BrownOut Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I like going out and talking to the people stopping by to see my lights.(Solid lit LEDs until this year) This is my first year with LOR and I think many more will be coming by. Do any of you go out to visit? Do you dress up? I have ordered candy canes and an elf costume.-Logan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzaas Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Jeff Millard wrote: I've met many wonderful people by standing across the street pretending to be one of my own audience. And I have another take on it too. It always makes me smile to chat with people about the display, who don't know it's my creation... then afterwards... walk across the street and go in the front door.JeffI love to do that, as I start to walk to the door I always get, "Thats your house". It's fun and satisfying to stand across the street, pretending to be a spectator just to see the reactions from everyone else, good or bad. It lets you know where you might need work or where you did good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Jeff Millard wrote: It always makes me smile to chat with people about the display, who don't know it's my creation... then afterwards... walk across the street and go in the front door.I do exactly the same thing! Except I use the side door... I like hearing what people say without them knowing who I am. I don't want folks to feel compelled to say something nice just because I'm there. Besides, when they're out of their cars and dancing on the sidewalk and having a good time it's fun to be "at the party" with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I agree with both Jeff and George...not having a life of my own, I enjoy standing outside and watching the lights with those that have come by to stand on the sidewalk and watch and listen...and usually on the weekends, I am out directing traffic and watching the kids that are passing out candy canes to everyone.It also gives me a chance to watch and see where I can make improvements, so I am always out there with a small notepad taking notes for changes to sequences and new display ideas for next year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 My wife and I will dress as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and sometimes stand out near the curb or sit on a park bench in the yard and look to be "part of the display", we've been doing this for years, long before my first LOR display which was Halloween, then Christmas for 2010.We've startled a few folks from time to time, them thinking we're just a couple of stuffed dummies being part of the display, that is, until we stand up and I grab the Santa Sack of Candy Canes to hand out to both the children and the adults that come by to look (prior to LOR, we did use a canned Mr. Christmas for 2 years 2008 and 2009, then on to LOR in 2010.)Not sure how this is going to work out this year at the apartment, but we'll see how it goes this year.We also go out dressed in our Mr. & Mrs. Claus attire and pass out Candy Canes as we visit other displays in our area too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Orville wrote: them thinking we're just a couple of stuffed dummies being part of the display,Boy..and I thought I made it easy for George...too many choices..I can't even pick ONE!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryBo Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I also go outside to meet the guests. Several times dressed as Santa and Chris dressed as Mrs Santa. Out next door neighbor girl is a preteen and is our "Chief Elf",complete with ears and outfit. We serve hot chocolate and cookies, and give out candy canes to all the "kids". On this last Christmas Eve we served well over 200 cups of chocolate, and gave out about 400 candy canes. Cars were parked literally from one end of the block to the other. We were outside from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM.The response and thanks always is fantastic. It is a part of why we do it.As an added benefit to our guests meeting us and knowing us, when we go garage "saleing", they acknowledge us as "Oh! you are the Christmas House" or somethingsimilar. We usually get Christmas stuff at a good price and often freebie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mitchell Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Yes. We gave away about 2000 candy canes last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 jimswinder wrote:Orville wrote: them thinking we're just a couple of stuffed dummies being part of the display,Boy..and I thought I made it easy for George...too many choices..I can't even pick ONE!!!After all these years, I now know what it feels like to be Reggie Jackson seeing a fat one coming right down the middle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownOut Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks for everyone's input! Is it time to put the lights out yet??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 George Simmons wrote: After all these years, I now know what it feels like to be Reggie Jackson seeing a fat one coming right down the middle...you are talking baseball...right??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 jimswinder wrote:George Simmons wrote: After all these years, I now know what it feels like to be Reggie Jackson seeing a fat one coming right down the middle...you are talking baseball...right??? Well, given the headlines of the day I suppose I could be talking about Arnold the Sperminator also... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddmoon Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I live in a small town and most locales know me so trying to pretend that I am just one of the crowd does not work for me.Something that I have been wanting to do, is I run a virtual Santa video in one of the windows of my home.I want to dress up as santa when I have folks watching and when Santa walks away from the window towards my door I will pause the video and walk out the door to greet the kids and hand out candy canes.I have also been thinking about building a sleigh prop to go over my four wheeler and I could drive it around the block on Christmas eve just to give the kids a little extra excitement for Christmas Eve.The kids and the kids inside us is what makes it all worth while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rise Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Jeff Millard wrote: Yes! A resounding yes! I met this years Philly event host by walking out and introducing myself. I've met many wonderful people by standing across the street pretending to be one of my own audience. And I have another take on it too. It always makes me smile to chat with people about the display, who don't know it's my creation... then afterwards... walk across the street and go in the front door.JeffThat's a great idea. Just pretend to be a spectator, so folks don't feel obligated to say how great it looks. Maybe you'll get to hear what they don't like about it so that you can make changes for next year.Also love the idea of dressing up as Santa and sitting in, becoming part of your show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjd35 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I dont know if i could blend in with the crowd either I live in a small town. I actually on sunday had a husband and wife come up to me and said they really enjoyed my christmas lights this year they watched it for a hour. Wanted to know if i was going to do it this year I said yes with hopefully a few more things added. When they left I had no clue who they where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddmoon Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I live in a town of 5000. So I do not know everyone in the community but it seems like they all know me. Even if they do not know my name right off they know I am the guy with all the lights and the Santa Clause inside my house.I get comments from people year round. I will have people just walking down the street even just yesterday commenting on my display. The Santa Clause in the window still seems to be the one thing that gets the most attention. Yea, the lights to music is cool and fun but the kids still get the most kick out of Santa in the window. Even the older ones sit there and try and figure out how it works and is it really me dressed as Santa Clause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6918 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Although they are proud of the display, my wife and kids would rather walk on hot coals than leave or enter the house when cars are out front. Occasionally, we come home after dark and have to wait down the street until there is a break in the traffic to pull into the garage and get the door closed before the next string of cars comes along. Because I like to keep the street open in front of the house, I make the kids park their cars a house or two down the street. On a couple of occasions, my teenage son has left the house by the back door, jumped a couple of the neighbors fences to get to his car. My daughter calls when she is a block or two away from home so we can have the front door unlocked so she can get in fast and not fumble with keys.On the other hand I like to stand across the street from my house and watch the cars. I like to judge the reaction to the songs, and try to assess the most popular songs based on how long cars stay to listen. When I get compliments it makes all the work worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Slonka Jr Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I too go out and greet the people that stop by and on Christmas eve I pass out candy canes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EARLE W. TALLEY Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 The week of Christmas I put on my Santa suit and pass out candy canes. This has been a great way to meet the people and to get some feed back on the display. I live in a 55+ community and have found that this is the only thing that some of the people see and do for Christmas. I will try to continue the display as long as I can, to keep all of us "old people" happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHolmes Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Jeff Millard wrote:Yes! A resounding yes! I met this years Philly event host by walking out and introducing myself. I've met many wonderful people by standing across the street pretending to be one of my own audience. And I have another take on it too. It always makes me smile to chat with people about the display, who don't know it's my creation... then afterwards... walk across the street and go in the front door.JeffAbsolutely! I sometimes come out as Santa and sometimes I just mingle.It is GREAT! And allows me to know what audiences like and don't like.It's enjoyable but also great research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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