A Vancouver talent booking agency that places Santa's in various malls around the region is stepping in to give kids a Santa experience they won’t otherwise be able to get Christmas because of public health restrictions.
Siegel Entertainment Curation is offering virtual visits with Father Christmas through the Zoom online meeting platform.
The agency, that also arranges musicians and dancers for hospitality, corporate and entertainment events, is dipping into its talent lineup to provide personalized visits with Santas of various backgrounds and ethnicities. There’s also an option to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus or to be serenaded by a professional musician or duo.
“We've got some really great Santas, and we want to keep them employed," said Siegel's Kelly Daines, of her agency's 15 accredited jolly gents and one Mr. and Mrs. Claus duo.
Sessions with Santa can range from 10 minutes to an hour. Special virtual visits can also be arranged for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Bookings are accompanied with a questionnaire that can be submitted to Santa ahead of time to ensure a truly unique experience.
Daines said giving families an option to continue their tradition of visiting with Santa seems especially important this year given the loss of so many other holiday experiences to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think people are trying to wrap their heads around a lot of things," she said.
For more information about rates and booking, go to siegelvirtual.com.
