$175-an-hour Santa sues to keep job

Of course discretion is paramount to Tyson's Corner. For years, they've had the best Santa in town. They didn't want potential customers to know ahead of time that when they made those special pilgrimages to Tyson's for Mr. Graham's Santa that they weren't going to get him. After getting the kids excited to see Santa, the parents aren't likely to leave. They'll still stay and spend money at the Mall and then go home. But they won't come back next year, will they? Short sighted, indeed. I watched Mr. Graham in action - he is worth 10 times the going rate of any other Mall Santa Claus out there. I don't even have kids and I'm saying it - he was always a pleasure to watch when I shopped in Tyson's during the Christmas season. Besides, as a business decision? It's called a loss leader, Tyson's. People come for the excellent Santa experience, and spend money at the restaurants and shops while they're there. That's how it works. The $30,000 he makes in the short period of time I'm sure is more than recouped by the Mall and whatever photographer the Mall hires.

It's not fair to ask people to "stay away from Tysons Corner", there are many retailers that depend on holiday traffic to support their families. After all, part of the $175 per hour Santa's grievance ($175 hr 2nd job mind you)is that he had suffered a great financial loss because of this... Let's try not to add to the gloom of the events that we really have only heard one side of. Tysons Corner is the premier center in the Washington DC area and should be shown a little more respect for what they have provided us over the past decades... Cheer up, I'm sure that the new Santa will do a great job and hopefully he won't come with a PR firm...

Typical Media trash report. Check out wages for Santas at http://blogs.payscale.com/ask_dr_salary/2006/12/santa_salary.html $175.00/hr is very reasonable for a good santa and by the report and feedback at WP site, this was an extraordinarly good Santa. YES it is fair to ask people to stay away from any company that conducts business as Tysons has done in this case. That is an upscale mall and they were getting a bargin price on their Santa. It is our right and responsibility to express our discontent with bad faith actions by individuals and businesses. Those retailers in Tyson's need to stand up and be counted as against that decision OR they can ride along be sheep and get sheared this holiday season. West and left - You try dedicating 2 months of your life a year to putting strange and often unruly kiddos on your lap, getting them to pose for a picture and maintain a "Jolly" disposition. Not to mention providing your own wardrobe, grooming and preparing yourself in a somewhat different look just for 2 months of work. You'd make a Great Grinch!

The rate of $175.00 is absurd for a Santa. For county workers in this region, who are being furloughed 80 hours, maybe we can apply on our days off and get paid to make up for much lower and lost wages! I doubt strippers even make that much for a lap dance!

I am a Santa Claus and book other Santas in Los Angeles. Going rates for private parties are $125 to $200 per hour for a fake-beard Santa, but real-beard Santas are even more expensive, some up to $400 per hour. Hey, it's what the free market allows! Plus, they're able to work only one month out of the year. Mall Santas are especially expensive, sometimes earning up to $40,000 for five weeks' work. So grow up, guys.

Keep in mind that $175/hour is not his salary. That is what his business charges. Out of that, he has to pay for equipment, supplies, training, health insurance, life insurance, retirement, employer's portion of FICA, travel, room and board while away from his home in Tennessee, and damage to his regular business while he is away for 2 months. Plus, these days, probably malpractice insurance. So his "salary" is probably more like $50/hour. Add to that the fact that he is away from his family and friends for two months. Add to that the fact that the job requires him to work Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings, and overtime for at least a few weeks straight. In summary, his pay is good but not absurd.

How much business do you think they will lose over that BAD decision. There are very few santas that are good at their jobs. I've taken my kids every year to the Walmart in Westerly RI to see the same santa (darrell)for the past 9 years. All 5 of my kids love him! If they got a different santa...I...would get a different store to shop!

Funny - no one has second thoughts about Hollywood actors making millions for a single film. And most of them have the morals of an alley cat and the IQ of a pet rock! On the other hand, we could have an economic system like the former Soviet Union where there were NO Santa's and NO movies (worth watching anyway). What's most amazing to me is how little Americans understand basic Economics. But that doesn't keep them from voicing their opinions about it does it? Maranatha!

