Kringle University

The Creative Development Process of Santa Mac
Written by: Jeffrey B McMullen

I have been asked, numerous times over the years, how I developed the character of “Santa Mac” and his originality in a world where everyone sort of looks the same. There has never been a short answer to this question…and this is not one of them either.

It seems so many years ago when I started to develop my Santa persona and yet it seems like just this morning, and for good reason. Growing your character is a continuum…it never ends. When you stop developing your character you become stale, predictable, and robotic.

To keep your character exciting to you and your audience you must stay connected to the “why” part of your character’s inner most thoughts. So many performers focus on the “how to do” (the outward physical actions and skills) rather than the “why”. I continually ask “why” for it is the “why” that develops and stimulates the “how”. When developing a character, I believe it is never OK to accept the thought, “Well, he moves like this, I don’t know why, he just does”. That mindset does not develop a character.

You have to look into your heart and ask why do I do this? Why is this important to me, to my art, to the children and adults I have the privilege to perform for? This is not an easy question to answer. There are a number of reasons your character exists on a personal and professional level. It could be for the satisfaction you receive by causing someone to smile or laugh. It could be as a personal goal to achieve a certain skill set. It could be to keep your own imagination stirring or to fulfill a spiritual need. The list is endless.

It is important to discover for yourself the “why value” and allow it to be the motivation to grow your character…from the inside out. It is vital to have a strong well-defined armature first, then drape the wardrobe over it…not vice-versa. I can take a red suit and put it on anyone…young or old, male or female and the general public at first glance will identify that person as Santa. There is no doubt about that. The suit identifies someone as Santa, but it does not expose the heart and soul of what Santa is all about. What identifies someone is their actions, both verbal and non-verbal. It is this introspective interaction which people remember.

So how does one go about developing the inside core values. It starts with personal commitment to excellence. When I started to develop my Santa, I remember two critical lesson I learned from elite circus performers… these two lessons changed the way I performed as a physical comedian and I understood clearly, they were just as important to developing any character, particularly a Santa persona.

Lesson one:
I'd like to share with you about Lou Jacobs, a colleague and former mentor of mine. Lou was a leader...arguably among the greatest clowns of all time. Lou Jacobs performed an act that required him, at six feet three inches tall, to emerge from a tiny car not much bigger than one your young son or daughter might pilot in your driveway.

Before Lou became a clown, he was a contortionist. In deciding to become a clown, Lou did a very reasoned, practical skill analysis, he determined which of his skills would transfer to his new career.

However, then he did something very unique. He sat back, closed his eyes and asked himself why and how his character would move. How would it respond to a crying child, a struggling adult, a bumble bee on a flower or watch a balloon float away into the sky… and then committed himself to the training ... the practice ... the discipline ... required to be one of the best clowns in the world. HE DID THIS EVERYDAY which allowed his character continual growth. Note, I said the best he could be. Not better than someone else! Big difference!!!

Lou worked to improve every day of his clown career--and that was over 60 years. That's right, over sixty years of folding his aging, tall body to perform his act the way he expected one of the world's great clowns to do.

One day towards the end of Lou's career, he called over the boss clown, Frosty Little, and mentioned the normal aches and pains of getting old were getting to him. He asked Frosty to cut off the top of the little show car and weld in some extensions to give him a little extra room.

Frosty asked Lou if five or six inches would be enough ... and Lou was horrified. He limited the extensions to one quarter of an inch. Stack up five dimes-- that's a quarter inch. Frosty was reluctant to do so much work for a 1/4" extension--you could easily add five or six inches for the same amount of work. No one would ever know. The audience surely would never be able to tell that car was bigger.

But Lou was adamant. His job, his act, depended on remaining true to his vision...his commitment to himself. Lou only needed a quarter inch. Four or five inches ... even though no one else would ever know--Lou would. His demanding self-image would not allow it. So he limited the extensions to ¼” and went on to do that act for 4 more years.
To have this sort of self-discipline is very difficult. It is this nonvisible skill and discipline that separates center-ring performers from the rest.

When I decided to create “Santa Mac” I did just as Lou did….I sat back closed my eyes and visualized in my mind how Santa Mac would breath, move and think. It is important to understand, we have to first see it in our mind before we can ask our body to present the movement and verbiage to our audience. I spent endless hours simply visualizing Santa Mac in different scenarios. How would he respond to tough questions like: “Santa can you bring my grandpa back…I miss him so much”. “Are you the real Santa?” “Santa can you make my mommy and daddy stop fighting?” And not only the verbiage but also the body posture and eye contact, for it is how we answer these questions which define our character's character.

This is an exercise I do religiously every day, which allows for continual growth.
LESSON TWO: Commitment to the smallest detail! During my visualization time I not only explore how my character would think and move, but, also what he would wear in different situations. I always refer to my Santa clothes as wardrobe, not as a costume. A costume implies you are pretending. You can never reach your potential pretending! I understand unequivocally that it is semantical, but it makes a huge difference in how you perceive your character.

I ask questions like: What style of jacket would he wear? How long is it? Are there pockets? What color is it? Is there fur on it? How does it close…buttons or zippers? What color is the thread? The more definition you can see, the clearer the vision becomes. It is all about the smallest detail.

This lesson was taught to me by a very unique center ring act. And that, my friends, puts the spotlight on one of the crucial elements of developing your character. Consistency! That's right. Consistency!

