Mall Santa
[sponsored] If you think being a mall Santa is easy, think about this: 73% of them say a child coughs or sneezes directly into their FACE at least once a day.
If that’s not enough, they sometimes have to deal with 12-hour workdays, limited breaks, screaming kids, and cranky parents. And the busy ones have to listen to about 30,000 kids a year.
With that said, a mall Santa can easily make up to $15,000 in two months. And the best ones can pull in $80,000.
#1.) Getting Into the Business Isn’t Cheap. A good Santa suit can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000. And a good wig and beard set . . . made out of YAK HAIR . . . can cost $1,500.
Plus, a lot of mall Santas have back-up suits in case a kid has an ‘accident.’ One-third of Santas say a child as peed on them.
#2.) Almost 90% of Mall Santas Have a College Degree. That’s according to an annual survey from an actual organization called “The Kringle Group.”
But going to college doesn’t really prepare you for screaming kids who want EVERYTHING. So a lot of them get special training at professional ‘Santa schools,’ which can cost as much as $1,000.
#3.) They Have a Quota. The mall makes money off the photos Santa takes with kids. And a lot of mall Santas either get a bonus, or a cut of the photos fees if they see a certain number of kids each day.
That’s one of the reasons children only get about 30 seconds each.
If you want MORE time with Santa, they charge anywhere from $50 to $300 an HOUR for private visits. Or just avoid the peak times at the mall, which means weekends, and obviously Christmas Eve.
