Women

of

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center conjures images of hyper-masculinity. Think Prometheus by Paul Manship (how appropriate) in The Rink. Women also shaped this important part of New York City, both in their mentions and their erasures.

Dance, Drama, and Song by Hildreth Meière

This season, my wigless day job is at Rockefeller Center! Recently, I took a 75-minute tour of the campus, which includes 14 original buildings plus five newer structures.

I learned a little more about the visuals I see everyday. I also noticed who got credit: usually the beefiest and most powerful men.

Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, 1932, Charles C. Ebbets. Distributed by Acme Newspictures, Original caption: "While New York's thousands rush to crowded restaurants and congested lunch counters for their noon day lunch, these intrepid steel workers atop the 70 story RCA building in Rockefeller Center get all the air and freedom they want by lunching on a steel beam with a sheer drop of over 800 feet to the street level. The RCA building is the largest office building in terms of office space in the world."

As an answer to the famous workmen photo, here are just a few fabulous women whose contributions invigorate spaces between 51 and 48th streets and Fifth and Sixth avenues.

1) Abigail Greene Aldrich Rockefeller. Photo: Library of Congress

2) Hildreth Meière. Photo: hildrethmeiere.org

3) Martha Stewart Podcast: Recorded at 1 Rock

4) Danitra Vance. Photo: biography.com

5) Valerie Clarebout. Photo: NYPL

6) Hoda Kotb. Photo: Nathan Congleton

7) The Rockettes. Photo: rockettes.com

8) Eleanor Roosevelt. Photo: Library of Congress

1) Her husband John D. Rockefeller, Jr., financed Rockefeller Center during the Great Depression. Abby Rockefeller maintained relationships with artists and actively selected public works for the complex.

2) Best known for mosaics and murals, Hildreth Meière created Dance, Drama, and Song outside Radio City Music Hall, as seen in the first photo of this blog.

3) Martha Stewart, America’s first self-made female billionaire, hosts a weekly podcast in a converted newsstand in my building at 1 Rock. I can’t wait to discuss cookies with her.

4) Danitra Vance was the first Black female cast member of Saturday Night Live, filmed at 30 Rock.

5) Valerie Clarebout was an English artist who handcrafted the dozen 8-feet-tall angels along the Channel Gardens. Her sculptures, installed in 1954, lead the way to the Rockefeller Christmas tree.

6) TODAY Show host Hoda Kotb, sitting between Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager, announced her retirement in September. She has been with NBC for nearly three decades. I see the back of Hoda’s head almost every morning when I head into work.

7) The Rockettes have been a Radio City Music Hall feature since 1932. Standing between 5’5’’ and 5’10’’, these powerful women are known for their eye-high kicks. They hired the first dark-skinned dancer in 1987 and the first visibly disabled dancer in 2019.

8) Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady during Rockefeller Center’s construction in the 1930s. Her My Day column mentioned visits to Rockefeller for post-broadcast nibbles, award ceremonies, and trips to Women’s City Club.

Now let’s check out some of the male art that dominates everything and gets all the attention. And on this scale, how could it not? Below, see Lee Lowrie’s 45-foot-Atlas, installed in 1937 in front of the International Building on Fifth Avenue.

And here is the back of Atlas facing St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Our tour guide said that men who installed Atlas thought, at first, the figure was Jesus Christ.

This huge complex also involves underground passages and shops that connect Rockefeller to the subways. As we were moving underground between buildings, I wondered how women in the 1930s felt as they moved through these office spaces, including this skinny escalator. I felt the presence of old cigarette smoke, even though I couldn’t smell it. Some of the walls are stained with what has to be cigarette smoke.

Imagine riding this in high heels.

Underground barbershop

Old newsstand in 1 Rock converted into a podcast station for celebrities like Martha Stewart

As we passed a line of people camping out on a Friday to get tickets for Saturday Night Live, I also felt a charge of what it must have been like to be a woman on the show.

Saturday Night Live fans camping out on a Friday night to get tickets to the show.

One of the weirdest things we saw was The Story of Transportation inside 10 Rockefeller, once home of Eastern Airlines. Notice all the naked goddesses. Dean Cornwell was the artist. Wilmuth Masden Stevens was his assistant and model for the goddesses. Known for stepping out on his wife, I sensed an inappropriate relationship. Sadly, I couldn’t find a photo of Stevens. The Rockefeller Center website doesn’t list her name. However, I found one mention on the internet. He was as famous as Norman Rockwell in his day. She certainly did not credit for her work as assistant muralist.

