How a ‘Cameo Santa’ built his Christmas living room side hustle

The first time he dressed up as Eddy Rich Santa Claushe was just doing the neighbors a favour.

It was 1995. The neighbor ran breathlessly down a hill, around an alley and onto the doorstep of Tucker, Georgia, to say that the Santa he had hired for a party had suddenly canceled and was empty. a suit to fill, recalls the now 68-year-old.

He says wearing the costume and growing a long beard made him “feel like a superhero”. Thus began his three decades side hustle Like Santa Claus, starting with the town parties Migrating to Cameo custom video website — An online marketplace where people can buy personalized video greetings — in 2018.

Last year, she and her son Chris Rich — a 32-year-old property manager who helped set up his father on the platform and manages his presence there — earned about $52,000 from Cameo, including $14,700 during the week of Christmas, according to the documents. Reviewed by CNBC Make It.

They’re poised to do the same this year, with more than $30,000 in cash as of Friday afternoon, with Christmas week still to come. Father and son usually split the money 60-40, says Chris Rich.

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“(Eddy) is a master of his craft … He really cares about making good videos,” says Cameo CEO Steven Galanis. “It’s not just performing well (compared to others). It’s performing as well as anyone on the platform.”

When it started as a Santa party, Eddy Rich charged about $125 an hour for in-person events. At most, he could go to five parties a day, sitting in Atlanta traffic for hours, Chris Rich says.

Now, during the holiday season, Eddy Rich shoots 20 videos an hour, up to 10 hours a day, he says. Chris Rich works an extra five hours a day sorting orders, writing scripts and cutting videos. The days are long, but at $26.25 per video — the amount Riches takes home after Cameo keeps 25% of each transaction — they can make $525 an hour.

The average Santa makes about $60 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter job search platform.

When Eddy Rich first started out, he bought a $550 Santa outfit and paid $80 for a custom belt with a four-inch brass buckle made by a local jeweler, he says. He still wears that belt, and he buys his suit pieces for $40 at discount costume shops, keeping five red jackets and two pants in rotation at a time.

He films in front of the fireplace in his living room, decorated with nutcrackers and garland. He uses a ring light, tripod and iPhone 13 Pro Max to shoot, says Chris Rich. “He’s the colonel, I’m Elvis,” says Eddy Rich with a hearty laugh.

Performing from home helps Eddy Rich spend less time physically on his feet, no small feat for the party Santa. He can take breaks more easily, too. One year, she took a couple of days off when she had laryngitis, and quickly logged back in and spread Christmas cheer when her voice returned, says Chris Rich.

Today, Eddy Rich is retired from a full-time career as a supply store manager. Extra money in retirement is nice, but he largely spends his Santa money on others, he says.

“I’ve always been humble, but this has freed me up a little more,” says Eddy Rich. “I always leave big tips when I go out to eat because (the wait staff) are working their ass off during December. I try to spread the word and take care of people.”

“If we want to go do something or buy someone a gift, we can do it and not have to think twice,” added Chris Rich.

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