A small minority of people bitch about paying money for Santacon. The past several years, Santacon was much more expensive because Santa took sleighs. One of the great things about sleighs is that Santa can visit a lot of more consumer culture jamming places - like Santa's favorite stop: The Grove. (The Grove just loves Santa!)
If you attended Santacon last year, you know what a clusterfuck H&H is/was - this is why we did not return this year. There are surprisingly few consumer-culture jamming opportunities near a metro station. If you find one, let Santa know. It's also somewhat difficult to find bars that satisfy Santas needs, without pissing off/misleading the owner. Santa likes to be welcomed back next year. And remember, it never happens as planned. Who is in charge of 400 Santas? Santa!
The Secret Santa Cabal decided very early on, this would be a Metro year, which strikes out Santa Monica, most of the Westside, Beverly Hills and Glendale due to their lack of proximity near a metro stop. A metro year is cheaper, but that draws significant numbers. Santa was in the 300-400+ range this year. Santa loves numbers, but large numbers add logistical nightmares. (Who wants to make 500 jello shots?)
In past years, funds have gone to transportation, snow, bail money, jello shots, bar confirmations, drinks and tips to bouncers, bartenders and strippers, among other things. This year, funds went to pizzas, ponies, jello shots, tips for Karaoke, Mariachi's, beers, medals and trophies.
Santacon is not the mastermind/organization of one individual. Many thanks to all the Santas that helped make it happen big and small efforts all count. Santa likes to stay secret, but if you want to help make this event happen in the future, you know who to contact.
Those who bitch about making a small monetary donation for Santacon should remember that someone has to pay for the jello shots for those ponies.
This year's Santacon was different from last year's, and probably different from next year's, but they're all awesome and they remind me that there are *some* things I really like about the holidays.
Many thanks to Santa for all the hard work that went into organizing this. My heart grew three sizes that day.
Posted by: Santa | December 14, 2009 at 08:26 PM
First off, I really liked how you did the scaled ticket pricing. And no one envies herding cats and you should be commended for trying.
The only thing I take issue with is the statement: "Few consumer-culture jamming opportunities near a metro station." Our fine city has opportunities-a-plenty to wreak havok. "Culture Jamming" is where you make it. That being said, going to a private mall is always a bad idea, because Santa can be arrested for trespassing. Santa hates being arrested.
If shoppers are what you want, Colorado Boulevard would have been a great destination. (Metro Gold Line, Memorial Park Staion.) Lots of bars, lots of shoppers. (True, Pasadena PD are more humorless than LAPD, thus the guys that were pinched there last time Santa went through five years ago.)
Another destination could have been LA Live (7th Street Metro Station) Again, lots of bars, lots of shoppers.
Downtown is fine place for Santa. As Charles Pheonix reminds us, Disneyland is based on downtown's "It's a Small World" features.
(Oh, and, Jumbo's is only three blocks from the Hollywood/Western/Bukowski Metro Station.)
Posted by: wal | December 14, 2009 at 11:14 PM
This was my first Santacon ever & I love, love, LOVED it. I happily paid $10 & would pay double next year, so you'll get no pouting from me.
Wal - LA Live/Nokia would've been IDEAL...great suggestion. Maybe next year?
Posted by: Emma Leigh | December 15, 2009 at 03:40 AM
LA Live stop was pulled because of the rain. Santa has his eyes on it, for sure.
Posted by: Santa | December 15, 2009 at 07:57 AM
I love Santa for organizing. I know it's not easy. I feel bad that Santa has to put up with bitching and moaning from Santas who feel entitled to a shitload of fun for free. I will always gladly pay.
That being said, I do feel compelled to bitch about just one aspect of this year . . . the ponies. As a lifelong horseperson, I was a little bit disturbed to see some idiot standing with two ponies on slick wet concrete, with no rubber shoes or EZ boots for the ponies. That plus a few hundred drunken Santas seemed like a recipe for a disaster (and honestly, a potential fatality for a pony).
I loved and appreciated the thought behind the ponies, but I don't think that drunken Santas and live animals mix. I'm just glad that the ponies stayed calm and stayed standing while we were there (I was worried about them having to walk back even the short distance to the trailer).
Santa loved east LA.
Posted by: Santa | December 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM