A big shout-out to the Three Wise Guys of Christmas: Washington Irving, John Pintard, and Clement Clarke Moore. These New York City gentlemen shared a fondness for St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Dutch New Amsterdam.

In their imaginings, a Dutch Sinterklaas (St. Nick) flew over New York. Through writings and images, Sinterklaas kept getting rosier and Clausier.

The artistic Dutch revival "remembered" a Christmas that never actually existed, one that glorified Old Days before the British occupied Manhattan during the Revolutionary War.

Here's how each of these men contributed to the legend of Santa Claus:

✅Merchant John Pintard, founder of the New-York Historical Society, thought robust Christmas celebrations might release workers' pent-up energies. He petitioned for St. Nicholas to be the patron saint of New York City. He also observed Dec. 6 as the Feast of St. Nicholas.

✅Writer Washington Irving wrote A History of New York, a whimsical history of early New York that mentioned a flying figure in the sky. The book was published on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, 1809. Irving also was a co-founder of the St. Nicholas Society.

✅Scholar Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "T'was the Night Before Christmas." He wrote the poem to entertain his nine children at his Chelsea estate. The poem first appeared in the Troy Sentinel in 1823, making this year its 200th anniversary.

Sources: New-York Historical Society, Wikipedia, Sunnyside in Tarrytown, NY

Visit me at mrsclausnyc.com ❤❤❤❤

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year! It's lasted so long partly because it feels so good to recite out loud. It has "sound pleasure."

Last week, you learned about alliteration, which is when repeated consonants fall near each other in a text. Think: Meatless Monday or Tom Turkey.

Assonance is similar to alliteration but it involves repeated vowel sounds, regardless of the consonants around it.

If your mouth forms the same shape when reciting certain vowels, you may have found assonance, also known as vowel rhyme.

Here are examples:

🟩"Creature was stirring" [Hear the ur?]

🟩"Nestled all snug in their beds" [Hear the eh?]

🟩 "Moon on the breast of the new ..." [Hear the ooo?]

🟩 "Sleigh and eight tiny rein ... " [Hear the aaa?]

Stay tuned for more fun facts about this famous poem.

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.❤️❤️

I dedicate my poem, "I Put on My Garment," to Mrs. Clauses, and all women, who face criticism for their clothing and hair choices. I was inspired by actor Sheryl Lee Ralph. Her appearance as Mrs. Claus in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was a revelation.

Here's two things for Mrs. Clauses to remember:

✅We know how to hit our professional marks.

✅We wear what makes us so happy we can't keep from singing.

In the Claus community, we can fear changes, including necessary tweaks to our image, from more comfortable shoes to hats that stay on in the wind. Sometimes, updates get us closer to the very heart of our own Creator. 🎨 In adapting, we are better able to radiate and serve while welcoming the living spirits of those no longer with us.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I Put on My Garment

by Ann Votaw, Mrs. Claus NYC

I put on my garment

made of breath,

of leaves that fall.

Their death

instructs eternity.

I am queen in my garment

that brushes roots and what came before.

I lift my silver head

to cathedral

and great sky.

A fine city day.

Blue.

Cold.

It is fall going into

darkest winter.

I fear nothing

in this fullness.

Not the roar of the subway,

Nor my cat’s purr

gone still in sleep.

A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year! 🌲🌲"

Why is it such a beloved poem?

One reason is that reading it feels good. The language provides sound pleasure.

An example of sound pleasure is the use of alliteration, when repeated consonant sounds are positioned closely together within the text.

Here are some examples of alliteration in the poem:

🟩"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer!"

🟩"On, Comet! on, Cupid!"

🟩 "The prancing and pawing of each little hoof."

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year!

Fun fact: The famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore is written in Anapestic Tetrameter.

Last week, we learned that an anapest is a “foot” consisting of a “da da DUM.” Tetrameter is four “da da DUM”s in one line.