Below is Wisdom, by Lee Lawrie. The relief is on the entrance to 30 Rock, facing the Christmas tree.

This year’s Norway Spruce is from West Stockbridge, Mass. The tree lighting is Dec. 4. This picture shows the Channel Gardens. Soon, Valerie Clarebout’s angels will line the fountain. But … still no Mrs. Claus anywhere on the entire complex.

Female figures are everywhere in Rockefeller Center, often as goddesses or mythical figures representing big ideas. In Intelligence Awakening Mankind, artist Barry Faulkner shows this central figure, Thought, to be an anchor to Written Words on the left and Spoken Word on the right.

By listening to the radio, listeners can hear the human voice, the “bird of the air,” which can educate them and help them from sinking into poverty.

Here is a promotion for Wicked, as presented on the Plaza between 1 Rock, where I work, and 10 Rockefeller. All of the figures are made of Legos!

Here’s where I see the back of Hoda Kodb’s head every morning.

Below is a fabulous bas-relief, News, outside the old Associated Press building. Artist Isamu Noguchi intended for these five male figures to seek the same story using all the latest technology of the time. Who will be the fastest?

News by Isamu Noguchi

A Santa once told me to stay away from Rockefeller. “That’s my territory,” he said. Well, as I was walking around freely, I felt that it belongs to everybody. I left feeling I had fought a dragon.

This season, I am working at Rockefeller Center in an office you’ll never ever find. With 19 buildings, the center is considered a campus with rooftop gardens and a whole underground city below.

I had the pleasure of watching the rink become the rink, converted from an outdoor restaurant into a giant ice cube. Every morning, I pass the Today show!

And this morning in the elevator, I learned about the tree. For the first time since 1959, West Stockbridge, Mass., supplies the tree, a lush Norway Spruce.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year! You may know it better by "T'was the Night Before Christmas."🌲🌲

Last time, we talked about assonance, when vowel sounds get repeated.

Today, we will talk more about the storytelling.

The poem's SPEAKER and the poem's AUTHOR may be two different people. An author can invent a speaker and write from that person's point of view. In the land of imagination, an author can even make an inanimate object the SPEAKER.

Let's do some detective work. So who is the speaker in "T'was the Night Before Christmas"? Does the speaker have a gender? Physical attributes? Quirks? Is the speaker from the past or the future?

🟩"Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap"

🟩"I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter"

🟩"And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself"

In November, I did a practice teaching session to four Clauses. A Mrs. Claus in Ohio said she changes the speaker’s gender, so that SHE becomes the SPEAKER.

Yes! I love this.

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.❤️❤️

A big shout-out to the Three Wise Guys of Christmas: Washington Irving, John Pintard, and Clement Clarke Moore. These New York City gentlemen shared a fondness for St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Dutch New Amsterdam.

In their imaginings, a Dutch Sinterklaas (St. Nick) flew over New York. Through writings and images, Sinterklaas kept getting rosier and Clausier.

The artistic Dutch revival "remembered" a Christmas that never actually existed, one that glorified Old Days before the British occupied Manhattan during the Revolutionary War.

Here's how each of these men contributed to the legend of Santa Claus:

✅Merchant John Pintard, founder of the New-York Historical Society, thought robust Christmas celebrations might release workers' pent-up energies. He petitioned for St. Nicholas to be the patron saint of New York City. He also observed Dec. 6 as the Feast of St. Nicholas.

✅Writer Washington Irving wrote A History of New York, a whimsical history of early New York that mentioned a flying figure in the sky. The book was published on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, 1809. Irving also was a co-founder of the St. Nicholas Society.

✅Scholar Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "T'was the Night Before Christmas." He wrote the poem to entertain his nine children at his Chelsea estate. The poem first appeared in the Troy Sentinel in 1823, making this year its 200th anniversary.

Sources: New-York Historical Society, Wikipedia, Sunnyside in Tarrytown, NY

Visit me at mrsclausnyc.com ❤❤❤❤

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year! It's lasted so long partly because it feels so good to recite out loud. It has "sound pleasure."

Last week, you learned about alliteration, which is when repeated consonants fall near each other in a text. Think: Meatless Monday or Tom Turkey.

Assonance is similar to alliteration but it involves repeated vowel sounds, regardless of the consonants around it.

If your mouth forms the same shape when reciting certain vowels, you may have found assonance, also known as vowel rhyme.

Here are examples:

🟩"Creature was stirring" [Hear the ur?]

