Helpful hints.

Dear Santa Client:

Thank you so much for booking me for a memorable visit this year. I want to give you a few tips to make things run smoothly. Although this list may appear long, it is based on years of experience. Thanks for helping!

Cell Phone

Before the event, make sure we have each other’s mobile phone number, so we can get in touch the day of the event. I will text you when I am 5–10 minutes from arrival.

Parking

Please make sure there is a parking spot for me. I’m an old elf carrying a bag of toys in a heavy suit in the south.

Temperature

I am from the North Pole. Please have the AIR CONDITIONING ON AT 68 degrees, NOT heat.

Water

Please have one bottle of cold water for Santa and hand it to me on request.

Seating

Have a place for me to sit that is sturdy, ideally no arms, and please not near a roaring fire. For quality pictures, you’ll want to avoid backgrounds like windows that may affect good lighting for the picture.

Presents

If you have provided presents for me to pick up:

• Above all — ensure every child has a gift.
• Let me know where you have placed them and have the names clearly printed on each package.
• Please make sure you have the child’s first AND last name.
• All presents should be small gifts no bigger than 8″ × 8″. I put the gifts in my toy bag and present them towards the end of the visit.
• The tags should be taped securely, and NO GIFT BAGS or stockings, as things fall out easily.

Arrival

If I am visiting your home, please have the kids INSIDE during the time I arrive and not outside playing, as I don’t want kids to see me getting out of my sleigh.

Home Entrance

Try to keep a clear path for me to come into the home, so I am not tripping over things as I carry my bag into your home. Please put up the dogs and cats during our visit. Try to keep the kids a few feet away from me, especially if I am bringing in presents.

Kids I Will Be Visiting

On small home visits with fewer than 10 children, feel free to provide me a list of all the kids, their names, ages, male or female is helpful, and maybe two or three things about each child — like their pet’s name, Elf on the Shelf name, teacher’s name, hobbies, what they want for Christmas, etc.

Photos

Take as many pics as you wish. A few considerations:

• If your baby or child is screaming, it is NOT a good time for the child or for me. I hold one child at a time. Large children or adults can be seated next to me or standing, as you please.
• Santa loves pets, but pet dander might irritate others that Santa visits, so please keep the furry friends elsewhere during my visit.
• Santa loves food and drink (gotta keep my jolly figure!) but please keep food and drinks out of picture distance.
• I know the poem refers to Santa with a pipe, but I gave that up many years ago, and Mrs. Claus doesn’t like the smell on the suit. Please don’t smoke during my visit.
• Please don’t use the pictures for commercial use or advertising.

Payment

Simplest is to pay in advance with Zelle. For those paying in cash, please put it in an envelope and mark it “Wish List for Santa” to hand me on the way out.

Grace

Finally, please allow Santa to be early or running late by 10 minutes either way. For the most part, I am ALWAYS on time.

Remember to book early for next season. I normally book up 4–7 months in advance.

Thank you for the business! Hope to see you NEXT YEAR.

— Santa Strickland