To show our appreciation for those that strive to better their community, we are highlighting Jack Conway Go-Givers in a series, and for this special holiday edition, we are highlighting Stephen Damon!
Steve joined Conway Country in 1991. He works at the Bridgewater office and spends his spare time spreading the Christmas spirit as Santa Claus!
Steve’s role as Santa started four or five years ago, when he was asked to play Santa for an event by his son’s friend. For a couple of years, Steve played Santa when he was asked, for friends, the Cub Scouts, or seniors.
“Then two years ago I decided that I like doing it and I figured I’d get more professional at it. So, at that point I found out that there are basically two of what’s referred to as ‘Santa Camps’ in the country.” He explained that one Camp is located in Michigan, and another is in New Hampshire through the “New England Santa Society.” Steve has attended the New Hampshire Santa Camp for the past two years, and the program covers everything from creating the character, performance techniques, marketing your services, and more.
Steve said that the camp showed him just how much he didn’t know about being Santa Claus. The Santa Camp’s help train you for the types of questions you run into when you’re in a one-on-one situation, like a private party, when the kids come up and ask questions.
“Recently I had a youngster ask me ‘What color is my house?’ Now at this point you’re going ‘OK. What color is the house?’ I remember the answer to this. My answer was, ‘Well, honestly, I only see the roof of your house when I land with my reindeer. Plus, it’s dark outside, so I wouldn’t know what color your house was.’”
Steve said that there were about 50 to 75 other “Santa’s” in attendance at the Santa Camp in the two years he’s gone. The program has helped Steve in perfecting his Santa skills. Now, he is the weekend Santa for the Jordan’s Furniture in Avon.
While being Santa and interacting with children brings Steve joy, he sometimes hears Christmas wishes that go beyond fun and toys.
“I had one little girl, and her brother was autistic, and I had both of them on my lap and she leaned over and whispered, ‘Make my brother better.’ I mean, you know, that kind of takes the breath away from you.”
Steve has had some memorable experiences as Santa, but some of them are very close to home. Like when it comes to being Santa with a four-year-old grandson.
“He was over the other day and one of my Santa Jackets was hanging on the back of the chair, I had to have a new zipper sewed on it. And he comes by and says, ‘Oh, is that your Santa jacket?’ OK, how am I answering this one. I said ‘Well, yeah, that’s my Santa jacket.’ He said ‘OK’ and that was it. Then, I’m walking down the hallway and he’s right behind me and he says, ‘You’re going to bring me the toys I want, right?’
Steve as Santa at a holiday event at the Jack Conway Bridgewater office.
As he does with his grandson, Steve gets a kick out of the experiences and interactions he has with the children.
“Well, I think the big thing is the kids, and the responses you get from them. The children that are still true believers, you know that age group, probably three to six years old. Their reaction. I mean, they’re excited, they’re having a good time, smiling and it’s fun.”
The enjoyment of seeing kids happy is enough for Steve, but being Santa has also given him a new perspective when things get tough, or when work is challenging.
“I think it gives me a little rosier outlook on life. I mean with the way things go, I look back at what some of the kids have said, I look back at how I feel uplifted doing this and it gives me a little better outlook when things get tough in the real estate world.”
Thank you, Steve, for bringing joy and spirit to your community, for representing Jack Conway so well, and for being a true Go-Giver.
