We recently connected with Santa George Campbell and have shared our conversation below.
Santa George, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
About 10 years ago, after being “discovered” by a four-year old child who told me I “was Santa”, I began doing research and discovered several different Santa organizations I could join.
Those organizations all pointed me towards several good Santa Schools and Universities. (Yes they do exist).
I enrolled and began to grow my my knowledge of all things Santa. This has become a life-long, year-round learning experience.I am now working towards my Ph. D. in “Santaology”. working on several books and continue to study with a group to hone my storytelling and improvisational skills.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was “Chosen” to be Santa by a four year old.
About a decade ago, after I retired from a four decade career in marketing, advertising and public relations,I started letting my natural, very white beard grow much longer. In October, while waiting on a flat repair at a local tire center, a four year-old girl entered the reception area with her mother carrying several bags of groceries. The girl’s eyes grew wide, she immediately grabbed a big package of cookies from one of the bags and ripped them open, ran over to where I was sitting, jumped up on my knee and handed me two. “Here Santa these are for you”.
The mother recovered her child, laughed apologizing and said “my daughter knows Santa when she sees him.”
I went home and told the funny story to my wife, at the time the Secretary at a local Elementary school. She said, “Well I think we have found our Santa for the PTA Christmas Party!” That was the beginning. I soon realized that there was much more portraying Santa than putting on a cheap suit and saying Ho Ho Ho!
I decided to become a “professional” and found a life-long learning journey and the best – and most creative – business I have ever worked in. As a Creative Director I spent over four decades in Marketing and Advertising. I designed, wrote and presented marketing concepts that are being used to this day by Fortune 500 companies.
I never thought I would find a job more creative. But I have as a Real-Bearded Santa.
As a Santa you have to know answers to just about everything. Not only the names of all eight reindeer, but tricky questions like “What to reindeer eat to make them fly?” “Who is your favorite elf?” “How fast do you go on Christmas eve?” “What exactly does Ho Ho Ho mean?” This requires continual immersion in knowledge of all things Santa and oftentimes instant improvisational skills. Just like a creative director should know all of the aspects of the product or service of the brands he or she is selling, Santa has to know the expectations of his or her customers: kids of all ages. And so much more. So you learn all you can from history, your peers the industry, a degree from Santa University, and watch lots of children’s television programs so you can name all the pups on Paw Patrol. Needless to say, you never stop studying.
When you are a “Real Santa”, you are the living embodiment of the Santa brand. Every detail of your “campaign” counts! Your customers look for every detail and you must make sure that not one has been overlooked. You must be the person, and the brand, that they have fixed in their minds by books, artwork, photos, movies, from the tone of your voice, your demeanor, your messages, your suit and even your complexion.
Your job is to keep the belief and enthusiasm that children of all ages have for the “Santa brand” alive. Santa Claus is the embodiment of a poem written by a literary scholar in the 1820s and you have to use every resource you have to keep everyone believing in that idea.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
There is a lot of negativity in the world today. As a year-round Santa I know I represent the spirit of Saint Nicholas and the joy that it can bring. Living with faith and belief in others has become more important in a world where some situations seem to spiral out of control every day. If we consider portraying Santa as the creative endeavor that it is, the goal/mission/reason is simple. It is important that we remind all individuals to be kind, and care for others in all they do. every day. As Santa brings Love, Hope and Joy to the face of a chid of any age, one by one, we can keep the fun and joy of the Christmas Spirit alive,
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Through Santa I have the privilege of spreading joy to everyone I meet every day of the holiday season and throughout the year! Through my Santa work I have the privilege of directly help some very noteworthy charities and the support generated by that aspect of my work, brings me great satisfaction, knowing I am impacting many more lives, as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.NorthTexasSanta.com
- Instagram: NorthTexasSanta
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthTexasSanta1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgecampbellstudios/
- Twitter: @NorthTexasSanta
- Other: North Texas Santa® is a registered trademark. All rights reserved
Image Credits
Denise Campbell Ron Cooper Photography George Campbell/North Texas Santa