Try clapping out the rhythm and notice the words that get the most emphasis:

🟩T'was the NIGHT before CHRISTmas when ALL through the HOUSE🏠

🟩Not a CREAture was STIRRing Not EVEn a MOUSE.

This is a great comedic and narrative device. Another poem that uses this is Dr. Suess's "Yertle the Turtle." Take a look below:

🟩And toDAY the Great YERtle, that MARvelous HE.

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy. As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com if you’d like a fun lecture, online or in person. Follow my lessons on Instagram and Facebook.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" turns 200 this year!

Last night, I hosted an online lesson about the poem’s form, history, and legacy. It was a practice session for me. I want to be conversant on-the-fly. Four professional Clauses and my aunt showed up on Zoom. We practiced saying “anapestic tetrameter” 10 times. No one got hurt!

The more I dive into the poem, the more I learn and enjoy.

Anapestic tetrameter is a poetic form from Polish literature that includes four poetic "feet," or rhythm patterns, in one line.

For example: T'was the NIGHT before CHRISTmas when ALL through the HOUSE

Try clapping out the rhythm and notice the words that get the most emphasis.

Stay tuned for more fun facts about this famous poem.

As a Mrs. Claus who can work alone without a Santa, I want to offer fun educational sessions about poetry. Write to me at mrsclausnyc@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for weekly poetry lessons.

“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore, turns 200 this year.

To honor the poet and poem, best known as "T’was the Night Before Christmas,” I developed educational material. I am happy to lead short 30-minute talks for individuals or groups in-person or on-line.

Here are three reasons I’m qualified to teach a class on this Christmas poem:

1) I am a professional Mrs. Claus.

That means I have been to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland Michigan. I have also worked at major New York City department stores.

As a founding president (now former president) of the New York City Santas, I hosted a meeting with a curator from the New-York Historical Society, who told us about C.C. Moore and the museum’s desk, on which he probably penned the poem.

Finally, I am often asked to read the poem. Some party organizers ask that I skip the “smoking” part, when Santa’s pipe smoke “encircled his head like a wreath.” Other places don’t care and let me recite the piece in its entirety, the way it first appeared in the Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823.

2) During the pandemic, I gravitated toward poetry as an essential art form.

I didn’t have the bandwidth to read novels. Covid living was a metaphor for poetry, condensing so many emotions into confined physical spaces.

I picked up my old copies of books by Walt Whitman and Robert Frost. Then I ventured into the works of U.S. poet laureates Billy Collins, Joy Harjo, and Ada Limón.

Finally, I took classes, including an exceptional online ModPo class through the University of Pennsylvania.

I learned about Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman as the Adam and Eve of modern American poetry. Out of that lineage came the Imagist, Dadaist, Communist, Harlem Renaissance, Beat, New York School, and Language poets.

So while C.C. Moore is pre-Emily and Walt, I can see how he was inspired by European poetry traditions. (He writes in anapestic tetrameter!) But he adapted old forms to American narratives. In doing so, he asserted himself in a new way in a new country.

3) I have a Sightseeing Guide License in New York City.

My nerd-dom is official. For the past three seasons, I have been leading various on-line talks about Santa history. It’s a subject that makes me feel like an explorer.

Stay tuned. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @mrsclausnyc to learn more. I will soon be looking for a test audience of non-paying but supportive participants.

So many reds, friends.

Each delicious and full of meaning.

I have four basic Mrs. Claus looks for functionality and to prevent clashing with Santa Claus’ red suit. If I’m working with a new Santa, someone I’ve never met, I’ll ask for photos of his look. And then, like Ginger Rogers dancing backwards in heels, I compromise. I find outfit pieces that might make us look like a pair.

I don’t mind doing this. I also have a green jacket, to prevent clashing at all.

Yet I do notice that Santa is often the main fashion editor. Just like in non-character life, I notice that gender plays a role.