S u c k it up, Santa ... you've had it good for a LONG time. It's obvious why they fired him ... in a poor economy with retails sales projected poorly this season, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO CONTINUE PAYING GRAHAM $30,000 FOR 6 WEEKS WORK???!! Excuse me, but "three $900 custom-tailored velvet suits he goes through each year, or the boots that go for $725 a pair"???? Married to a professional mall Santa Claus myself (with the same company that Graham worked for), my Santa has TWO custom-tailored velvet suits that last him about 3-4 years each!!! And he paid less than $200 for his leather Santa boots!! And the company provides Santa suits ... they don't require you to make your own; that's your choice, Santa. Graham is paid double what the typical long-term, large market Santa gets. He should be GRATEFUL for $30K X 18 years worth!! $30,000 is more than most people make in a year! And Graham has been enjoying that for 18 years, working only 6 weeks a year? Sheesh! My Santa hubby lost his job with the company after 5 years in a large market, no explanation, and the parents were upset, as we were. But that's life. Contract employees know the risk. But if he really has a contract until 2012, he should contest the issue.

So much for the Christmas Spirit! With the economy going SOUTH, seems like a little tradition would go a long way to keep people coming to the mall to shop. It's all about money hungry greediness! To heck with the kids and the parents who were the kids of yesterday. Let's just commercialize this holiday more. I hope World Wide Photography suffers great monetary losses for the stupid decision it has made. And I hope Michael Graham comes out the winner in this situation.

Hello people, This santa isn't only the best santa in the world-he's my dad. and though I may be a bit prejudice, he is worth every bit of the salary they paid him. In comment to "mrsanta92" the things you don't know, is what makes him worth so much. you don't know that he starts santa nov 14 and doesn't quit till christmas eve. he spends 8 hours in a chair getting his hair bleached. you don't know that he only get 2 breaks during the day after spending 10 hours in a chair lifting not only little babies, but quite chubby kids. He doesn't get up for a bathroom break, he doesn't get up if he needs a drink. he sits in a suite that can get up to 100 degrees without proper ventilation just so that children can see santa and tell them what they would like for christmas. What you also don't know is that the salary he gets is offered by the mall and this santa, who has to provide housing for himself while in d.c.( which anyone who lives there knows it isn't the cheapest). also providing food and shelter for his family can become quite expensive. factor into that great amount, his travel time(10 hours) for both directions, gas, and expenses for keeping his appearence up and the left over amount isn't very much. His suits, btw aren't thrown away every year, they are used up to 3 years. now you many think it isn't long but lets think about the nature of velvet. then think about how many people sit on his lap( about 800 or more daily) then think about the dirty diaper, sticky fingers, and plain old dirt that people have and see how long that fabric will last. so s--k it up santa? i don't think so. Side note- he is actually the one that called the mall and only then ( 1 mo before he needed to be there) did the mall tell him that he wouldn't be used.

hello, 2nd to what Santa's 3rd is saying. My mom is representing him(pam deese). My family and i have seen michael for the past 14 years, if its just me i don't know if anyone has sat on his lap for that long. yeah i know it does seem to be a little childish to sit on santa's lap every year until you are 14, but he is something else. There is just something about him that is just different about him which makes him our santa, or the "real" santa. For one example my sister(10) still believes in santa because of him and his magical ways with the kids. She has not seen anything about this case and we do not intend to spoil the secret. So all you people out there who think that 175 dollars an hour is a lot, you should consider yout circumstances. Why don't you ask your parents what they make an hour once they factor everything in. And santa's 3rd i respect where you are coming from and i know my mom will do her best to get him his job back. goodnight

Dear Santa's 3rd, Oh. this is not happening. It makes me sad that that your dad has been let go (and in such a tacky manner) after being a community icon for 18 years. While I haven't had the priveledge of meeting him, it is rare to have a man of honor that is so dedicated to hearing the hearts of children. What a precious and irreplaceable gift. The mall owners/management wouldn't bat an eye to pay a celebrity to represent their stores. Tyson's corner has a chance to make things right. If they don't, business will be affected. What they don't realize is Mr. Graham is a celebrity (and he needs a raise). He has a contract that was breached. He didn't do anything to warrant being let go. They didn't even have the decency to inform him. That's not right. Ya don't mess with Christmas. Thank you for sharing your heart about what your dad does. we need more like him. :0) Best wishes, K. day

WWJD

What Would Jesus Do? He would remind us that Christmas was about HIM and not Santa. Lord, THANK YOU, for coming to die for us and take the penalty for OUR sin. And THANK YOU that Someday, You will create a new heavens and a new earth and all the foolishness of this world will pass away. (Revelation 21 & 22) May You be forever praised. Amen!