In this Episode, Kelly is joined by CEO of American Christmas: Dan Casterella! He has been the leader of the company since 2017 which is responsible for all of the incredible Christmas decorations around midtown that we know and love.
Kelly starts the episode off by asking Dan about how he started working with the company. Dan talks about how he loved decorating houses for Christmas since he was a kid and how he would even cut class in high school in order to decorate houses!
Dan talks about his journey through the company; starting as an installer and working his way up to becoming CEO! He talks about how he runs the company, and what it means to be in a seasonal buisness. Dan talks about how he and his employees deal with the stress of Christmas and what it means for them and their families.
Kelly asks Dan about The Headquarters in Mount Vernon, Westchester. Kelly talks about his visit to the facilities and all of the different iconic fixtures of Christmas in NYC that he got to see. Dan talks about how they let visitors tour the facilities and on the weekends kids take pictures with Santa Clauese. Dan donates all of the proceeds from santa clause to local organizations that help local youth.
Kelly asks Dan about instalations. How long they take, what the planning process is like and where they go around the City. Dan talks about some of the world famous fixtures that they do, such as the one at Saks 5th Ave, Radio City Musica Hall and all over 5th and 6th ave in midtown.
Dan talks a bit about the other work that they do all over the country. He tells us which state has the biggest market for christmas in the country, and what the second biggest city that they decorate is.
Jae asks about some more details regarding the creation process, and Dan talks about the two different ways that they work on projects: Clients come to them with the idea that they have to execute, or their prefered way which is doing all of the creating and designing themselves. He talks about what that process is like too.
Finally, Kelly asks him what his favorite christmas decoration is in New York and Dan surprises us and says that it's one that he doesn't do!
But above all else; Dan Casterella is a New Yorker.
Kelly Kopp's Social Media:
@NewYorkCityKopp
American Christmas on Social Media:
@AmericanChristmas
Jae's Social Media:
Studiojae170@gmail.com
Chapters
- (00:00:00) - The New Yorkers: Dan Castorella
- (00:02:10) - American Christmas: Celebrating the Holidays
- (00:05:24) - How to Win at Your Job
- (00:09:21) - How to Create a Holiday Installation in New York
- (00:14:30) - Santa Claus and the Mount Vernon Christmas
- (00:15:57) - Christmas decorations on display in New York
- (00:17:33) - Tree Lighting in New York
- (00:19:57) - American Christmas Expands
- (00:21:28) - Christmas in America: Dan Lowe
- (00:25:08) - How To Put Up a Christmas Tree!
- (00:28:24) - What is the biggest project that you do?
- (00:29:41) - Favorite Decorations in New York
- (00:31:53) - Do You Design Christmas Decorations?
- (00:34:07) - An Installation With a Proposal
- (00:36:21) - Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Display
- (00:40:34) - The New York City Holiday Decorations
- (00:42:19) - Favorite Subway Line in New York
- (00:44:17) - Christmas in New York
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