Here’s a poem I wrote:

Photo by Chad Kraus Photography

During the holidays, I’m an independent Mrs. Claus who works alone or with a few different Santas. Party planners often turn to me and Santa for advice on how to organize visits. 

First, thank you for asking! September through November is prime time to hire members of the Claus family. If you’ve already hired one or both of us for a scheduled event, you can always finesse. Even if it’s mid-December, many Santas and Mrs. Clauses might be happy to strategize with you.

Second, think of your celebration as a sandwich. The two slices of bread are the Clauses’ departure and arrival. What’s in between are the delicious layers. 

Here are 5 party planner pointers when you hire a Mr. and Mrs. C:

Memorable visits are short, from 30 to 60 minutes. Longer than that and we become an awkward member of the family. Everyone knows that Santa’s busy, so guests understand his exit, especially if the time slot is accurately marketed. On your flyers and social media posts, advertise a brief schedule, such as:

• 6 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the plaza

• 6:15 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus light the tree and pose for photos

• 7 PM - Santa and Mrs. Claus wave goodbye

In these communications, commit to two or three highlights and when they happen. Stick to these times, so that you don’t have guests waiting for hours to see Santa. Remember you are dealing with overscheduled adults and overly stimulated children.

Plan backward in regard to your ideal time slot. How do you want your North Pole guests to leave your party — as a final walk-through or maybe a group photo? Leaving is just as important as arriving, especially for children who might be upset if the Big Guy suddenly disappears. As a group, sing one or two verses of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The song is a classic, a perfect segue.

Consider the type of sandwich. Photographs are usually the main “protein” of a holiday event involving St. Nick. Wonderful! Considering that most people have smartphone cameras, talk through a traffic flow pattern before the party. Set out a comfortable chair by the tree, out of the way of wait staff and caterers. Offer a stool for people who don’t want to sit in Santa’s lap, an increasing trend. Have an elf, staff person, or Mrs. Claus direct the photo line with clear entry and exit points for the excited youngsters. Designate someone to take photos for families, so Mom and Dad don’t have to be excluded. Offer a place to hide coats. Be sure to include vertical pictures, which look best on Instagram, and remind guests to tag your establishment.

Other activities could include a horse and buggy ride, a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the presentation of awards, or an ugly sweater contest with the Clauses as judges.

For tree lightings, invite us to preside near the tree. Do a countdown from 10 to 1 before you flip the switch. It’s such a simple piece of drama, but adults weep over this. So test the lights beforehand. Have some jokes handy in case there’s a glitch. Guests empathize with Charlie Brown moments, especially when you maintain merriness.

Warmup by building community. Successful events magnify all the resources around you. If the Girl Scouts want to sing carols, welcome them with a three-song limit. Invite elected officials to say a few words. They love being photographed with happy constituents doing good things for others. Allow leaders in your establishment to trumpet the year’s accomplishments and explain how to donate a toy for the annual Toy Drive. Maybe do a trivia contest or provide face painting for the kids. Offer a working mic to amplify quiet voices in large rooms. You are building anticipation and a network of positive change, not just for today but the year to come. Be bold. Be generous with your spirit, free of charge.

Grand entrances must spark joy. Now here we are at the top of our sandwich, the part that makes you want to take a bite. Coordinate, coordinate, coordinate. You know how dog owners talk to their pets before a walk? Are your ready for Santa? Huh? Huh? Who's a good boy?

Do that.

Make sure the Clauses are just around the corner, ready to enter away from their parked and hidden cars. (Note: We are costume characters who may also be wearing gloves while navigating umbrellas on rainy nights. We can’t answer every nervous text or call. We are aware.) 

We love walking into a party with our arms up, reveling in all of the joy of the season. Let us be your king and queen and consider the most beautiful spaces in your room. Maybe you have a balcony, a red carpet, or French doors. Allow us to linger near these places. Your guests will love the theater. Never underestimate the power of memory.