🟩"Nestled all snug in their beds" [Hear the eh?]

🟩 "Moon on the breast of the new ..." [Hear the ooo?]

🟩 "Sleigh and eight tiny rein ... " [Hear the aaa?]

Stay tuned for more fun facts about this famous poem.

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.❤️❤️

A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year! 🌲🌲"

Why is it such a beloved poem?

One reason is that reading it feels good. The language provides sound pleasure.

An example of sound pleasure is the use of alliteration, when repeated consonant sounds are positioned closely together within the text.

Here are some examples of alliteration in the poem:

🟩"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer!"

🟩"On, Comet! on, Cupid!"

🟩 "The prancing and pawing of each little hoof."

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year!

Fun fact: The famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore is written in Anapestic Tetrameter.

Last week, we learned that an anapest is a “foot” consisting of a “da da DUM.” Tetrameter is four “da da DUM”s in one line.

Try clapping out the rhythm and notice the words that get the most emphasis:

🟩T'was the NIGHT before CHRISTmas when ALL through the HOUSE🏠

🟩Not a CREAture was STIRRing Not EVEn a MOUSE.

This is a great comedic and narrative device. Another poem that uses this is Dr. Suess's "Yertle the Turtle." Take a look below:

🟩And toDAY the Great YERtle, that MARvelous HE.

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year!

Last night, I hosted an online lesson about the poem’s form, history, and legacy. It was a practice session for me. I want to be conversant on-the-fly. Four professional Clauses and my aunt showed up on Zoom. We practiced saying “anapestic tetrameter” 10 times. No one got hurt!

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy.

Anapestic tetrameter is a poetic form from Polish literature that includes four poetic "feet," or rhythm patterns, in one line.

For example: T'was the NIGHT before CHRISTmas when ALL through the HOUSE

Try clapping out the rhythm and notice the words that get the most emphasis.

Stay tuned for more fun facts about this famous poem.

As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for weekly poetry lessons.

So many reds, friends.

Each delicious and full of meaning.

I have four basic Mrs. Claus looks for functionality and to prevent clashing with Santa Claus’ red suit. If I’m working with a new Santa, someone I’ve never met, I’ll ask for photos of his look. And then, like Ginger Rogers dancing backwards in heels, I compromise. I find outfit pieces that might make us look like a pair.

I don’t mind doing this. I also have a green jacket, to prevent clashing at all.

Yet I do notice that Santa is often the main fashion editor. Just like in non-character life, I notice that gender plays a role.

Here’s a poem I wrote:

My grandmother loved Christmas. When I visited her senior community dressed as Mrs. Claus, she introduced me to all of her friends. 

“This is my granddaughter, Mrs. Claus,” she said. She was serious and proud. She might as well have said, “This is my granddaughter, the Disney princess.”

And she had some wigs she was reluctant to wear. For some reason, she never fully committed to them.

And now all this hair is mine. And Grandma comes with me everywhere I go. I dedicate this season to her. I miss her very much.

Let me introduce my synthetic follicles to you in order:

The Adalaide (Paula Young)

She travels well. She just needs a good shake out. I wore her to the Claus Family Reunion in Gatlinberg, TN.

The Daisy (Paula Young)

She is my favorite. She also travels well but has more movement. Think Daisy Buchanon or Debby Harry (Hairy). I like the icy color, a bit more magical.

Untitled (Paula Young)

This one probably has a name, but I don’t know it. My mom sent it to me in an envelope. I took it out and wore it while cooking dinner one night, just to see how it felt. I felt like I was channeling my beloved grandma.

Now here are others.

Mrs. Garret

My first wig needs lots of care. I’ve taken her to wig artists who shake their heads. She is just on that magic side of inexpensive and delicate. One would have to take down her bun, wash her, and start anew. She looks good under a bonnet.

The Janice

This is a new one that I like for online visits. I love the color and movement. But this doesn’t work well with a collar in the wind. The strands stick to my lipstick.

Marie Antoinette

Love this one. Just fun and messy. Cute as a contrast to the bright red I wear sometimes.

And now, enjoy a parade. See if you can correctly guess which one is which. And stay tuned for my beard collection, my new emergency collection, in case I work with a Santa who doesn’t have his own whiskers.

Photo by Michelle V. Agins of The New York Times

Last week, New York City companies were required to list salary ranges in their job descriptions. The New York Times had fun and made a quiz.

I took it.

And guess what?

