New York City Santas, a new chapter of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, hosted a tutorial called “Lights, Camera, Action: Technical Aspects of Online Santa Visits." [The recording of the program is linked at the end of this article.]

Ed Taylor from the Santa Claus Conservatory was our special guest and new hero. Who else would even attempt to host a six-hour World Wide Santa Summit spanning several time zones? And he’s doing it again soon.

Working with technology is an act of courage. It’s a live performance with many moving parts, as yours truly discovered Sunday when my screen did not show all of the 15 participants. And two officials of the NYC Santas had a hard time getting into the link 30-minutes before the 3 PM meeting. Some of that was part of a Mrs. Claus NYC glitch (clearing my throat) and a Zoom issue with so many people using the platform during COVID-19. A few others struggled with the passwords. Urgh! I know.

Ed showed us the secret behind his flickering lantern; you must watch the recording. He also showed various computer settings that change skin tone. Does he wear makeup? No, but other Santas may prefer the polished look. He tried on glasses as well to experiment with reflection. Can cell phone cameras work? Yes, of course.

[Click here for additional tips from Ed.]

We hope you feel encouraged. As Ed says, COVID-19 may provide new professional opportunities. You don’t have to live in Hollywood or New York anymore to audition for a part. (I myself haven’t “found” the background that speaks to me, but I will soon.)

Other helpful hints from participants included using a music stand to hold a phone steady for web-based Santa chats (thank you, Carol Baker Claus from Ohio). George McTyre, secretary of the NYC Santas, talked about lighting and also knows about wonderful free Zoom backgrounds. (Ask him about the General Hospital kitchen.) Another Santa (whom I couldn’t see because I couldn’t see anyone) puts a marker above his computer’s camera, so he always knows where to focus his eyes to prevent that “fish eye” look. Lonnie Cooper, a Santa at a big-box NYC store we all know, mentioned his predictions for the season; be prepared for anything.

Group participation tips for Santas conducting online meetings:

• Singing “Jingle Bells” as a group on Zoom may not be the way to go. There is a lag, which you must see in our recording toward the end. It’s funny.

• Group photos and videos in gallery view make colorful souvenirs for participants. Simply take a screen shot by hitting the print screen button at the top of your keyboard on your laptop or hitting your screenshot settings on your iPhone. Then immediately paste into an email to yourself for safekeeping. Make sure dialogue boxes and the chat feed is down, so you have a clean shot without embarrassing private conversations.

• Encourage participants to use their full names and their cities as if they were making a name tag for themselves. It’s professional and informative. Of course, if you are working as Santa for children, you would hover your mouse over your picture and click the three dots to rename yourself as Santa. I learned this from the crew of You Sleigh Me.

• Don’t be afraid to try contests. Why not? I think ours was successful. Gary Dreifus, VP of the NYC Santas, tabulated votes for best backgrounds through Zoom’s chat box.

Winners of the best backdrop contest were … drumroll, please … : Ed and Scott, who were tied

Honorable mention goes to: Anthony, Stephan, and Bert

The prizes were … nothing.

If you missed this discussion, no worries. Come to others and be an honorary New Yorker for this limited time:

Wednesday, April 22, 3-3:30 PM: “Visit Clement Clarke Moore’s Actual Desk, Virtually.” Debra Schmidt Bach, curator of decorative arts at the New-York Historical Society, will show us the actual desk on which Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Or did he? Yes, there is controversy about authorship. Our new friend Debra will tell us about the desk, the author, and whether or not he was the one who actually wrote this famous poem. Santas, bring your questions and your most groomed set of whiskers (real or honorary) for a fascinating online talk and post-session group photo. For extra credit, come prepared to recite a few lines by heart. For security reasons, please register here in advance.

Sunday, May 3, 3-4 PM, “Getting Ahead with a Headshot.” Reno Venturi of the Actors Gym will tell us all about why we need a headshot, what makes a good one, and how much we should expect to spend. For security reasons, please register here in advance. 

Sunday, May 17, 3-4 PM, “Meet Me At Macy’s.” Actor and NYC Santa Lonnie Cooper will share his favorite Macy's experiences. For security reasons, please register here in advance.

