We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jim Pascarella a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jim, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’ve always liked being the center of attention. I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh and have done so since way back when. I would practice accents and faces in the bathroom mirror at home. In high school I was voted Best Personality (nee Class Clown) in my Senior year book. So I was always open to audition especially in comedies when they came up. Before I ever auditioned for a play I worked at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour where I learned to interact with the public and began my ability to ad lib. For 20 years I was an actor/writer/director at The Mystery Cafe in San Diego which was very much audience interactive necessitation a lot of improv.
One day I answered an ad in Craig’s List looking for Santas. I knew I could do that. So I started out working with the wonderful John Johnson (Looney Dune) who used me as sort of a fill-in Santa. I only did 3 or 4 gigs that first year but proved myself reliable and a fan favorite so he used me more and more in subsequent years. After a few years I thought why not do this on my own. John was very generous in helping me set up my own business (website etc) even though I would be in direct competition with him, but he taught me something very valuable. Although it might cost him a few dollars in a lost gig, he would retain a friend, and if there were ever a need to call on each other for help it would be guaranteed to happen. He is very zen that way, and I regard him as a mentor, teacher and friend.
As time went on I added more elements to my Santa routine — storytelling, magic tricks, games — and developed a loyal clientele that have had me back for many years in a row
Before this happened I was working as a clinical chemist during the day, and John was interested in using me as a magician/face painter/balloon artist as well but I didnt have the time, but once I retired I jumped in with both feet. Under John’s tutelage I became adept at all three of those artistic endeavors as well.
So I am now, in my 70s, a year round performer.
I think the only obstacle that has stood in my way has been myself– a fear of the unknown, a fear of failure and basically a fear to try something new. I never have liked adventure so the idea of doing magic or the like was terrifying. It’s funny because being on stage in front of a crowd was never a reason for trepidation — I had always done it and I was good at it. But this new stuff — scary.
I had always had a great affinity for magic and if I had a mentor way back when who was willing to take the time with me I could have been better than I am now, but it wasn’t until I met one that I had someone to practice with and safely fail in front of that I was able to succeed.
John once told me that I was a capable magician/balloon artist etc, but that I was an excellent entertainer — I know how to work the crowd whether adults or kids. I have had adults come up to me multiple times especially after a Santa gig and tell me that I was great with the kids but the grownups were laughing at my jokes as well. I think that ability has been my greatest asset
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Well I think I already explained how I got into this business from an early start at Farrells to the theater and then as a fill-in Santa. I then was encouraged to learn magic etc and continued to refine those skills as I started doing gigs As a magician/balloon artist/face painter I do routines geared toward kids although I have done adult gatherings that involve slightly more sophisticated card tricks. I feel that it’s important to entertain as the magic (or illusion as I prefer to call it) is being done. Doing the trick by itself would actual be boring. Here’s a deck of cards. Pick one. Your card was the king of spades. Ta Da! Nah, no one would enjoy that. You need to relate to the audience. Make them relax and realize that nothing embarrassing or dangerous is about to happen. Self deprecating humor also helps set folks at ease. I won’t make fun of you, just me.
I think I am most proud of certain events as Santa that have occurred that reinforced why I am doing this. After all I don’t have grandkids (yet, I hope) so these kids give me an opportunity to play with them, have fun, give them a great memory, and maybe instill in them the magic of Christmas or the magic of stories, balloon or magic itself.
A couple events that stick with me: I was at one event and the grandmother who hired me was uncertain that her grandson even believed any more. Well, I was, as always, the Real Santa, as I did my usual routine of stories, magic and personal attention. At the end of the evening Grandma came up to me in tears and said, “You gave us one more year with our little boy. Thank you!”
Another time a young lady who in truth was a little old (11 maybe) to still believe sat on my lap and whispered that she didn’t want anything except to help her best friend not want to commit suicide. We spent a few minutes in very quiet conversation as everyone in the room was wondering what we were saying. At the end of the evening the aunt came up to me and asked if the conversation was about the child’s recently deceased grandmother. When I told her the situation she took a moment and said, “I’m a licensed therapist. I’ll take it from here.” Then she added her thanks at my gentle way of drawing out the truth from her niece.
My most poignant moment was from a couple of years ago (photo included). The mom gave me a heads up before I showed up that her wife had died a few months earlier. Her daughter referred to herself as mom but the deceased parent as mommy so I would know who she was talking about. The child was very shy but by the end of the evening she was sitting on my lap and hugging me and asking all kinds of questions. As I was leaving mom asked if I had time for one more picture. “She never does this so realize that this is a huge honor. She wants a picture of you and her and Mommy’s Sand” The little girl came to me with a box containing Mommy’s ashes. I barely held it together as we took some photos.
I strive to make a memorable occasion for my families and hopefully give them stories to tell for many years to come.
I always tell my clients that flexible is my middle name. If certain things come up that are unexpected my job is to make sure I deal with it and make them look good. There was one event where they were expecting a certain number of people and twice as many showed up and were in line to see Santa when it was time for me to leave. The coordinator came up to me in a panic. I smiled and simply asked “What do you need?” I stayed for an additional 30 minutes and everyone was happy.
Of course, there have been a handful of difficult situations like when I was hired for an adults only party where there was a lot of drinking and people, men and women, thinking that sitting on Santa’s lap for a photo gave them license to do whatever they wanted “for a laugh”.
Here is a bio from my website Santaofsandiego.com:
Jim Pascarella was born to be Santa!
Ever since he was a little boy – the lights, the decorations, the baking, the presents, and especially Santa, have always resided in a special place in his heart.
Jim has worked as a professional actor for the last 38 years at most of San Diego’s theaters. He is a dad to three grown children, loves to travel with his wife of 49 years, and loves eating (especially Italian!).
Jim has been Santa of San Diego for the past 15 years, working at military bases, private homes, family parties, schools and daycares, country clubs, and businesses, bringing special attention and humor to every person he asks, “So what do you want Santa to bring you on Christmas?”
Jim is sensitive to the needs of every kind of child (and adult), and is 100% committed to everyone having a good experience and a fun, and memorable time. His philosophy is simple: “I treat you and your family like you’re my family.”
Jim is honored to have several families who have asked him to be their Santa year after year – some for 10 years.
“I love being Santa. My goal is to provide an experience for you and your loved ones that won’t be forgotten. I’d love to be part of your Christmas family.”
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I am very fortunate that I am on this journey without having to worry so much about money. Don’t get me wrong–having too much money is not a problem, but I want to give people the same joy and fun watching me entertain them that I had as a kid at Christmas and watching entertainers — comedians, circus performers, actors, magicians. I would really like to be able to be in a situation where a family or an organization that cannot afford it could avail themselves of my services especially during the holidays at no charge just so we can give the kids at least once in their lives that magic spark and joy
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Doing what I do is just so darn much fun. There is nothing better than having the audience in the palm of your hand as you set up a joke , or perform an trick , or play a game, or read a story that you know is going to elicit peals of laughter or amazement, and internally you sit back and smile as you say, “That’s right! Here it is! Now eat it up and enjoy this!! I actually can watch and listen to myself as I am watching the audience watching me. It’s a strange construct, but it’s like eating a masterfully prepared meal, the satisfaction is immense.
Contact Info:
- Website: santaofsandiego.com