Santa Ambassadors Break Down Job Expenses

Making Christmas magic is not only hard work, but it's expensive.

Becoming a Santa ambassador comes with a lot of expenses, some that you might not expect.

Every Santa ambassador has a different reason for becoming one.

"It was not a thought I had had, it was just a 'Hey, this would be fun,'" said Scott Lowry.

Dallas Smith was a bus driver for Bixby Schools for 18 years, and his uniform included a red shirt.

"All the kids would call me Santa Claus," he said. "I thought, why not do it professionally?"

His wife, Jennifer Smith, joined him as Mrs. Clause. 

At first, most Santa ambassadors start out cheap.

"When I got started, I had to buy the suits," Lowry said. "I bought this one, it's kind of a lower end, but to me it's not because it's got meaning."

Scott Lowry has four suits. They cost $1000 altogether.

"You've got the belt loops, you've got the different styled zipper, you got satin lining on the inside to make it cooler, it's got a hood," said Lowry as he compared his suits.

Dallas got a new suit this year that cost him $600 dollars without accessories. Add in boots, boot fur, a belt and bells from Belgium, and we're talking another $350.

"I was kind of shocked that we spent that much over the years to accessorize the suit and everything, we just buy this and then that," said Smith.

Add in beard maintenance - for Lowry it's $180 per month for three months, and Smith spends $100 for all of his products.

"Shampoos just for your beard, you got to have conditioner, beard oil all kinds of stuff," Smith said. "Got to have a special comb even."

You can't just pretend to be Santa overnight--it takes training. There's online classes and Santa College where you take Laughing 101.

"A proper laugh, not just a ho ho ho, and songs and dances and all kinds of things, " said Dallas and Jennifer Smith.

Lowry is a part of a group that offers Zoom training sessions on how to be a better Santa. 

You also have to get your suit dry cleaned which ranges from $20 to $100 once a month for three months. 

There is also Santa Insurance which costs more than $200 a year.

Some Santas use gig salad to book gigs which costs over $170 a month.

Making Christmas magic is a worthwhile investment to make a child smile.

"It's the world, I mean I can tell you that its just the greatest feeling."

"It's priceless it doesn't cost anything, we give those out for free," said Dallas and Jennifer Smith.

After adding all of Santas expenses it comes out to about $2000 dollars. The best advice Dallas and Jennifer have is to not start cheap and add accessories as you go.