On the websites of temp agencies, advertisements are starting to multiply to find candidates for the role of Santa Claus. But now, the prospect of donning the costume for a day’s entertainment in a shopping center no longer attracts crowds. Holiday magic in decline?
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Looking for an animator or actor for the role of Santa Claus. For several days, on the website of the Interim spectacle and audiovisual agency, the advert has been broken down into numerous offers. Position to be filled from December 14 to 15, 2024 in Toulouse, December 21 in Carcassonne, or in Paris or Lorient. “Customer requests are getting later and laterexplains the founder of the agency. And then, above all, no one rushes to the gate to answer and become Santa Claus.”
Even specializing in temporary recruitment in the sector of actors and entertainers for shows or events, Kari Bounabi admits to now being faced with some difficulties in satisfying his clients. “With my colleagues, we did a little calculation: you almost have to make 100 calls to find an available person.“It must be said that everyone wants their Santa Claus over the same period of a fortnight.
We don’t buy 40,50 or 60 Santas just for the same day. And if you multiply that by the number of event agencies and supermarkets, it’s a bit complicated.
Kari Bounabi, founder of Interim audiovisual show
And then, putting on the red costume even to make children’s eyes shine is no longer very rewarding. “Often, actors acted as Santa Claus to make extra money, to be entitled to their hours. Today, this argument has gone, let’s say, a little up in smoke, because in any case, there are some who know that they will never have their hours, so they do not want to don’t do Santa Claus for nothing“, the founder of the temp agency puts forward by way of explanation. Kari Bounabi says he understands that a person is reluctant to play Santa Claus, paid the minimum wage. “It’s not rewarding for a person to burn a weekend for three francs six cents“, he points out.
The agency manager also talks about the current climate, “a somewhat special time” which overshadows carelessness. As if the meaning of the celebration was lost and Christmas lost a little of its magic. “Before, we always found volunteers and people in the villages who took part in the game. Today, I have the impression that there is less enthusiasm. That adults have a little difficulty finding their childish soul“, estime Kari Bounabi.
If there is no more Santa Claus, we are still in trouble!
Kari Bounabi, from the Interim spectacle audiovisual agency
According to an international survey launched in 2018 by a British professor at the University of Exeter, the average age at which children stop believing in Santa Claus is eight years old. And of the first 1,200 responses received at the time, 34% of those questioned would have liked to continue to believe in Santa Claus.
Kari Bounabi continues to believe in this magic. “When we see a Santa Claus somewhere, the children immediately arrive, the parents take photos…“But the casting remains no less restricted. “Profile sought: ideally young retiree, beginner or experienced are accepted: the main thing is to be motivated, punctual and love the magic of end-of-year festivities. Experience in this role and/or easy contact in society and with desired children“, we can read on the job advertisements for animator or actor for the role of Santa Claus. And then, you have to find a candidate close to the location of the animation. Question of budget once again.
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