I am a Mrs. Claus during the holidays. I have performed for the Clinton family, guests at major department stores, and many, many families. My website is mrsclausnyc.com. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @mrsclausnyc.

My grandmother loved Christmas. When I visited her senior community dressed as Mrs. Claus, she introduced me to all of her friends. 

“This is my granddaughter, Mrs. Claus,” she said. She was serious and proud. She might as well have said, “This is my granddaughter, the Disney princess.”

And she had some wigs she was reluctant to wear. For some reason, she never fully committed to them.

And now all this hair is mine. And Grandma comes with me everywhere I go. I dedicate this season to her. I miss her very much.

Let me introduce my synthetic follicles to you in order:

The Adalaide (Paula Young)

She travels well. She just needs a good shake out. I wore her to the Claus Family Reunion in Gatlinberg, TN.

The Daisy (Paula Young)

She is my favorite. She also travels well but has more movement. Think Daisy Buchanon or Debby Harry (Hairy). I like the icy color, a bit more magical.

Untitled (Paula Young)

This one probably has a name, but I don’t know it. My mom sent it to me in an envelope. I took it out and wore it while cooking dinner one night, just to see how it felt. I felt like I was channeling my beloved grandma.

Now here are others.

Mrs. Garret

My first wig needs lots of care. I’ve taken her to wig artists who shake their heads. She is just on that magic side of inexpensive and delicate. One would have to take down her bun, wash her, and start anew. She looks good under a bonnet.

The Janice

This is a new one that I like for online visits. I love the color and movement. But this doesn’t work well with a collar in the wind. The strands stick to my lipstick.

Marie Antoinette

Love this one. Just fun and messy. Cute as a contrast to the bright red I wear sometimes.

And now, enjoy a parade. See if you can correctly guess which one is which. And stay tuned for my beard collection, my new emergency collection, in case I work with a Santa who doesn’t have his own whiskers.

Photo by Michelle V. Agins of The New York Times

Last week, New York City companies were required to list salary ranges in their job descriptions. The New York Times had fun and made a quiz.

I took it.

And guess what?

The first question pertains to the hourly rate of Macy’s elves. I guessed correctly.

Hmmm.

Give it a go.

Hint. Aim low.

Photo by Kevin Hagen, Wall Street Journal, December 2019

My Mrs. Claus status is on my day-job resume. It’s a small reference. You have to squint to find it. But it’s there. Sometimes, employers stumble on my Santa side hustle. Conversations are delightful. Workers with alter egos are awesome. Here’s why:

1. Costuming allows you to imagine a different life for yourself. Instead of using phrases like, “When I am this age, I will … ,” a Santa speaks in the present with language that is true now.

2. Monday morning gives you secret rock star status. While co-workers drag themselves out of bed, you radiate from the weekend’s festivities.

3. Your daily wardrobe is out of Central Casting. Superman wore briefs over tights, a human resources nightmare. But Clark Kent sported thick-rimmed glasses and character-driven jackets that had a style all their own.

4. You have a backstory. During meetings, you reflect on it and smile.

5. You see possibilities where others don’t, while never leaving the office. That means you might be the person to dance at the water cooler.

The American Cyclopædia, 1879, v. 12, p. 379.

Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop, is considered the patron saint of New Amsterdam, what would later become New York City.

In the 1600s, the Dutch West India Company had a goal: profit.

Yet colonists also had a fascination with Saint Nicholas, also known as Sinterklaas. Based on a historically real person who died on December 6, Sinterklaas came to represent children … and … all sorts of wayward sinners, including sailors, merchants, thieves, beer makers, single people, and students. 

Could you not ask for a more appropriate saint for the area?

In Knickerbocker's History of New York, published on December 6, 1809, author Washington Irving further developed Saint Nicholas as a character unique to the city’s earliest days.

Sinterklaas Festival Day is still celebrated in the Hudson Valley, a playground for other Irving characters, including Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle. 