The first question pertains to the hourly rate of Macy’s elves. I guessed correctly.

Hmmm.

Give it a go.

Hint. Aim low.

The American Cyclopædia, 1879, v. 12, p. 379.

Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop, is considered the patron saint of New Amsterdam, what would later become New York City.

In the 1600s, the Dutch West India Company had a goal: profit.

Yet colonists also had a fascination with Saint Nicholas, also known as Sinterklaas. Based on a historically real person who died on December 6, Sinterklaas came to represent children … and … all sorts of wayward sinners, including sailors, merchants, thieves, beer makers, single people, and students. 

Could you not ask for a more appropriate saint for the area?

In Knickerbocker's History of New York, published on December 6, 1809, author Washington Irving further developed Saint Nicholas as a character unique to the city’s earliest days.

Sinterklaas Festival Day is still celebrated in the Hudson Valley, a playground for other Irving characters, including Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle. 

Today in New York City, St. Nicholas is represented as Santa Claus, a rosy-cheeked harbinger of joy. Even hardened New Yorkers get sappy at the sight of a corner Kringle.

And St. Nicholas’ roots here are deep. Santa’s origins include commercialism, politics, religion, true altruism, and, well, commercialism.

Did you enjoy watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center? Well, a site on 48th and Fifth Avenue was once home to St. Nicholas Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. The sale of the church made way for the Sinclair Oil Company, a property within Rockefeller Center.

Before the church was torn down in 1949, it housed the oldest congregation in Manhattan dating back to 1628.

Theodore Roosevelt went to church there.

Today, Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church is the oldest corporation in the United States. Its 1696 charter dates back to English rulers William and Mary.

I am a licensed NYC tour guide and the founding president of the New York City Santas. I am a history nerd who can give interesting onsite or online Santa history tours.

Related Article: NYC Santas Visit the Desk of Clement Clarke Moore Virtually

I am also Scrappy the Elf as well as Mrs. Claus.

On my first day of work as an elf at a secret department store, that rhymes with “oomingdales,” a family of three came into the sixth floor Santaland.

The mother and father had an infant in a stroller. They oohed and ahhhed at their little one’s expressions of amazement.

“I don’t know why we’re so into this,” they told me. “We’re Jewish.”

I took them aside and said, “Little secret here. So is Santa.”

Santa wished them a Happy Hanukkah and they left thrilled.

In New York City, Santa is a symbol of non-denominational joy.

Tomorrow is Monday, December 6. At sundown, Hanukkah, a minor Jewish holiday, ends in its eighth day.

Happy Hanukkah to everyone!

My Mrs. Claus suit and the Winzer Cleaner wrappings.

I’m proud of two things in particular in this photo: my custom-made Mrs. Claus suit and the wrapper from Winzer Cleaners.

My outfit is now three seasons old. It needed some mild tailoring on the skirt and petticoat. And the jacket had never been cleaned because I had no idea how to go about that. I spent too much money for a local cleaner to ruin it.

So I took it to Ernest Winzer Cleaners in Morris Heights, Bronx. Ten miles from Times Square, Winzer is the go-to cleaner for Broadway shows. In fact, this third-generation mom and pop won a Tony for Excellence in 2018. Read this great New York Post story about Winzers’ Tony.

Or watch this video of co-owners Bruce and Sarah Barish here and try not to cry. “We’re not a normal family,” the Bruce said in his Tony acceptance speech. “We don’t take vacations.”

When I arrived at Winzer, Sarah gave me a recommendation. She preferred my green petticoat to the reddish velvet skirt. Hmmm. I’m listening, Sarah.

I showed her where I wanted the skirts taken in. Two employees came forward asking questions and making efficient notes.

The huge room behind them was as alive as Santa’s workshop with workers ironing, stitching, and doing all sorts of things I don’t understand. In September, before Broadway opened, I saw all sorts of complicated garments hanging on conveyer belt lines.

My jacket would be expensive to clean because staff would either have to remove decorative buttons and appliques or clean the jacket by hand. I suggested they clean the jacket by hand and then to wait another three seasons before getting another cleaning.

Later that week, she called. My garment was done. When I entered the shop, I gasped when I saw a long, long flamenco costume that seemed to float in the air like a bride in a Chagall painting. Sarah motioned for me to come into the office. My suit hung on a hook by the windows.

“Merry Christmas!” exclaimed Bruce, whose desk was around a corner. I never saw his face but I correctly guessed that he was the grandson of Al, an earlier owner. As Sarah finalized my purchase, I examined all the autographed celebrity photos that hung in the office. Everyone from James Earl Jones to the New York City Ballet had had dealings with Winzer.

