How to have the most wonderful Skype call

By Matthew de Beer as written on blogs.skype.com

As you know, Skype exists to bring you closer to those who are dear to you, even when you’re far apart. And if you have young children you’ll know that the person dearest to them at this time of year is none other than jolly ol’ Saint Nick, even though the North Pole is a long way away.

For a truly special Skype call this holiday season, why not create a call to Santa for your youngsters? It takes a bit of effort, but it could be a memory they treasure for life, even after the magic wears off.

Step 1: Setting the scene

The first thing you’ll want to do is plan where the call is going to take place. Santa could use Skype on his tablet or mobile, but you’ll have a lot easier time setting the scene if you know in advance exactly what parts of the North Pole will be visible during your Skype call. So set up your laptop or webcam before you start decorating.

We could give you some tips on what Santa’s workshop should look like, but your inner-child probably already knows what’s needed – lots of “Ho, ho, ho” and even more snow, snow, snow!

Also, Santa needs a microphone to be heard, like everyone else, but a headset might spoil the effect a bit (not to mention the risk of beard accidents!). A USB speakerphone like the JABRA Speak 410 concealed in a pile of presents near Santa’s chair would be perfect.

Step 2: Get the mood right

A lot of the mood in a room comes from the way it’s lit. When it comes to dark winter nights and cozy hearthside gatherings nothing beats the warm glow of an open flame. But candles alone probably won’t provide enough light for a typical webcam.

You can supplement candles in the room with some artificial lights if you get the right bulbs, though. You’re looking for bulbs with a low “color temperature” – the closer you can get to 1800K (the color of candle light) the better. Your local hardware store should stock lightbulbs in a range of colors for you to choose from.

Step 3: Write a script

As we know, kids are nothing if not unpredictable, but having a rough idea of what you should and shouldn’t say to keep up appearances on the call is a good idea. Toddlers can ask surprisingly tough and unexpected questions, but you might be able to avoid some of them if you steer the conversation down more predictable paths.

Step 4: Make sure Santa is camera-ready

Once you know where Santa will be sitting, you’ll know what parts of his outfit he’ll need for the special occasion. With some careful angling of the camera, he might be able to keep his bunny slippers on rather than shell out for those expensive black boots, for example.

Step 5: Make magic!

Now all you need to do is put your youngster(s) in front of Skype, start the call from Santa and let the most wonderful Skype call of the year take place. If you need a little help getting the call going, feel free to check in with our friends at Skype Support.

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If you do set up a call with Santa this holiday season, make sure to record it for the sake of posterity. We’d also love to see the result on the Skype Community to get us all in the festive spirit.