Question: Organizing for pictures with Santa

We have a holiday night where students and family come into the gym, have ice cream sundaes, do crafts etc. We have Santa for pictures - in years past we have given out numbers for everyone to "line up" when their number group is called. It's a nightmare....#200 is behind # 24 etc....Do you have any suggestions of how I can make this go smoothly and ensure that those with the early numbers are actually being ahead of the pack....or something better than the number system??? Need help!

Asked by Anonymous

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Patty C @ PTO Today writes:
Organizing this depends on a few things; like if Santa’s only there for a fixed time (2, 3 or 4 hours?), and how many poses you’re allowing each family. I’d cap it at two poses for the sake of any blinks and blurs. When you advertise the photo sessions, have families register in advance of the event and instruct them to show up at least 15 minutes before their sitting. Sounds like you could reasonably schedule the portrait sittings in 2 or 3 minute intervals. (That should be enough to allow two poses per family and ready time for the next family). Let families know in advance that if they miss their designated sitting time, you might not be able to accommodate them at all that day. You’ll need at least three volunteers to make the Santa session go smoothly. One volunteer (using a microphone or PA system) can announce families names (3 or 4 at a time) to let them know that their 10 minute waiting period has arrived, and for those families to report to the “holding area.” Have one volunteer stationed there to check in families or turn those away whose names haven’t been called yet. And be sure someone’s there as clock keeper to keep things running on schedule. Hope this helps.