Santas for Hire

In the good old days, the role of Father Christmas usually fell to any rotund male friend or relative who did not mind the tropical heat while he went “Ho! Ho! Ho!” This homey arrangement, however, began to change with the proliferation of shopping centres and entertainment outlets sometime in 2000.

Bonny Ng, the 31-year-old founder of event services company Malaysia E-Village, says, today, there simply aren’t enough Santas to go round.

“Few people are keen on these kinds of jobs,” says Ng.

He says at this time of year, out of 100 calls he receives, a quarter are enquiring for Santas.

Ng admits frankly he is unable to meet many of his customers’ demands to have a big jolly man in a red suit to grace their events.

“Come Dec 24 and 25, it is near impossible to find anyone who is willing to play the part,” laments Ng.

He says he vividly remembers once having to don the Santa Claus costume himself though he knew full well his slender frame was not suited for the role.

“What to do? I had no choice because the intended Santa didn’t show up. Either I played the role myself or risk getting sued,” recalls Ng who had to stuff a pillow under the costume in an attempt to better look the part.

Payment rates are not exactly paltry. Santas for hire, reveals Ng, can cost the client as much as RM600 to RM800 an hour.

“At a rough estimate, the Malaysian market for Santas is easily worth RM50,000. We are talking about the months of November and December, which is the festive season. Over in Singapore, the market is worth maybe three of four times more due to the availability of bigger budgets and the willingness to attach monetary value to talent,” says Ng.

So, is it worthwhile to miss the Yuletide celebrations in favour of earning a few bucks?

Ng points out that, based on rough calculations at a minimal rate of RM250 to RM300 an hour, even a novice Santa should be able to make close to four appearances a day, which translates to potential earnings of RM1,000 in 24 hours.

“I wouldn’t discount the possibility of a Santa making up to RM30,000 within the festive period provided he has the discipline, time management skills and correct physical requirements. It can be done!” enthuses the event promoter.

For this reason Santa Roger, a 49-year-old Eurasian businessman from Penang, who prefers to keep his real identity a secret, become a star in the Santa-for-hire circuit.

Santa Roger, as he wants to be known, charges his clients, mostly from shopping centres, between RM600 and RM1,000 an hour. Every festive season, Roger goes through no less than RM300 in candy, packed in boxes each containing 18 bags of 60 pieces each.

Roger made his debut at the Penang Eurasian Association’s children’s Christmas party with a borrowed suit from the American Women’s Association on Dec 12, 1998.

He started approaching malls in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.

In the early days, the concept of hiring Santas was still very new. His first mall appearance at Gurney Plaza only required his presence for two sessions at RM250 an hour. However, Roger was back by popular demand the next year, earning between RM1,500 and RM2,000 for a total of 12 hours over six weekends.

Asked what it takes to become a star in the Santa circuit, Roger who now has six associates, a Mrs Claus and a Miss Clause working under him, says it is largely about looking the part.

Roger’s entire suit, including real leather boots and belt, beard and wig is estimated at RM5,000, with top-notch tailoring and authentic trim.

He may also be possibly the only Santa act with paper qualifications. Roger, says he paid RM2,000 to study the part of the man in red and has an “associate of arts in Santa Clausology” from the International University of Santa Claus in the US.

Another crucial factor for Roger is the holding on to family values. There is no place for mini skirts or hot shorts in his act.

“The rules include no drinking the day before an event and no smoking before an appearance. Santa must not smell of booze or cigarettes. He has to be clean. I also make it a point to refrain from too much garlic before my appearances,” he says.

He also adheres to a rule of conduct in public. For safety purposes, he does not carry babies and always opens his palms to the audience. One rule he holds sacred is to never allow anyone to yank away his beard. This is to preserve the magic.

“To the audience, Santa must be real,” he says.

So far this season, Roger has appeared at the 39-storey DataranMaybank building in Bangsar, with carolers in tow, been chauffeured to popular restaurant outlets in an air-cond van, appeared on TV3, been cast in a starring role in Mikayla and Santa, a 30-minute short movie over TV2, and interviewed by BBC radio. Per season, Roger makes about RM20,000. Of this, 30% goes towards paying his associates and 40% for accommodation.

Over at the nightclubs and entertainment outlets, the candidate requirements for spreading seasonal cheer take on very different criteria.

“Half of my business this festive season will come from this segment. These people want something out of the box,” says Ng the event organiser.

Enter the gorgeous Santarina!

Ng sources his candidates from model agencies, resumes he receives directly and contacts gained through his Facebook postings.

All payments are made on the spot immediately after the event. He also sees to their safety during assignments.

“The requirement for aspiring Santarinas is they must have fit physiques and good looks.

“There are different payment tiers for beginners (RM180 to RM250 per appearance) and the experienced (RM300 and above),” says Ng who will provide the costumes.

One top-notch Santarina, Betty Yasmina Mokhsin, 35, remembers gracing a retirement party for an oil and gas company and earning a few thousand ringgit in just four hours.

For such assignments, Betty, who is the director of Pola Costume Rental in Desa Sri Hartamas, asserts not any girl in a Santarina costume will do.

“In addition to having good social skills, one must have a great figure,” says Betty.

To keep fit, she runs 5km three times a week, does yoga for the same amount of time and swims regularly.

“Santarinas became popular with the mushrooming of entertainment outlets. By far, Kuala Lumpur is considered a main market for now,” says Ng.

Revealing his side as a showman, Ng who also hires out clowns, impersonation acts and dancers, offers ideas for the Santarina act. She may appear with a Santa Claus, as a Christmas caroler or even become a side act for an impersonator or magician. The possibilities are endless.

But lest we get carried away by the commercial aspects of it all, Roger reminds us not to forget the essence of Christmas — to bring joy to others.

“You must have a true passion to want to make others happy,” he concludes.

Source: The Star Online