International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas
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The International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas met in Colorado Springs to debrief th
The Colorado Springs chapter of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas meets to discuss issues from the previous year and share new ways to spread magic in 2024
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International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas
Clip | 4mVideo has Closed Captions
The Colorado Springs chapter of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas meets to discuss issues from the previous year and share new ways to spread magic in 2024
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipif you're playing Santa, you always have to be in character.
Always.
Especially when I have something red on a shirt a hat that attracts the children as well as the adults.
So if I'm walking down the street, I have a lot of children, thatll come up to me.
Or if I'm in a restaurant, the children will eye me.
You can see them.
“Oh, I think thats Santa!
” “Oh, I think thats Santa!
” Your suit has to be convincing.
Your belt has to be convincing.
Your boots, they have to be convincing.
The children pick up on these things.
Santas back story.
How do you get around so fast?
Do you have a reindeer Underground Railroad?
Storytelling.
And these are the things that I teach here, because if you don't have those talking points, you're going to get outsmarted by a five year-old or a seven year-old.
And no, no, Santa wants that.
Christmas!
Merry!
Christmas!
OK, folks, Im going to start.
Ready?
If you go by the break, youll see this is basically the agenda Im going to follow today.
There's roughly about 2000 members of IBRBS throughout the United States and international.
We've got some Canadian members as well as members from Australia and London.
And Colorado Springs, close to about 100.
We have Mrs. Claus all Christmas performers.
If youre a Christmas caroler, or if you're an elf or whatever Christmas character you decide to perform, they're all welcome.
Its really fun when people are like, “What are you doing today?
And Im like, “Oh, were going to a Santa meeting.
” Just like Church, I come here for the food.
[laughing] The hugs from the children, the words, the excitement, the smiles.
It all draws you in.
And so I spend three months out of the year being Santa Claus.
I like to talk about issues that affect the Santa Claus community.
Not all chapters do that.
OK, moving right along: This seasons issues.
Here, we're open for free discussion.
So a lot of the issues that we bring up here, you may not see in another location which brings the Brotherhood a lot closer, I think, in this type of forum.
Even though I had a contract, and my wife had a contract, they said, “Well, if you want to get paid, talk to our attorney.
Were not talking to you.
” And we had a written contract with them, and were out thousands of dollars.
So if youre in that, have somebody review your contract.
Please.
Like he said, that little sentence can cost you your livelihood.
The advantage of being part of it is the insurance and the background check.
But the purpose behind it is the sharing of ideas.
What I would suggest for new people is: go watch a Santa work.
Learn how they do it.
Each one of you guys have a different style.
Whats your schtick?
What do you do that sets you apart, makes you different?
Im retired military.
A lot of Santas are retired doctors.
They're retired policemen.
They're retired firemen.
They're retired restaurant owners.
They're retired.
They have a place in their community, and they want to bring that love, joy and happiness back to there.
It's not the gifts.
It's not the gifts.
We bring the magic and the joy of Christmas, to not only children, but to their parents and their grandparents.
Because the parents and the grandparents all have memories of their Christmases.
The Christmas spirit never dies.
No matter how old you are.
So, absolutely I will be Santa Claus for as long as I possibly can.
Till the day I die.
And I'll always be Santa in my heart because that's where it starts.
Is in your in your heart.
When life gives you a house, move it.
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