Handy Hints for Corporate Parties

Handy Hints for a Visit from Santa

To a Corporate/Employees Only Party

By Santa Tim Connaghan

Guidelines for company parties and Employee oriented events with few or no children attending. These events are usually very social events designed for employees and their guests, with a banquet or lots of food, live entertainment and dancing, and generally no children.

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Have your camera/s ready. Be sure to have your film, videotape and batteries necessary to take the photos you want or need to get. Be sure to recharge your video camera batteries. If the photos are to go into folders or attached to special frames, make sure you have all the supplies and staffing you need. Generally guests can pick up their photos at the end of the event. If photos are a bit pricey, many companies now take lots of digital photos and set up a web page where guests can view the photos and download them at their leisure.
Reserve a special parking place for Santa. It should be right where he is visiting. If he has to park away from your event, he could be winded & exhausted when he gets there. Remember, he’s a Senior Citizen, wearing a heavy velvet suit that gets very hot. We always budget about five minutes for parking. Any more time than five minutes, is part of your allotted time. If the visit is at a factory or warehouse facility, have a reserved parking space for Santa. Put a temporary barrier in the space. Have some fun and put a sign out “Reserved for Santa!” Or back one car down the driveway with a space in front. When Santa calls that he is there, who ever greets him outside, can pull the car up in the driveway and Santa can park right behind. If your event is at an office building or hotel, try to make arrangements for Santa to park in a valet or loading area. Again you can mark the area with a fun sign. This makes it easier for him to be fresh and ready to bring joy to your guests.
Have your gifts ready. Santa does not bring any candy canes or gifts with him. He will hand out your candy or gifts if you wish, but you must let us know ahead of time that this is what you want. Santa’s job is to be out there and entertaining your guests and employees. So please have any gifts ready to pass out
Welcoming the Guests - is probably one of the best ways to use Santa at a corporate, or all-employee, event. Santa can be at the entrance to your event, just past your registration or check-in table. He can officially welcome everyone to the party and invite them to have a picture taken at that time. This is the best time to take photos of the employees and guests as everyone arriving is looking their best. Once the event gets going, the room will warm up and if there is dancing, it will really warm up. The men will start removing their jackets, hair-dos start to fall, etc. If you are not planning a photographer, Santa can still greet your guests, and some of them always have a camera or a camera phone.
Have a sturdy chair for Santa to sit in. Usually at corporate or adult events, the guests sometimes feel awkward sitting on Santa's Lap. They often prefer if Santas Stands. Ladies like this especially if they have a nice dress or gown they want to be seen in. It is kind of like the photos you take on cruise ships. However if Santa is to sit for photos, folding chairs, plastic chairs, and low chairs (the one’s you sink into) are not good. Santa likes a chair that is sturdy and stable. A good straight-back dining chair, with no arms, works well. He should be able to sit comfortably with the chair supporting him plus a person on each knee. And please no executive chairs with wheels!
Place the chair near your Christmas tree or in a holiday setting. Maybe in front of a decorated wall or any festive type of backdrop. Your photos will have more impact. Place a wreath, a few Christmas cards or your children’s drawings on the wall to make a wonderful difference. Leave a foot or two between the chair and the tree or wall. This will allow room for others to gather around and behind Santa’s chair for group photos. Fireplaces do look nice but remember putting Santa too close to a real fire is not good for his comfort or health, especially when he is wearing heavy velvet and fur.
Santa can mingle and visit tables, after all of the guests arrive and if there is any time left for the period you have booked him. He generally goes from table to table to say hello and to pose for groups photos, etc.
If there is a balance or payment due to Santa, place it inside a Christmas card or envelope. It never looks appropriate when someone gives cash to Santa. So, as Santa is departing, hand him the envelope and say, “Thank you Santa and here is a Christmas card from all of us.”

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This page was last edited June 12, 2010

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