NY POST ARTICLE http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/it_lost_clause_E7wiwVd2pSQXJUESqzpHBM
HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT http://www.fpny.org/holidaypartyentertianment.html
CLIENT LIST http://www.fpny.org/clientlist.html
I had almost forgot about this. With the NY POST article due out Monday regarding the Comedy Hall of Fame program, thought it would be fun to post this. Back in 2008 the NY POST contacted myself and a few others that play Santa to discuss how the economic downfall has effected seasonal employment. Actually, if I remember correctly, Times Square Modell’s Sporting Goods Store contacted and paid three of us for the following weekend hoping to get some free press. The POST did come by, asked a few questions and took a few pictures; but never saw the followup article.
Basically since 2008, Holiday Parties have been almost zip. Thanks to a few wonderfully loyal returning clients, I have had enough work to pay the bills. Even better, the Improv show in the past 3 years has become steady anough in January thru March that I do not need to make a 1/3 of my income in December to get by the year. But when I first started FRASIER PRODUCTIONS in 2005 as my main means of financial support, December gigs were the key to getting ahead.
And not just Santa… We had other Improv members with me as Mrs. Claus, Elves, Grinch, Victorian Carolers and even performing Improv Show. At one point we were selling a bizarre murder mystery show called WHO KILLED SANTA – a satire based on holiday parties. We even have 2-3 Santas going out at a time. Otherwise you would see us playing Abbott & Costello, Blues Brothers, Elvis, an d providing Stand-UP and Improv Comedy all over the tristate area and beyond.
Our saving grace the past 3 years has been IMPROV 4 KIDS (www.improv4kids.com). We first introduced this show in 2004 at the request of the Farmington CT school district. We performed for four schools in three days. Since then IMPROV 4 KIDS has just taken off, growing exponentially every year. It was this success with schools that got the attention of the COMEDY HALL OF FAME and landed us the contract to bring Improv to a whole new level with the NYC DOE, with High School students getting credit for attending classes every week with our teachers. Been quite a ride.
PS This year we had one double booking. Funny thing is I sent the skinniest actor in my roster. Jared’s comic styling and appearance is closer to a young Jim Carey, but with a pillow and tons of good cheer he was a hit.
Here are some fun SANTA and other Holiday videos….
IT’S A LOST CLAUSE
NO ROOM AT MALL FOR POOR SANTA
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_E7wiwVd2pSQXJUESqzpHBM#ixzz17nsxMHtX
It’s the nightmare before Christmas for New York City Santas.
Old St. Nicks are sweating out fewer gigs and lower pay as Wall Street grinches cancel holiday parties, retailers downsize Christmas scenes, department stores replace freelance elves with their own employees, and charities slash sidewalk solicitations.
“This year I’ll make about 90 percent less” than last year, said Lower East Side retiree Dick Shea, 69, who has donned his red suit and maintained his authentic white beard for the last 17 years.
Gigs he counted on at Columbus Circle, Manhattan Mall and FAO Schwarz have fallen through, leaving him with less lucrative appearances at bars and parties.
He’s expecting to earn around $3,000 this year, down from $30,000 two years ago – barely keeping up with cleaning and replacement costs for his $900 costume.
“It diminishes my ‘ho, ho, hos,’ ” he said.
Upper West Side Santa Ken Romo, 57, lost a regular gig at Tavern on the Green, where he’s worked for more than 10 years. Former employers Fortunoff and Saks Fifth Avenue said they’d take him back only if he took a pay cut from $125 an hour to $50.
Glen Charlow, a 49-year old Jersey City resident, has not booked a single gig. By this time last year, he had eight.
“It’s a big struggle for me to pay my rent,” said Charlow, a graphic designer.
Another Kris Kringle lookalike, Tom Zimecki, 56, of Edgewater, NJ, says business is down 30 percent from last year, with some companies even trying to barter free meals and hotel stays instead of paying cash.
Santas who appear at corporate parties are out of work this year with American Express, Viacom, ABC, Barclays and Morgan Stanley all reportedly canceling holiday parties.
This year, Wal-Mart amended its company-wide policy of having a Santa in every store – instead leaving the decision to each local manager. Fortunoff, which last year had Santas working seven days a week from Nov. 1 to Dec. 25, will start them this year on Nov. 26 for weekends only.
Volunteers of America, a national nonprofit that feeds and shelters homeless people, will break a 106-year-old tradition by not stationing Santas on city sidewalks to solicit donations in their trademark chimney boxes.
Last year the nonprofit hired 11 recovering alcoholics, paying them more than the $6.55-an-hour minimum wage, plus a free meal.
Walt Frasier, a 36-year-old Manhattan actor who typically makes enough money playing Santa Claus to pay four months rent, has lost big clients, including the advertising firm Wieden+Kennedy, Morgan Stanley and American Express.
Frasier booked 30 gigs last year – compared with four this year.
“Where I would see a $10,000 gross, we’re looking at $3,000,” he said.
Marty Eskow of Sheepshead Bay – who charges $225 per hour for an appearance with “Mrs. Claus,” his wife – has seen his bookings plummet from 20 last year to seven this year.
He said the first thing people ask when they call Santa this year is, “How much?”
Additonal reporting by Stefanie Cohen
scahalan@nypost.com
Ken Romo, 57
* Been a Santa for 15 years; rest of the year he’s a dancer
* Worked 12 gigs as a Santa at Saks, Fortunoff and Tavern on the Green last year and made about $10,000
* This year he only has four gigs, and clients want to cut his fee in half.
Tom Zimecki, 56
* Been a Santa for nine years – because he looks like St. Nick
* Usually works Fortunoff and American Express parties and private Manhattan parties with 50 gigs a season
* This year he’s slashed prices – including for pictures with Santa – but business is still down 30 percent
* “Some stores are bartering.”
Dick Shea, 69
* Been a Santa for 17 years; rest of the year he’s retired
* Usually works for the Parks Department at Columbus Circle, FAO Schwarz, Pace University and local bars.
* This year everyone but Pace and three local bars canceled. “This year I’ll make about 90 percent less.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_E7wiwVd2pSQXJUESqzpHBM#ixzz17nsaGWgO
FRENCH CANADIAN BACON BRASS play 12 days of Christmas FRENCH CANADIAN BACON BRASS play 12 days of Christmas
