Reserve a special parking space for Santa!
And please remember, Santa is a senior citizen. If he parks down the street or around the corner, and he has to walk all the way to your home or office he might be a bit winded or exhausted when he gets there. Santa’s heavy velvet suit gets very hot, even in December. If the visit is at your home, please leave an opening at the end of your driveway. Have some fun, and use a box, sawhorse, or chair; with a sign, “Reserved for Santa”. At a company facility, office building, or hotel; please plan for Santa to park in a saved handicap space. Again, you can mark this with a sign for your guests to enjoy. Santa wants to arrive fresh, and ready to bring the joy of the season to your special guests.

Have your gifts ready!
If Santa is to make his entrance with gifts, they should be labeled, easy to read, and fit into a big green bag, not weighing more than 50 lbs. We will put them in Santa’s sack! Additional gifts may be brought to Santa by a helper, or pre-placed beside his chair.

Get everyone together before Santa enters!
Timing is everything, and Santa will be with you for a limited amount of time. Santa will text a designated coordinator five minutes before he arrives. That’s your cue to get everyone together, maybe sing a Christmas song or two, and send someone outside to meet Santa, and coordinate presents in the Santa bag. Then Santa will arrive and join the festivities at the right moment. If you have a large group of children, it’s a good idea to have Mrs. Claus, or an enthusiastic helper, coordinate the order of the Santa visits, and introduce each child to Santa.

Have a sturdy chair for Santa to use!
Folding chairs, Rockers, and Low chairs are not good. A good Straight-back Dining Room chair, armless, works well. In order to have children sit on his knee, Santa must sit up “wide”, and on the edge of the chair. Santa should be able to sit comfortably and have a child on each knee.

Have your cameras ready!
Be sure the batteries are fully charged, or that you have all the film, video tape, etc. to take photos you want or need.

Place Santa’s chair near your Christmas tree, or in a Holiday setting!
Your photos will have more impact if the background has a festive look. If you don’t have a tree, placing a wreath, with a few Christmas cards or your children’s drawings on the wall can make a wonderful background. 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. Sliding glass doors do not make the best background for photos. Please do not put Santa next to any Fireplace, or Oven. Santa in his thick suit, thoroughly gets hot in Arizona. Remember he is wearing a full fur suit! We prefer no heater, and the AC thermostat set to 68 degrees. Thank you!

Think about photos with everyone!
Yes, some teenagers will shy away, or think it’s too childish to have a photo with Santa. But, before the session is over, most will get in the spirit, and will want to participate. Santa can stand up for a “buddy” photo with teens and adults. Remember to include the seniors in the audience. Take a photo with Santa and Grandma hugging. Nothing is more fun than having Santa ask Grandpa if he’s been a good boy! Have two bottles of water available by Santa & Mrs. Claus’ Chairs.

If there is a balance or payment due to Santa, please place it inside a Christmas card or envelope.
It never looks appropriate when someone gives wads of cash or a check to Santa. As Santa is departing, hand him an envelope and say, “Thank you, Santa, and here’s a Christmas card from all of us”.

Please Do Not Feed Santa!
Nothing looks worse than Santa smiling for a photo, and he has food stuck in his teeth, or food spilt on his beautiful red suit. If you would like, you may send him home with a to-go-box. He would be greatly appreciative. Especially if he is on a tight schedule.

Thank you and Have a Merry Christmas, and the Happiest New Year!