Christmas Performer Workshops: Newsletter May 2017
* Sneak Peak Articles on CPW
* Featured: Movement and Physicality
* Three Levels of Training
* In Case You Missed It

Raising It to the Next Level:
The Art of the Professional Christmas Performer

I hope 2016 was a good year and that 2017 is going well for you. It’s funny how something you once thought of as a Seasonal Job grows into something you are working on, all year round. It is something we enjoy, after all. As the old joke goes, “How to I get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!”

Special Sneak Peek Articles

To help you with your out-of-season development, you are receiving a sneak peek look at another CPW feature discussion before posting it to the general public. You can check them out here.

http://christmasperformerworkshops.com/sneak-peek-articles/

This months’s Feature Sneak Peek

Movement and Physicality

Movement and Physicality

One of the unique things about our Christmas Performer Art is that we are often up close and personal. Our performances can be in any number of settings and venues: On a train, on a stage, in a conference room, a mall, you name it. The best performers know how evaluate a setting and how to use the tools they have to best advantage. Among our skill sets are Movement and Physicality.
There are three key areas of movement to practice and improve on, to be your very best.
Character Movement: How you bring your character to life, and tell a story through personal performance. This is specific to you.
Stage Performance: How you work in the space you are given, and with the audience. This is the larger picture.
Situational Awareness: How you deal with what is going on at the time, and deal with changes and ways to deal with problems, and take advantage of opportunities….

Read the full article here: http://christmasperformerworkshops.com/sneak-peek-articles/movement-and-physicality/

As always, your feedback is much appreciated.

I am glad to answer questions about performing, and I am always up for learning more. In fact, in my off-season this year, I am taking classes in Mime, Vocals, Dance, Acting for Commericials, and Improv (and more). Because I know I’m going to need all of it next season.

On the Road

By the way, Christmas Performer Workshops (Santa True) will be at the NORPAC SANTAS 8th Annual Northwest Santa Workshop at Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound WA over November 3-4, 2017 (located at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, 20500 Old Hwy 99 SW, Centralia, WA 98531, USA). I am really looking forward to meeting folks up there, and offering some training. I will also be doing some training at various spots in Southern California (to be announced).

Levels of Training

I believe that there are three levels of training in the Christmas Performer field. Each are necessary and as we develop our craft, we need different things at different times.

Santa Business Training, aka “The Schools” (both the traveling and stationary ones). These teach the business of being Santa, and it is an ever-changing field. You learn about everything, but in particular the things you should NOT do. They do an amazing job, and they cover a lot of material, including touching on performance.
Performance Training. Advancing to this Level includes going outside the Santa community to get training in variety of skills: Vocals, Acting, Storytelling, and more. This is where CPW comes in. CPW helps you focus on Christmas Performing specifically from a performer’s perspective, and helping you bring your unique characters to life. Outside performance instructors usually do not understand the specific skills we need as Christmas Performers. We also want to help our community rethink the way we can use our resources.
Personal Training. You know what you want, and you have a pretty good idea of where to go. At this level, you develop your specific and personal skills. You reach out to mentors, experts, and peers, and you build a network that will help you refine and develop your offerings. This level is about specifics, answering the question, “How do I?” This is also where you find conventions and online schools that offer specific topic training.

I would be interested in your thoughts. What works best for you, and what resources do you think we need to develop in our community?

Uniquely for You

Christmas Performer Workshops has a specific focus that is different from all the Santa Schools out there. Our focus is about helping you and your group on your Christmas Performer Path.

If your community already has some pretty solid Christmas Performers and training, maybe it’s time to challenge yourselves to raise it to the next level! At CPW we can help. Give us a call!

Just In Case You Missed It

You may be interested in some of the recent articles posted on Facebook and the CPW website.

Look for These Article Topics

Making the Unbelievable Believable! Five Tips for Developing your Unique Character
Are You Raising Your Christmas Performing to the Next Level?
Five Handy Tips and the ABCs for Vocal Performance
Read? Who Has Time to Read? You do! If you want to be a great performer, that is
Performance Feedback: Part of the Planning, Practicing, Performance Feedback
Practicing: Part of the Planning, Practicing, Performance Feedback
**The 12 Days of “It’s NOT Christmas” Performing Resolutions!** Planning!

Thanks for reading and have a GREAT Summer!

Santa True, Cat Ellen (“Mrs. C”), and friends
at Christmas Performer Workshops (CPW)

Thanks again and let me know how I can be of service.

It is my belief that the future of our Art as Christmas Performers depends on investing in ourselves and in each other as Performers and Entertainers. CPW is about helping you make the magic happen!

Robert Seutter, aka Santa True
www.santatrue.com
Facebook: Santa True

Please take the time to check out the Christmas Performer Facebook page and christmasperformersworkshops.com.

Also, True Thomas the Storyteller www.truethomas.com
Facebook: True Thomas the Storyteller
818-762-9075
Santa@Santatrue.com

Christmas Performer Workshops: Putting the Heart in our Christmas Art!

Raising It to the Next Level: The Art of the Professional Christmas Performer