The learned ability to perform to the same level every time you perform. It is by being consistent that you are able to fully be in the moment while creating memories.
In the circus, one of the best examples of consistency I know of is the Chinese bicycle act. Bear with me here.

You see, the act starts with a number of performers doing antics and tricks on bicycles. Slowly, one by one, the performers leave the ring until there is just one rider left.
Now, that performer's only duty is to ride that bike in circles around the ring. And, yet, would you believe that the simple act of pedaling that bike around the ring ... and around the ring... and around the ring ... is the foundation for one of the most dangerous stunts in the circus?

It's called the human pyramid. To build the pyramid, every time the peddler passes a certain point in the ring, another person climbs aboard. Keep in mind that every person in this pyramid is being steered, controlled and moved forward by the one person at the bottom. Performer after performer climbs aboard and finds the right spot - Each attunes his or her balance to the single, person pedaling the bike around the ring… around the ring ... around the ring ... and around the ring.

When the smallest person in the act quickly climbs over the heads and the arms and the legs of the fellow performers, carefully weighing each breeze, each subtle shift in muscles and bones of the people below...when that person gets to the top to say "TA DA!"...
I can tell you from direct experience, that person is acutely aware that the applause is due to the consistency of that one person at the bottom, who hardly anyone can see, pedaling a bike ... around the ring ... around the ring ... and around the ring! Such a simple sounding task.

That person is using personal discipline, judgment and a completely reliable exercise of skill to give all a chance to shine in the center ring.
What do you think would happen if that peddler were to change from 53 revolutions per minute to 70 without telling the other performers? Think anybody would notice? What would happen if that peddler just decided to take a day off--would it make a difference?
Ladies and gentlemen, as a consistent, dependable performer, you help control the direction, momentum, and balance of your character.

Obtaining "center ring" results depends on the quality of your performance each and every time you step into the spotlight. You do that with your imagination--creating a picture of yourself achieving what it is you want to achieve. And you do it with hard work. You plan. You practice. You learn. You build. You Grow!

I wanted to ensure as I developed my character, I would be consistent and pay attention to the smallest of details, for it is the small details which make you unique.
When you combine commitment and consistency you create a foundation for your character's mental and physical being.

When I was comfortable with the vision of who and why I wanted Santa Mac to be, it was time to allow the physical manifestation to happen. Again, I spent endless hours researching wardrobe ideas. I surfed the internet, spoke to industry vendors and leaders. I made a file of ideas and did a lot of sketches.

Once comfortable with the wardrobe concepts (in great detail), I then proceeded to have it all constructed. As my Santa character grew from year to year, so did my wardrobe, keep in mind, our wardrobe must reflect what is on the inside or it’s a costume.

I do daily character exercises to keep Santa Mac current. Simple things such as cleaning the house as Santa would. Climb a ladder as Santa would. Cook as Santa would. Eat a cookie as Santa would. The more I do, the clearer the character becomes… as I stated in the beginning of this process…Character development is a continuum.

By daily mental and physical practice, your character can achieve continual growth and have self-confidence, love, respect, hope, compassion, empathy, and subtlety be ever-present within you for the unselfish benefit of those we serve.

This week please watch each day for Kringle U's announcements of staff, topics, menu and special features for our annual Super Santa Summer Seminar, in Appleton, WI August 8th-10th, 2025. This is truly the training event of the year! Limited to 25 students to ensure a quality learning environment!

Mastering the Home Visit Market for Holiday Performers Online registration for Mastering the Home Visit Market for Holiday Performers.

Register today at: https://kringleuniversity.regfox.com/kringle-university-2025-virtual-santa-and-holiday-performer-training-series
Only 25 particapants will be accepted. Register today!

Mark your calendars and plan on joining Kringle University's 2025 Virtual Santa, Mrs C & Holiday Performers Seminar. Five wonderful 90 minute sessions to help you take your PERFORMANCE to the next level!
Overview:
The 2025 Virtual Seminar -
Session 1: Discover Your Ultimate Character, Wardrobe and Makeup Application
Session 2: Story Writing /Story Sharing & Using Your Voice
Session 3: Easy To Do Magic To Enhance Your Story Telling & Creative Props
Session 4: Building The Ultimate Home Visit
Session 5: Business & Marketing
The dates for the seminar series is: March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st, 2025. All sessions will be conducted on Zoom at 7:00PM CST
Registration information and session overview, please go to:
https://kringleuniversity.regfox.com/kringle-university...

In 2025 I will be limiting my Kringle U seminars to three sessions which require travel. Two are currently spoken for. If your Santa/Mrs C group would like a session please message me direct. I will also be offering a 5 week online session in March and a 3 day seminar in Appleton WI in either June or August. Date will be established soon. I want to thank everyone for your trust! Please remember, I am always here to help yo become a better performer!

Well, thats a wrap for Kringle U's Summer Session! What a great group of Santa's, Mrs. C's and Elves. The learning and sharing was off the charts! A huge thank you to Loren Jensen, Tiffany VanBoxtell, Debbie M
and Jeff JD Kirkwood for all their contributions to a successful weekend.

Its go day!!!! Load in and set up for our KU 3 day conference...tonight meet and greet from 6 til 8:00 Then tomorrow from 8-4:00PM the Sunday 10-4:00 followed by the Wisconsin Santas Meeting! For those on the road traveling today...my prayers are with you and looking forward to a wonderful weekend of laughing, learning and sharing!!!