For five days in September, bearded men from across the globe gathered in Denver for Professional Santa Claus School.
The school has graduated about 2,500 Santas during its 32 years in operation, said Susen Mesco, school president.
As one of three Santa schools in the country, Mesco said there’s already a waiting list for the 2016 program.
“Everybody who has a Santa suit now can market themselves as a Santa, but to be a quality Santa, you need training,” she said, noting that a Santa without training might earn $600 a season, while a properly trained Santa could take home $10,000 within eight weeks of graduation.
At Santa school, Mesco said aspiring Kris Kringles learn everything from sign language and Spanish phrases to how to work with live reindeer and take care of their beards.
“We teach Santas to put on a whole show,” she said.
Santa Jim Coleman said he is a former detective and district attorney investigator who investigated sexual crimes against children.
“A few years later, I had my fill working those types of crimes. I wanted to be able to interact with kids in a more positive environment,” he said.
Coleman began volunteering as Santa a few years ago and enjoyed it so much that he turned it into a business this year. His Denver-based company Best Santas employs three St. Nicks who trained at a Santa school in Calgary.
“The foundation thing you learn is how to carry yourself: how to walk, use your voice, answer kids’ tricky questions,” he said.
Mesco said another important aspect of training is teaching the business side of Santa, including getting strict background checks, insurance policies and learning how to market to clients.
Brittin Karaffa, spokeswoman for Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree, said the mall likes to have its Santa hired by the middle of summer. The mall hires a photography company to narrow down the best Santa candidates, but mall staff get the final pick.
“We’re looking for somebody that connects with kids and can think outside of the box for interacting and having conversations,” Karaffa said.
Mesco warned that not everybody with a beard is cut out for the job.
“It takes a very special person,” she said. “You need a love of children, a love of the season, an understanding that you’ll have to sacrifice time with your own family.”
She said people who are serious about the gig should know that beard care could be up to $3,000 a year, a few good Santa suits could run $5,000 and Santa school tuition is a financial factor, too.
“It’s not an inexpensive game to play,” she said.
Coleman said Santa business has been booming, and he looks forward to continuing.
“Bringing a smile and joy to a child’s life — that’s been absolutely wonderful,” he said.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez
