SOURCE ONE
10 Things Santa Won’t Tell You..
A book by Kelli Grant
1. “Your wish list pays my bills.”
For three weeks of Santa appearances in Hong Kong malls,
children’s hospitals and orphanages last year, Jack Sanderson of
Los Angeles expected to earn about $16,000. “It’s one of the toppaying Santa jobs,” says Sanderson, who wrote and produced the
documentary “Becoming Santa.” He spends the rest of the year as
an actor, and will use the income to cover the costs of being a
Santa and other regular bills. Experts say Sanderson’s is a
coveted job — and on the higher end of what a Santa might make.
But even so, a typical Saint Nick earns more in six weeks than
many consumers do in six months. A Santa might make $8,000 to
$15,000 during the holiday season, and particularly talented ones
can pull in as much as $80,000, says Susen Mesco, the director of
American Events and Promotions in Denver. Mall Santas have a
far less lofty rate ranging between $10 and $40 per hour. Those
offering private visits (no chimneys, please) might charge
anywhere from $50 to $300 per hour.
Whenever Santa’s paycheck is mentioned in the media, Mesco’s
phone line is flooded with wannabes. But there’s a lot of variation
in what Santas make based on location and experience, she
cautions. Those top earners tend to be the few Santas who have
the right look and acting skills for television and print ads, she
says. The market is competitive, especially in suburban areas
where there might be a veteran Santa who has held court in the
local mall for years. Then there’s that Christmas spirit thing. Plenty
of Santas appear for free at children’s hospitals, shelters and other
community events, according to The Kringle Group, a network of
companies that includes a Santa school and Santa booking
agency. “The vast majority of Santas do not make much money at
it,” says Sanderson, who interviewed more than 100 of his bearded
colleagues for the documentary. “It’s a lifestyle choice, but you
can’t make a living at it.”