I was really, really impressed.

Here is what Bruce says on his LinkedIn profile page:

“My family has been dry cleaning for Broadway and the public since 1908. If it ran on Broadway, we dry cleaned it. Chances are if your family is from NYC, we dry cleaned for your family as well.”

Ever since I got my outfit back, I have been trying to get a Q & A interview with Bruce. I thought the New York City Santas would love to hear what he had to say. Plus, I’m super nosy. But Bruce and I keep missing each other on the phone. As this is the busiest time of year for him, my gift is me not calling him. Instead, I’ll just thank him and Sarah for taking such good care of my suit.

It’s not just any outfit, after all.

In a way, it’s the face I present to the world. So in taking care of my clothes, they took care of me.

Related Article: A Broadway Dresser Attacks Sweat, A Hot Topic for Santas of the North Pole

Related Article: How To Gift Your Claus Clothing

Thank you to Santas from all across the United States who participated in the NYC Santas second annual reading of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. 

And if you’d like to learn more about this poem, read more about the NYC Santas speaking with a curator from the New-York Historical Society in 2020. Have you ever heard of the neighborhood of Chelsea in Manhattan? That was the name of Clement Clarke Moore’s estate that later made up the famous section of the city.

Finally, welcome our newest NYC Santas officer, Bonnie Patrick-Mattalian, who is our Social Media Coordinator. We still need to fill the Membership Coordinator role this year. If you have a few extra hours every month and would like to welcome new members into our organization, please send an email to nycsantas@gmail.com.

We hope you have a wonderful season!

Kathryn Rohe

Kathryn Rohe is a costume design professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. A long-time dresser for Broadway’s Lion King and Mama Mia!, she knows so much about the little things. Here she is with her little Nalas and little Simbas:

Kathryn Rohe worked with the children in Broadway’s Lion King.

On Monday, May 3, she presented “Never Bunch Up Again” for the NYC Santas. Click here to watch. While the Santas enjoyed learning about the components of a perfect pair of pants, they took notes when Kathryn mentioned sweat.

For Santas, overheating is a hot topic. And having dealt with Julie Taymor’s massive costumes in the Lion King, Kathryn knows a thing or two about keeping actors cool and clean. Here is a principal dresser for the Lion King.

This Broadway dresser tends to the performer throughout the show to make sure she is comfortable and able to function when she can’t use her hands.

Ice packs come in two forms: the kind you break and the kind your freeze. The kind you break are single use. The kind you freeze are reusable. Experiment with sewing pockets into your cotton undershirt. Two pockets can hold ice packs around the front ribs. One pocket can hold an ice pack in the back.

Hand-held fans are great during extremely hot events. Kathryn shared backstage photos of Lion King actors finding relief with mini fans. 

Here are some of Kathryn’s other tips to treat smells and stains:

1. Bacteria causes odors in fabric, a no no for Santas. Kill germs by spraying a solution of one part cheap vodka and one part water onto a sweaty garment. Don’t douse but cover a large area. Let the garment air dry. Febreze is fine too, but Kathryn prefers non-scented and non-synthetic products to prevent buildup and allergic reactions. End Bac can be dangerous if used in a poorly ventilated area, but it’s good for shoes.

2. Wear a white 100% cotton T-shirt under your Claus clothing. If you wear a wicking shirt, your sweat may go into your expensive one-of-a-kind Santa suit, exactly where you do not want it to go. But test out both fabrics and decide what works for you. People in the Middle Ages wore heavy garments on top and cotton chemises underneath to protect their clothing.

3. Dress shields or “pit pads” are your underarm friends. Try products like Kleinert’s Disposable Dress Shields. Kathryn has made her own sweat barriers by cutting up umbrellas to make layers between costumes and an actor who was a “profuse sweater.” You can add snaps to these “shields” to snap them on and off the costume for easier cleaning. Wash these guards in a laundry bag to keep them from getting lost in the washer.

4. Underarm ventilation may work. An eyelet or invisible hole in the underarm seam might be a great cooling system. Kathryn thought of this during the conversation. Talk to your tailor.

5. Treat makeup stains right away. Products include Fels-Naptha soap, baby wipes, and hair spray.  

6. Find a good dry cleaner that understands costuming. For New Yorkers, Winzer Dry Cleaning has a reputation for handling specialty theatrical garments. But you can ask around and find a business that really cares about your expensive clothing. When it comes to white furry cuffs, consider detachable pieces that can be cleaned separately to avoid the dreaded “pinks” so common in the Santa world. 

“If it does not come with a Santa guarantee,” Kathryn said in the talk, “it cannot be any good.”

Related Article: How to Gift Your Claus Clothing

Related Article: Does Your Dry Cleaner Have a Tony? Mine Does

Monday, May 3, 6 - 7 PM Eastern Standard Time: “Costuming 101 with a Behind-the-Scenes Dresser on Broadway” Here’s the link.

Kathryn Rohe is a costume designer at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. A long-time dresser for Broadway’s Lion King and Mama Mia!, she knows how quality garments contribute to an actor’s character. Costumes can also lead to problems, like overheating and bunching up. Have a question about one of your problematic Santa pieces, from wigs to coats? Send a photo to nycsantas@gmail.com. During our interview and Q&A, Kathryn can come to the rescue.

Side note: She has also helped with costumes on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ever heard of it?

Past meetings:

Read: Get on the Podcast Sleigh with Louise Cornetta

Read: Storytelling Gets Real with Ann Shapiro

Louise Cornetta

“Less is more,” says Louise Cornetta, a program director at ESPN, where she specializes in podcasts dedicated to sports. She spoke to the New York City Santas on April 5, 2021 in a virtual session called “Podcasting Dos and Don’ts.”

For Santas wanting to produce their own radio-style shows, like the Santa Cast Podcast, Louise recommends keeping programs short and conversational. Fans tend to leave a program after the hour mark, so if you only have 20 minutes of an interview, use it. Your audience will appreciate your brevity.

Also, “it isn’t enough just to be a Santa,” she says. You have to stand out from the millions of other shareable audible programs by having an angle and a personal connection to the audience. ESPN’s Katie Nolan, for example, hosts the popular show “Sports?”, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with comedians, scientists, and all sorts of other sports fans. People respond to Nolan’s friendliness and her “tangential” coverage.

Below are 7 tips for successfully launching your own audio series, perhaps something along the line of “A Day in the Life of Santa”:

1. Don’t spend more than $100. All you need is a medium-priced mic. Try free editing software like Audacity. 

2. Decide on a platform. Try popular ones like Spotify or Apple.

3. Record sessions for the future. Anticipate not having time to do a podcast in December. Schedule programs now that will go live later on.

4. Learn how to “verbal font.” Because your listeners can’t see you, repeat your guest’s names frequently, as in “What do you think of that, Santa Bob?” and “Thank you for asking, Santa Pete.”

5. Get feedback from your audience. Set up free voicemail boxes for your fans to record their responses to your program. Use Twitter to send out polls that garner audience engagement.

6. Push out your content. Once you have finished a podcast, post it on Twitter to build awareness. Make a short video snippet of your recording session on Zoom and post to Instagram with a link to your podcast.

7. Listen to other podcasts and cross promote. Fans love to hear recommendations for related podcasts. One of the best ways to gain an audience is by having your podcast advertised on another related podcast. Reach out to hosts of your favorite Claus-friendly programs. See if they will advertise your program on theirs.

Upcoming Meetings

Stay tuned for our May 3 meeting about how to avoid wardrobe malfunctions and stay cool under all your Santa gear. To sign up and learn more about our guest Kathryn Rohe, a Broadway dresser, read Join Our Santa Costume Conversation: Never Bunch Up Again. We will be taking off the month of June in hopes of meeting in person in July for Christmas in July.

Past Meetings

Congratulations to our recent guest Ann Shapiro for her 20 years with Connecticut Storytelling Center. In case you missed our March meet, read Storytelling Gets Real with Ann Shapiro.

“Do you know the story of Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle?” Ann Shapiro asked a group of 21 New York City Santas in a March 15, 2021 meeting. Ann is executive director of the Connecticut Storytelling Center founded in 1984 after the success of the annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival.

In her opening example, she used her hands to demonstrate how Mr. Wiggle opens the door to his house (pop), steps outside of his house (pop), and climbs up a hill down a hill up a hill down a hill to find his friend Mr. Waggle. All Zoom-weary eyes zeroed in on her use of sound, facial expression, and enthusiasm.

At various points, she asked Santas to try to communicate with different emotions: sadness, surprise, and anger — so vividly demonstrated by vice president Gary Dreifus of Brooklyn.

Read Join Our Santa Costume Conversation: Never Bunch Up Again