Meeting Recording of “Lights, Camera, Action: the Technical Aspects of Online Santa Visits,” April 19, 2020. Access Password: 2n@^410e

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Related Article: “Let’s Stay Together While Six Feet (Or More) Apart

Photo by Kevin Hagen of the Wall Street Journal. Taken Dec. 3, 2019 and appearing in the publication on Dec. 10 online and Dec. 11 in print.

Oh, adrenaline has been pumping through my 500-year-old veins these past few weeks. Last Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal’s Anne Kadet profiled Mrs. Claus in a lovely Metro Money piece called: “‘Ring Your Bells, Sisters!’ Mrs. Claus Says.’" The column appeared online Dec. 10, but the same article took up an entire half page on Wednesday. On that morning, friends and acquaintances emailed me photos from their point of views above their morning papers. I could almost see their collective spray of coffee and hear their gasps of surprise.

That night, I met State Senator Robert Jackson in his offices in Inwood.

I got to meet a woman named Carmen Rojas, who was honored for her community activism on asbestos-related issues. The party happened on the same day the article came out, so I was better able to show and explain what Mrs. Claus does. I’m not Santa, but I can reach an audience in a different way.

Carmen Rojas was the evening’s person of honor. She is in the yellow scarf. So much positive energy in this line-up.

Since then, I have connected to the gorgeous Mrs. Claus mentioned in the piece. She calls herself Aurora Claus, and she is from the so-close-yet-so-faraway Lower Hudson Valley. I hope the WSJ story raises the visibility of female Clauses in NYC and around the country. And Aurora and I must must must meet.

This week, I wore my gorgeous new dress for a volunteer function in Upper Manhattan. To my surprise, two women asked if they could get men for Christmas. This is a new one for me. I told them that some things don’t fit under a tree. But had I been more nimble-minded, I would have said: “Oh, darlings. They have so many instructions. Are you ready for all that responsibility?”

Stay tuned for more about my new suit and the woman who made it for me.

Related Article: “How To Gift Your Claus Clothing”

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Dancing keeps us youthful! #westchesterwinterwonderland #mrsclausnyc #santa

18 Likes, 1 Comments - Mrs. Claus NYC (@mrsclausnyc) on Instagram: "Dancing keeps us youthful! #westchesterwinterwonderland #mrsclausnyc #santa"

In Vaudeville days of the late 1800s and the 1930s, music and steps were in a constant state of evolution as acts traveled the country. Amid all the change and transience, actors used time steps to communicate tempos to band leaders they had only just met.

In my third year as a single Mrs. Claus without a regular Santa, I have tried to get everything “right,” by attending Santa Claus school and paying for webinars produced by seasoned Kringles. With my dancer’s desire to be perfect and obedient, I took vigorous notes about how I should have a “backstory” about how I met my Santa (of the moment). We should call each other on the phone and talk about our favorite vacation spots or our courtship.

Over the weekend, I met “my Santa” for the evening in a freezing trailer behind a circus tent in an upstate New York winter wonderland. We shared this trailer with a clown, three dogs, various novelty acts, and the event’s manager. I had no idea what was expected to me—I had taken the job via text—so soon after my arrival by train, I wandered into the Santa Experience tent and learned I would be working near the photo Santa. This isn’t a criticism of the venue but a reality of being a performer. We use a lot of brains to navigate new situations.

With barely a chance to exchange basic pleasantries, my temporary hubby and I dug in. He sat in the big chair. I assumed the role of line manager, chatting with nervous kids and taking photos of families with Santa. Not a single child asked how I met Santa or how many elves we had together. And no one seemed to care for such a short meeting with St. Nick.

During a rare moment alone with no guests, Santa stood up and did a soft shoe essence, one type of time steps from the Vaudeville era. (Tap purists may argue that soft shoe dances were performed with leather soles instead of metal taps and therefore not capable of being time steps. Yet this syncopated combination is commonly considered a time step.) I joined getting a sense of how my partner moved and breathed. Soon the elves in the tent were laughing, and parents began taking videos of us as they headed into the tent. “Do it again,” they said, with iPhones cued to “video.”

Within minutes, we were married in the only way it counted for the evening: through fun and companionship.

So the point of this post is: How important is “backstory” when presence and a few shared tricks might mean more? In badly written novels, the exposition is the boring part while a story and scene make the characters hum. I can’t remember all that biographer anyway each time I work with a different Santa; it bogs me down and makes me nervous.

In Santa school, a few Clauses taught me the Reindeer Macarena, another fun number that Claus teams can do together.

