1. HOW LONG IS SANTA’S VISIT?
You can book Santa Tom for ½ hour to 4 hours, and possibly longer. Home visits typically last from ½ hour to 2 hours depending on how many children there are. Family photos with Santa Tom can last from 1 hour to several hours depending on what you want the photographer to capture. Other events can be booked by the hour.
2. WHAT WILL SANTA BE WEARING?
Like you, Santa Tom has several different outfits to choose from. Please review the Gallery section of this site and pick one of the outfits you would like him to wear. It is Santa Tom’s goal that his presentation be as authentic as possible. In addition to the clothing, Santa Tom has a natural white beard, a real belly, and wears traditional boots, belt, hat and accessories with his suits.
3. HOW DO I BOOK SANTA?
You can call Santa Tom at 336-701-9978 and discuss your ideas, or you can fill out the online form to request Santa. Before requesting information, check the Booking Calendar for Santa Tom’s availability. Openings in the calendar are not guaranteed as Santa Tom may have already made an appointment for that time and not recorded it on the calendar.
4. DO YOU SEND A CONTRACT?
To guarantee date(s), time(s), rates and terms, all bookings must have a contract. By requesting a form here, we can snail mail or email you the contract for either residential or commercial. Each contract contains the important details of the event. Contracts also contain the necessary retainer fee and payment details.
5. IS A RETAINER REQUIRED?
YES, a non-refundable retainer fee of $50.00 is required for all non-commercial events. The date(s) and time(s) you requested are NOT guaranteed until a signed contract and retainer are received by Santa Tom.
6. WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL OR MAKE A CHANGE IN THE SCHEDULE?
Cancellations and changes usually occur close to the date or time of the booked event, “the last minute.” We will work with you and try to reschedule the date and/or time of the event you booked. Due to Santa Tom’s schedule, it is often difficult to make changes as other events may have been booked. If we cannot reschedule the event, we hope you will call upon Santa Tom next year for your event. The retainer fee will be used to off-set the cost of the time Santa had scheduled for you and could not book another event.
7. WHAT IF I HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST?
We understand that every event is unique to the special needs of the client, family and guests. If you have a special request just let us know at the time of booking and Santa Tom will let you know if he can do it. If the special request happens after booking, just call Santa Tom and he will try to make it happen. Remember that changes in date(s) and time(s) are very difficult but we will try to accommodate.
8. HOW EARLY WILL SANTA TOM ARRIVE?
Santa will arrive about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time, unless otherwise stipulated in the Agreement. Santa will call when he is about 5 minutes away. At that time, someone from your event should meet him outside and assist if necessary. Since Santa is a senior citizen, you should have a special parking place as close to the entrance of the event as possible.
9. DOES SANTA TOM TAKE ANY BREAKS?
Due to the nature of Santa Tom’s traditional outfits, it is necessary to have periodic breaks of about 10 minutes after each hour. It is also important that Santa’s performance location be cool and comfortable, NO MORE THAN 70°. A small fan blowing on Santa, and some cold water, would be greatly appreciated. It is assumed that all events, other than parades and tree lightings, will be indoors, or that arrangements for outdoor visits have been made prior to booking.
10. DOES SANTA BRING A SPECIAL CHAIR OR SUPPLY A BACKDROP FOR PHOTOGRAPHS?
At this time no, Santa Tom does not supply a chair or backdrop. The elves are working on a nice looking and sturdy chair for Santa, but it’s not done yet.
You are welcome to take as many pictures as you like; however, they are for the personal and private use of the client and cannot be used for commercial or promotional use without written permission from Santa Tom. Additionally, NO photos of Santa Tom shall be altered, distorted, or “photo-shopped” in any way without written permission from Santa Tom.