TESTIMONY.Aude: Professional Santa Claus, such a "dear" business<

In a context of covid resurgence and when the end of year celebrations start, how do event companies adapt their activity?The point with Thierry Gyuru, of the Narbonne company "Events party".

Is it difficult to recruit Christmas fathers in this period of health crisis?

Thierry Gyuru: "We are witnessing a double shortage of Christmas Fathers! In companies, there was always the right friend a little round with a beard that was to play Santa Claus.Until then we had few requests.However, this year, they have multiplied!And the people we used to ask for this role do not do it or do not do it anymore.Consequently, the price of the performance of a Santa Claus doubled compared to 2019!However, it is difficult to pass on this increase on our prices ... It is not as if we were living a period of opulence.So we take a little on us ".

Do you have to have retirement age to be a credible Santa Claus?

"The Christmas Fathers we work with are not very old: they are often between 40 and 45 years old, and it could be Mr..The quality of the costume is 60 % of the character: the sum of the accessories, a makeup artist to whiten the eyebrows ... We never have the opportunity to make a good impression, so it must flash from.You also have to be very patient with children, walk slowly and talk as little as possible, because the voice can betray.Children report all these details and we are also witnessing an evolution of society in a short time.Five years ago, the 10/11 year olds marveled ... while today they no longer believe in Santa Claus at that age.It's a bit of magic that goes away ".

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— German at Portsmouth Fri Jul 26 10:55:30 +0000 2019

In time of epidemic, is Santa Claus a risky job?

"This year, we impose two constraints on Christmas fathers: no physical contact with children during photos, and despite the gloves it is no longer he who gives the gifts in hand.One might think that Santa Claus does not wear a mask, but we can very well hide it under his beard and his mustache.Santa Claus is no more afraid of the virus than other people, but there is always a little apprehension.In addition, I note that during certain Christmas trees in works councils or friendly, we received fewer children than expected ".

As for Mother Christmas, is she often requested?

"Never! But I don't think it's sexist ... And we must not forget that Santa Claus as we know him, is a commercial symbol, invented from scratch by a famous brand of soda!".

"We are alive"

For the company "Events party", created in 2002, Christmas activities represent 30 % of the annual activity.However, since Covid's cases go up, the cancellations are linked: "Currently, we are around € 30,000 in canceled services, explains the manager, Thierry Gyuru.Today, customers ask us for a covid clause in the contract: if the service is canceled for health reasons, nothing should be done.However, I believe that these cancellations only meet a precautionary principle.During the Christmas trees that we made for companies, the members of the social and economic committees were hyper concerned, with drastic controls of the port of the mask and the health pass ".However, the entrepreneur relativizes: "At the announcement of the 1st confinement, the motorcycle show had been canceled with € 42,000 in losses.But we had aid that served to cover these losses and the costs.Right now, it's difficult, but we are not in danger and it is the life of any business related to events, with children's animation professionals, caterers ... ".From then on, "despite everything we have just passed and even if we have not yet left it, we are very alive and we have lots of projects.We have stored a lot of desire and enthusiasm.So, we will be ready as soon as it leaves! ".