As we branch out as independent performers, we need more easy bits to develop a common North Pole language.

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photo by Kitt Creative

I admit I am a sidekick in the Christmas pantheon, at least here in the city. But as the world craves female voices, my image evolves. As a Santa friend reminds me, Lois Lane has had several makeovers to stay relevant. Likewise, Mrs. Claus is like a comic book character who experiences updates each decade. I definitely feel a change in my own folkloric DNA that is both exciting and scary. Who am I? Am I old? Am I young?

Some female peers want me to break all the rules and be a feminist warrior. Others are shocked I dare wear anything other than an apron and traditional mob cap, the ruffly hat preferred by Martha Washington. One Santa wanted me to add wrinkles to my youthful complexion, which I might do only in his company. I respect him that much, even though this feels like age-ism in reverse.

Then another St. Nick told me—gasp—that my youth makes Santa look like a “pervert,” his words in the beginning of the #MeToo era. Fellas, I love you so much I’m asking you to put your right hand on the screen and promise me you will never say this to a woman, or ANYONE, ever, especially when that person is trying to be the best version of herself. Banish this thinking from your brains forever, or at least bury it in your inner monologue. I did speak up on that one, and this influential Santa did apologize, as he should.

Yet every choice I make will be wrong in someone’s eyes, so I have to be myself and listen, listen, listen to what feels right. And I have to cheer on other Clauses to do the same. One gorgeous woman I know calls herself Ms. Santa. She is absolutely stunning and in the driver’s seat when it comes to who she is. Oh, how I admire that.

It is still hard to get work in NYC, even though I’m getting promising feedback early in the season. Here is an example through email:

Thank you for contacting us to become part of the [company name deleted] family! I have added you to our database so that we can begin to contact you for jobs in your area. But, if you have some photos, I would love a couple. Could you email some to me? Or, if there are some online somewhere, please let me know where. Also, I let all of our Mrs Claus' know that unfortunately we do not get a lot of work for Mrs Claus. But, we do get some and are getting more every year.

This is WONDERFUL news! One day, we will be trending.

Here’s a thoughtful rejection from a GigSalad client based in Tudor City in Manhattan:

I’m so sorry! We were really just looking for a Santa Claus.
Thank you though!

The 2018 gig called for a St. Nick to hand out presents and pose in pictures, in only 15 minutes. I felt sorry for the poor Santa who took that rushed job. There’s no way a human being can perform such stunts in such a short period of time. A half hour would do the trick, but candy canes! I am grateful to get a response at all.

Here’s another email through GigSalad that was for Christmas Eve 2017 on Christmas Eve 2017 in the Village:

Hi - is this for Mrs Claus or Santa Claus?

The client, whose name was Jonah, was confused. Sweet, sweet Jonah. He couldn’t figure why a silver lady like myself was writing to him instead of a gentleman with a beard. This made me smile. He seemed very stressed. I should have counseled him not to plan a major event with a costumed character on the day of the busiest night of the universe. But I never heard back.

Last week, I finally found the right number to an appropriate office at the New York Stock Exchange. The gentleman on the other end answered with a simple “hello,” nothing else. That’s a sign I found the inner sanctum.

I said, “Is this the New York Stock Exchange?”

“Yes.”

“How do I get on the schedule to ring the bell?”

The gentleman provided an email address. Before I hung up, I quickly introduced myself. “The financial world needs Mrs. Claus to ring the bell,” I said. “For better PR.” He laughed. Isn’t that glorious?

Here is my bull-market pitch to the NYSE through email:

Mon, Sep 9, 12:17 PM

to nysetv

Hi there,

My name is [deleted to maintain the magic]. I am [a] tall, confident Mrs. Claus NYC who dreams of ringing the bell for the New York Stock Exchange during the holiday season. Santa will never lose his place as the king of Christmas, but I am just as nice, if not more efficient and less well paid.

Last year, I won a scholarship to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan, considered the Harvard of Christmas universities. I was also featured on Page 3 of the New York Post, Marie Claire, and Huffington Post. As a new Mrs. Claus, I have entertained the Clinton family. Here is my website.

I love getting rejections, if that is what is to happen with the NYSE. If people didn’t care, they would ignore me altogether. As you can see, I’m getting very gracious pseudo-“no’s” with honest explanations. I deserve another five cookies.

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