Today in New York City, St. Nicholas is represented as Santa Claus, a rosy-cheeked harbinger of joy. Even hardened New Yorkers get sappy at the sight of a corner Kringle.

And St. Nicholas’ roots here are deep. Santa’s origins include commercialism, politics, religion, true altruism, and, well, commercialism.

Did you enjoy watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center? Well, a site on 48th and Fifth Avenue was once home to St. Nicholas Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. The sale of the church made way for the Sinclair Oil Company, a property within Rockefeller Center.

Before the church was torn down in 1949, it housed the oldest congregation in Manhattan dating back to 1628.

Theodore Roosevelt went to church there.

Today, Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church is the oldest corporation in the United States. Its 1696 charter dates back to English rulers William and Mary.

I am a licensed NYC tour guide and the founding president of the New York City Santas. I am a history nerd who can give interesting onsite or online Santa history tours.

Related Article: NYC Santas Visit the Desk of Clement Clarke Moore Virtually

I am also Scrappy the Elf as well as Mrs. Claus.

On my first day of work as an elf at a secret department store, that rhymes with “oomingdales,” a family of three came into the sixth floor Santaland.

The mother and father had an infant in a stroller. They oohed and ahhhed at their little one’s expressions of amazement.

“I don’t know why we’re so into this,” they told me. “We’re Jewish.”

I took them aside and said, “Little secret here. So is Santa.”

Santa wished them a Happy Hanukkah and they left thrilled.

In New York City, Santa is a symbol of non-denominational joy.

Tomorrow is Monday, December 6. At sundown, Hanukkah, a minor Jewish holiday, ends in its eighth day.

Happy Hanukkah to everyone!

My Mrs. Claus suit and the Winzer Cleaner wrappings.

I’m proud of two things in particular in this photo: my custom-made Mrs. Claus suit and the wrapper from Winzer Cleaners.

My outfit is now three seasons old. It needed some mild tailoring on the skirt and petticoat. And the jacket had never been cleaned because I had no idea how to go about that. I spent too much money for a local cleaner to ruin it.

So I took it to Ernest Winzer Cleaners in Morris Heights, Bronx. Ten miles from Times Square, Winzer is the go-to cleaner for Broadway shows. In fact, this third-generation mom and pop won a Tony for Excellence in 2018. Read this great New York Post story about Winzers’ Tony.

Or watch this video of co-owners Bruce and Sarah Barish here and try not to cry. “We’re not a normal family,” the Bruce said in his Tony acceptance speech. “We don’t take vacations.”

When I arrived at Winzer, Sarah gave me a recommendation. She preferred my green petticoat to the reddish velvet skirt. Hmmm. I’m listening, Sarah.

I showed her where I wanted the skirts taken in. Two employees came forward asking questions and making efficient notes.

The huge room behind them was as alive as Santa’s workshop with workers ironing, stitching, and doing all sorts of things I don’t understand. In September, before Broadway opened, I saw all sorts of complicated garments hanging on conveyer belt lines.

My jacket would be expensive to clean because staff would either have to remove decorative buttons and appliques or clean the jacket by hand. I suggested they clean the jacket by hand and then to wait another three seasons before getting another cleaning.

Later that week, she called. My garment was done. When I entered the shop, I gasped when I saw a long, long flamenco costume that seemed to float in the air like a bride in a Chagall painting. Sarah motioned for me to come into the office. My suit hung on a hook by the windows.

“Merry Christmas!” exclaimed Bruce, whose desk was around a corner. I never saw his face but I correctly guessed that he was the grandson of Al, an earlier owner. As Sarah finalized my purchase, I examined all the autographed celebrity photos that hung in the office. Everyone from James Earl Jones to the New York City Ballet had had dealings with Winzer.

I was really, really impressed.

Here is what Bruce says on his LinkedIn profile page:

“My family has been dry cleaning for Broadway and the public since 1908. If it ran on Broadway, we dry cleaned it. Chances are if your family is from NYC, we dry cleaned for your family as well.”

