PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Professional Santa performers across the Valley are reporting their busiest season yet as social media platforms replace traditional advertising methods for holiday bookings.<\/p>\n
Santa performers say they are using Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms to connect with families seeking Christmas visits. The digital shift has created unprecedented demand for their services.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a North Pole satellite office,\u201d said one Santa performer. \u201cPhoenix is a beautiful city and a lot of beautiful people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The performers say rates for Santa visits fluctuate based on timing and demand. <\/p>\n
From November through Dec. 23, hourly rates range from $150 to $350. However, Christmas Eve bookings cost around $200 for 30 minutes, while Christmas Day visits can reach $500 for a half-hour appearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears before you had to get an ad out on the yellow pages or the penny saver that they used to have,\u201d one performer said.<\/p>\n
One Santa performer in the Valley, known as Santa Ron and also a teacher of other Santas, <\/a>showed Arizona\u2019s Family messages from numerous clients seeking bookings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s insane. This has been probably the busiest year I\u2019ve seen. I\u2019ve probably given 50 jobs away to Santa friends of mine because the demand far outweighs Santa Claus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Between appearances, Santa performers attend training programs. Thousands of men participate in Santa schools across the country, including the Worldwide Santa Claus Network.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot in Canada, and then scattered across everywhere else, UK, Australia, Japan, South America. Yeah, but the vast majority, probably 90% in the U.S.,\u201d said a Santa with a workshop in California. \u201cThe demand for Santa Claus is at an all-time high.\u201d<\/p>\n The performers complete hundreds of hours of training annually, covering beard maintenance, perfecting their signature laugh, and working with children with special needs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lifestyle. I won\u2019t say it\u2019s a job. Because you know we\u2019re willing to do anything to bring smiles. We\u2019re the ambassadors of love, compassion and giving,\u201d one performer said.<\/p>\n Performers say repeat bookings are common, with clients already requesting the same Santa for next year\u2019s celebrations.<\/p>\n If you are booking a Santa, it\u2019s recommended to ask for their background check and liability coverage. You can also schedule an interview to see if they\u2019re the right fit.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n