Today I begin a new Blog (My fourth in addition to Grampa in Training (GiT), Teaching Moment Boosters (Vitamin TMB) and our The Milo S. Howe Family Organization (MUSH-fo' U)
Santa first became real for me at a smoky VFW party my dad took me to at age 4 in Laramie, Wyoming--I think! The image: a skinny ancient man, bending towards me from a chair--dozens of veterans standing around me--a little toy and great relief he didn't take me onto his lap.
Fast forward to age 5--and a church party at the Laramie Ward--big crowd and a hale and hearty railroader Bill Bree in a cheap suit. My first experience with a stage Santa--and little wrapped orange and candycane treats.
A Christmas family reunion at Grampa Walter Howe's home in Kearney Nebraska--and my third Santa at age 6--Grampa himself in a "paper" suit!!! Home movies confirm it. The bells were real--likely real Nebraska sleigh bells from a ranch where he once fixed them in the machine shop during a rainy day. This Santa --with my DNA -- had a bigger wrapped gift.
Since then I've combined the best of all three of those early Santa experiences -- Small parties (my favorite) Stage Santa around the United States and on Network TV (with my beloved Osmond family) and Personal Appearances with the most authentic gear we could afford. Always with a little gift (more fun than food---Stickers not Treats).
After more than 30 years experience I've collected notebooks filled with tips and tricks to help you produce your own North Pole Field Office.
RULE 1 : Partner with a Partner- Rosie, my wonderful wife, runs this business from a little roling chair at a tiny desk in a corner of our front room. Everything we've developed is documented carefully in a stack of red three ring notebooks--one for every five years.
RULE 2 : Santa is Show Business - Rosie does the business I get to do the Show! One of your partners has to keep track of reoccuring clients, make sure the money get's deposited and schedules don't over lap. I get to concentrate on how I look Santa makeup, costume(s), face(s); How I sound (voice (s), instrument(s) piano, concertina, reed flute, and one day: violin, guitar; what I do on stage: Santa stunts, skits, jokes, games; what I give: (Pass on big gifts, pass on small treats, stickers (preferable to candy) lessons, parables, and memories.)
RULE 3 : If they are uncomfortable - They won't ask you back! Nearly 30 years ago A lovely Gramma, long since departed who lived up the street with her gentle husband, long since passed, engaged me to entertain their extended family party. The kids were all tiny tots--babes in arms and precocious toddlers. It was fun until "selfish" broke out. At the time I was into teasing--sometimes pretty merciless teasing--and to curb the kids whining and bad behavior, I offered up some of my own.
That family party went on and on, year after year until the tots became twenty-somethings. I now teased a lot less, but the rebellion took different forms--boredom, eye rolling (only by the a couple of kids) The family rotated homes. The family grew and suddenly we were way too big for the room. Hard to play games when everyone is sitting on each other's laps. That cut out some of my best stuff.
Three years ago I got a call in November from the oldest daughter. She was kind, but firm. The teasing had to stop. Some of the kids didn't like it. Please don't tell Gramma, but since she paid the bill and scheduled the date, the only thing to be done was to show up--and by the way, the party would be held at a trendy bowling alley.
I was reduced from star to gift butler. The money was the same, but the emphasis was disbursed, diminished and carefully re-choreographed to take focus off any teasing I might offer.
Actually, it was a good thing--and my swan song to them. I've watched the obituaries and kept track with mutual friends--and, I honestly don't know, but Gramma must have passed on-- The family hasn't called back. Even Santa can't please all of the people, all of the time!
And yet-- there are several terrific families in Davis County (North of here) who arranged to give me quite a nice gift on the night of my birthday (December 9th) during my visit to their Christmas family reunion. It was a well considered, good size resin statue of Santa in an aloha shirt under a palm tree in baggy pants and sandals and a cold drink. (my vision of the future that sits center stage at my desk as a reminder of the great love we share)--no merciless teasing there! JWH
J. Wizard Howe, World Class Santa
wizardhowe@gmail.com
Creator: Santa's Cosmic Sleigh!
Howe to Build Your Own North Pole
Posts