Ever since I got my outfit back, I have been trying to get a Q & A interview with Bruce. I thought the New York City Santas would love to hear what he had to say. Plus, I’m super nosy. But Bruce and I keep missing each other on the phone. As this is the busiest time of year for him, my gift is me not calling him. Instead, I’ll just thank him and Sarah for taking such good care of my suit.

It’s not just any outfit, after all.

In a way, it’s the face I present to the world. So in taking care of my clothes, they took care of me.

Related Article: A Broadway Dresser Attacks Sweat, A Hot Topic for Santas of the North Pole

Related Article: How To Gift Your Claus Clothing

Thank you to Santas from all across the United States who participated in the NYC Santas second annual reading of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. 

And if you’d like to learn more about this poem, read more about the NYC Santas speaking with a curator from the New-York Historical Society in 2020. Have you ever heard of the neighborhood of Chelsea in Manhattan? That was the name of Clement Clarke Moore’s estate that later made up the famous section of the city.

Finally, welcome our newest NYC Santas officer, Bonnie Patrick-Mattalian, who is our Social Media Coordinator. We still need to fill the Membership Coordinator role this year. If you have a few extra hours every month and would like to welcome new members into our organization, please send an email to nycsantas@gmail.com.

We hope you have a wonderful season!

Kathryn Rohe

Kathryn Rohe is a costume design professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. A long-time dresser for Broadway’s Lion King and Mama Mia!, she knows so much about the little things. Here she is with her little Nalas and little Simbas:

Kathryn Rohe worked with the children in Broadway’s Lion King.

On Monday, May 3, she presented “Never Bunch Up Again” for the NYC Santas. Click here to watch. While the Santas enjoyed learning about the components of a perfect pair of pants, they took notes when Kathryn mentioned sweat.

For Santas, overheating is a hot topic. And having dealt with Julie Taymor’s massive costumes in the Lion King, Kathryn knows a thing or two about keeping actors cool and clean. Here is a principal dresser for the Lion King.

This Broadway dresser tends to the performer throughout the show to make sure she is comfortable and able to function when she can’t use her hands.

Ice packs come in two forms: the kind you break and the kind your freeze. The kind you break are single use. The kind you freeze are reusable. Experiment with sewing pockets into your cotton undershirt. Two pockets can hold ice packs around the front ribs. One pocket can hold an ice pack in the back.

Hand-held fans are great during extremely hot events. Kathryn shared backstage photos of Lion King actors finding relief with mini fans. 

Here are some of Kathryn’s other tips to treat smells and stains:

1. Bacteria causes odors in fabric, a no no for Santas. Kill germs by spraying a solution of one part cheap vodka and one part water onto a sweaty garment. Don’t douse but cover a large area. Let the garment air dry. Febreze is fine too, but Kathryn prefers non-scented and non-synthetic products to prevent buildup and allergic reactions. End Bac can be dangerous if used in a poorly ventilated area, but it’s good for shoes.

2. Wear a white 100% cotton T-shirt under your Claus clothing. If you wear a wicking shirt, your sweat may go into your expensive one-of-a-kind Santa suit, exactly where you do not want it to go. But test out both fabrics and decide what works for you. People in the Middle Ages wore heavy garments on top and cotton chemises underneath to protect their clothing.

3. Dress shields or “pit pads” are your underarm friends. Try products like Kleinert’s Disposable Dress Shields. Kathryn has made her own sweat barriers by cutting up umbrellas to make layers between costumes and an actor who was a “profuse sweater.” You can add snaps to these “shields” to snap them on and off the costume for easier cleaning. Wash these guards in a laundry bag to keep them from getting lost in the washer.

4. Underarm ventilation may work. An eyelet or invisible hole in the underarm seam might be a great cooling system. Kathryn thought of this during the conversation. Talk to your tailor.

