The Practical Santa
Beginner Course
March 20–22, 2026 • Charlotte, NC
List of Topics
- NWardrobe choices Head to Toe
- NMake up
- NDesigner Bearded Santas and Real Bearded Santas
- NMarketing Yourself
- NPricing your Gigs
- NWhat Type of Santa Are you?
- NSanta visits
- NOrganizing your Santa Engagements
- NPreparation for your Event
- NRehearsal
- NBecome Santa: Character Development
- NQuestions for Santa
- NPutting it all together
- NMaking an Entrance
- NThe Controlling Santa
- NProblem areas at events
- NPost Event: what to do?
- NPutting your skills to Work
- NRole play and workshops
- NAdvance Class Topics
Additional Benefits of Prosanta.school
- NFree Sponsored Pizza Lunch on Sunday
- NFree Snacks and Drinks
- NOver 25 Door Prizes
- NPurchased Raffle for New Outfit
- NFellowship with all Attendees
- NWorkshops in small and large groups
- NFree Photography Santa and Mrs. Claus Photos (bring your outfits)
Course Instructor(s)
Doug Eberhart has been Santa Claus since the age of 14, charging for home visits in his hometown of Massillon, Ohio. The PRACTICAL Santa Course in the Spring, is a “must have” training course for anyone wanting to perform or portray Santa Claus. Doug built this popular course using his 48 years of experience and condensed it to PRACTICAL lessons all should learn. This 2. 5 day course begins on Friday Evening after dinner and goes through Sunday Afternoon.
Santa Doug is an International Santa Claus Hall of Fame member, being inducted into the class of 2025. He performs over 100 gigs each November and December for such clients as Nieman Marcus, The Carolina Panters, The town of Corneilus and specializes in home visit performances.
He is assisted in this course by two other wonderful Santa performers in the Charlotte Area; Stephen Price and Rich Lange.
Doug’s other companies include Prosantashop.com, (20218), a company that specializes in Santa and Mrs. Claus Attire, both custom=made and ready to wear, along with many other products like belts, bells, boots, buttons, shirts, waistcoats, vests, props etc. etc.
With an open mind, you will learn things taught over the 2.5 days of instruction. Prosanta.school was Started in 2020. Sign up now.
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 20th — Opening Night
| Topic | Speaker | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration / Sign In / Take Your Seat | Sign in 2nd floor, hotel | 6:45 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Opening Remarks, Schedule & Introductions | Doug Eberhart | 7:00 PM | 7:45 PM |
| Santa’s Wardrobe | Doug Eberhart | 7:45 PM | 8:45 PM |
| ProSantaShop is Brought to YOU | Doug Eberhart | 8:45 PM | 10:00 PM |
Saturday, March 21st — Full Day
| Topic | Speaker | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mingle, Water & Snacks | — | 7:30 AM | 8:00 AM |
| Visit by Santa | — | 8:00 AM | 8:30 AM |
| Opening Remarks | Stephen Price | 8:30 AM | 8:40 AM |
| Motivation & School Background | Doug Eberhart | 8:40 AM | 9:15 AM |
| Make-up & Beards | Rich Lange | 9:15 AM | 9:45 AM |
| Break | — | 9:45 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Workshop: HO HO HO / Entrance Walk & Pointers | — | 10:00 AM | 10:45 AM |
| Business Side of Being Santa | Rich Lange, Stephen Price | 10:45 AM | 11:45 AM |
| Lunch | — | 11:45 AM | 1:15 PM |
| Pricing | Rich Lange, Stephen Price, Len Myers | 1:15 PM | 1:45 PM |
| Workshop: Business Cards / Sales Sheets / Websites | — | 1:45 PM | 2:30 PM |
| Break | — | 2:30 PM | 2:45 PM |
| What Type of Santa | Doug Eberhart | 2:45 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Types of Santa Visits | Doug Eberhart | 3:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
| Organizing Your Santa Visits | ProSantaSolutions, Intake Forms, Excel | 3:15 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Exiting Your Venue | Doug Eberhart (Countdown, Farewell Poem) | 4:00 PM | 4:45 PM |
| Today’s Recap & Schedule | Doug Eberhart | 4:45 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Dinner on Your Own | — | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Photography Sessions (2 Photographers) | Strike a Pose: Stephen & Rich | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
Sunday, March 22nd — Final Day
| Topic | Speaker | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | — | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| Q & A Session | Doug, Stephen & Rich | 8:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Break | — | 10:00 AM | 10:15 AM |
| Santa Development | Doug Eberhart | 10:15 AM | 11:15 AM |
| Hair Whitening Demo | Rachel Jordan on Santa Russ Wilkinson | 11:15 AM | 11:30 AM |
| Pizza Lunch by ProSantaShop (Hair Whitening continues) | — | 11:30 AM | 1:30 PM |
| Putting Skills to Work | — | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM |
| Break | — | 2:30 PM | 2:45 PM |
| Finished Foundation & Comments | — | 2:45 PM | 3:45 PM |
| Final Wrap-up, Evaluations & Certificates | — | 3:45 PM | 4:30 PM |
| ProSantaShop is OPEN | — | 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM |
Venue & Hotel Information
Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte Waverly
7414 Waverly Walk Ave, Charlotte, NC 28277
For Hotel Reservations: Book Online | Call 704-992-9900
Cancellation/Refund Policy: Once a school slot has been paid for a person can receive 100% of the money paid prior to 30 days in advance of the school start date. Anything less than 30 days and the person(s) will be moved to the next school offering date. In the event that a person does not want to come to the new school offering, NO REFUND shall be given.