A reporter recently asked me about the word “sidekick.”

“Are you a sidekick to Santa?” she asked.

From a story perspective, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, elves, and dancers are offshoots of Santa Claus. Absolutely, kids come to see the Big Guy.

On a human resource level, however, we are full-fledged citizens with rights and feelings.

My answer to the reporter surprised me.

“Human beings can’t be sidekicks,” I said. I explained that we were having a conversation in a crowded cafe. Did that make us the leads and everyone else sidekicks?

No.

According to our point of view, we were the center of action, and everyone else was in the background. But we, sitting in the window seat, were the background for other customers having their own conversations.

Therefore, side characters — or layered entertainment — are not Santa’s sidekicks.

If we entertainers were subjects in a documentary, and the camera turned on us, we would be the leads, and Santa would be out of the spotlight, still important but not in focus at the moment.

Yes, when children rush to Santa to show their letters, I am not in the spotlight. But I do hold value as I listen to the child and try to be helpful to the situation.

I work best with Santas who get this dynamic, the ones who don’t treat me like Tonto (which means “fool” in Spanish) to their Lone Ranger.

I’m also learning how to work alone. For some people, Mrs. Claus is their favorite!