5. Treat makeup stains right away. Products include Fels-Naptha soap, baby wipes, and hair spray.  

6. Find a good dry cleaner that understands costuming. For New Yorkers, Winzer Dry Cleaning has a reputation for handling specialty theatrical garments. But you can ask around and find a business that really cares about your expensive clothing. When it comes to white furry cuffs, consider detachable pieces that can be cleaned separately to avoid the dreaded “pinks” so common in the Santa world. 

“If it does not come with a Santa guarantee,” Kathryn said in the talk, “it cannot be any good.”

Related Article: How to Gift Your Claus Clothing

Related Article: Does Your Dry Cleaner Have a Tony? Mine Does

Monday, May 3, 6 - 7 PM Eastern Standard Time: “Costuming 101 with a Behind-the-Scenes Dresser on Broadway” Here’s the link.

Kathryn Rohe is a costume designer at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. A long-time dresser for Broadway’s Lion King and Mama Mia!, she knows how quality garments contribute to an actor’s character. Costumes can also lead to problems, like overheating and bunching up. Have a question about one of your problematic Santa pieces, from wigs to coats? Send a photo to nycsantas@gmail.com. During our interview and Q&A, Kathryn can come to the rescue.

Side note: She has also helped with costumes on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ever heard of it?

Past meetings:

Read: Get on the Podcast Sleigh with Louise Cornetta

Read: Storytelling Gets Real with Ann Shapiro

Louise Cornetta

“Less is more,” says Louise Cornetta, a program director at ESPN, where she specializes in podcasts dedicated to sports. She spoke to the New York City Santas on April 5, 2021 in a virtual session called “Podcasting Dos and Don’ts.”

For Santas wanting to produce their own radio-style shows, like the Santa Cast Podcast, Louise recommends keeping programs short and conversational. Fans tend to leave a program after the hour mark, so if you only have 20 minutes of an interview, use it. Your audience will appreciate your brevity.

Also, “it isn’t enough just to be a Santa,” she says. You have to stand out from the millions of other shareable audible programs by having an angle and a personal connection to the audience. ESPN’s Katie Nolan, for example, hosts the popular show “Sports?”, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with comedians, scientists, and all sorts of other sports fans. People respond to Nolan’s friendliness and her “tangential” coverage.

Below are 7 tips for successfully launching your own audio series, perhaps something along the line of “A Day in the Life of Santa”:

1. Don’t spend more than $100. All you need is a medium-priced mic. Try free editing software like Audacity. 

2. Decide on a platform. Try popular ones like Spotify or Apple.

3. Record sessions for the future. Anticipate not having time to do a podcast in December. Schedule programs now that will go live later on.

4. Learn how to “verbal font.” Because your listeners can’t see you, repeat your guest’s names frequently, as in “What do you think of that, Santa Bob?” and “Thank you for asking, Santa Pete.”

5. Get feedback from your audience. Set up free voicemail boxes for your fans to record their responses to your program. Use Twitter to send out polls that garner audience engagement.

6. Push out your content. Once you have finished a podcast, post it on Twitter to build awareness. Make a short video snippet of your recording session on Zoom and post to Instagram with a link to your podcast.

7. Listen to other podcasts and cross promote. Fans love to hear recommendations for related podcasts. One of the best ways to gain an audience is by having your podcast advertised on another related podcast. Reach out to hosts of your favorite Claus-friendly programs. See if they will advertise your program on theirs.

Upcoming Meetings

Stay tuned for our May 3 meeting about how to avoid wardrobe malfunctions and stay cool under all your Santa gear. To sign up and learn more about our guest Kathryn Rohe, a Broadway dresser, read Join Our Santa Costume Conversation: Never Bunch Up Again. We will be taking off the month of June in hopes of meeting in person in July for Christmas in July.

Past Meetings

Congratulations to our recent guest Ann Shapiro for her 20 years with Connecticut Storytelling Center. In case you missed our March meet, read Storytelling Gets Real with Ann Shapiro.