It's been busy down here in Texas with the pandemic still going on. We've celebrated Thanksgiving and have gotten the old house a bit tidier and organized so we can start to settle in for December. But things still are feeling different this year.
I suppose it could be the difference in atmosphere. Instead of a noisy room with excited young ones and open eyes, I'm in a colder room with bright lights trying to connect to miniature figures on a 2 dimensional display. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is being affected by the difference in atmosphere and change that has accompanied what many of us knew to be a shorter season, but had hoped would be like seasons past.
It's really difficult for me, putting myself out there with professional videos and live calls, only to be ignored and overlooked by previous interested parties simply because I will not put the health of myself or my family on the line to visit any location outside of the studio. This decision was a difficult one to make, but now that the choice has been made I will not revert back, especially with the number of cases rising in the area. It's just not worth the risk.
With the absence of the yearly holiday bustle I am usually caught up in, I have found more "free time" in which I have turned to online forums and groups on social media dedicated to Christmas performers (but mainly Santa Claus representatives).
Though I plan to address the argument of real bearded versus traditional bearded Santa Claus representatives at a later date, I have had negative and positive experiences with both types of individuals. More recently I had opted to post about the Jr. Claus Workshop in response to an inquiry about how to whiten a beard. Simply stating there's a video course on the website. A few others chimed in and recommended other sites or services that would guide them. Both comments made the point that their sources they were recommending were free and, as such, undermined the whole point of making this site.
It made me want to leave the Santa Claus community.
Now, these gentlemen were in no way taking a jab at my work. On the contrary, they were offering additional instructional resources. But it reminded me of so many who have scoffed and concluded the site has nothing to offer them as they already know everything and have the best sources for doing what they do. And don't let me rain on their parade if that's the case.
Yes, there are sources out there one could find helpful, or people to call that could lend some advice. Unlike those other sources that lack step-by-step visual, the videos here on this website are dedicated to helping the common Santa representative observe how things can be done before having to go out and try them. I know how terrifying that can be, I had to try things out on my own without any visuals or step-by-step instructions.
Like many artists who put their heart and soul into their work, the videos and resources on this site are very dear to me and I hope they can help patrons near and far in all I have to offer. Though you can pick up much of the general knowledge on representing Santa Claus in other places for free, I also offer all that I have for free. But I cannot answer the phone every day, I cannot respond via messenger or text what needs to be done step-by-step.
I do hope those who have talked to me via phone, zoom, or another medium have found what I have to offer helpful in some small way. I'm learning alongside all of you who are new to this. What I do have that is valuable, and the purpose of this site, is to offer videos that are of good enough quality and resolution that step-by-step demonstrations and other helpful information can be captured in. Simply that. Go out and find what knowledge you can, my personal mission is to just document in video form all that I have found useful.
So if you're new, and ancient forums or information communicated over a phone isn't enough, I hope the videos on this site may help you see for yourself some insights into being a Santa Claus representative.
For a bunch of elder citizens, some can be quite feisty and opinionated. Some very much even "un-Santa-like." Some may not even see the point in my videos, but that's alright. The videos aren't for them who don't want them, they're made for those who do.
In the end, I still haven't decided if I should leave the Santa Claus community.
Yours as always,
Santa Stuart