EP 529 The Secret Santa Business That Has Nothing to Do With Gift-Giving | AI Side Hustle | make money online | entrepreneur tips | ai entrepreneur
How AI-Powered Holiday Magic Is Making Parents $75 Per 15-Minute Video Episode Summary
Tracy Brinkmann reveals how parents are using AI to create personalized Santa videos and earn $2,000+ before New Year's. Drawing from his own experience running this exact business model in the 1990s with dial-up internet, Tracy shows how modern AI tools make this seasonal opportunity 10x easier and more profitable. This episode provides the complete system for transforming yourself into Santa using AI face-swap technology and charging premium prices for magical personalized messages.
Key Timestamps & Insights00:00 - Opening 00:33 - Episode Overview 00:50 - The Market Reality Check 01:31 - The Personal Story Setup 03:35 - Tracy's 1990s Credibility Story ⭐ KEY INSIGHT 05:35 - The Modern AI System Overview 07:25 - Video Creation Process ⭐ KEY STRATEGY 09:00 - Pricing Strategy ⭐ CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR 10:40 - System Building & Templates 12:25 - Why This Matters ⭐ BIG PICTURE 14:45 - Personal Christmas Memory Story 16:45 - Whiskered Wisdom & Action Step
Key Strategies Shared The Complete AI Santa System:-
Script Generation: Use ChatGPT with specific prompt formula
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Video Creation: AI face-swap technology + festive backgrounds
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Pricing Structure: $75-$125 base, premium add-ons
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Platform Distribution: Fiverr, Etsy, Facebook groups
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Template Development: Create reusable scripts for efficiency
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Tracy successfully ran this business model in 1998
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Parents paid $20-$50 per call with primitive technology
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Modern AI tools make the process 10x easier and more profitable
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Families pay for Christmas morning magic, not technical services
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Personalization creates emotional value worth premium pricing
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Local parent networks provide built-in trust and referral systems
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ChatGPT
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Claude
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Face Swap
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Reface
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Polo AI
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Creator Kit
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Runway (backgrounds)
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PIKA (backgrounds)
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CapCut
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Simple phone video editors
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Fiverr
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Etsy
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Facebook Marketplace
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Local parent Facebook groups
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AI Escape Plan Newsletter - practical AI strategies for parents DarkHorseInsider.com
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Research Local Demand: Spend 30 minutes checking Facebook groups, Nextdoor, parenting forums for holiday service requests
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Test AI Tools: Download and experiment with face-swap apps
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Create First Script: Use the ChatGPT prompt formula for a sample Santa message
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Set Up Accounts: Create profiles on Fiverr, Etsy, or local Facebook groups
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Create Sample Video: Record your first Santa message using AI tools
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Price Testing: List your service with the suggested pricing structure
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Template Development: Create reusable scripts for different child types
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Process Optimization: Streamline your 15-minute creation process
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Expand Offerings: Consider year-round character opportunities
"What took me hours of recording and phone coordination in 1998, you can do in 15 minutes with AI and a smartphone."
"You're not selling a video. You're selling Christmas morning magic."
"The biggest opportunities hide in plain sight, disguised as other people's holiday stress."
"AI doesn't replace human connection — it amplifies it."
Call to ActionReady to turn this holiday season into your family's financial breakthrough? The AI Escape Plan newsletter delivers practical, AI-powered strategies that work around family life. Get step-by-step systems, real case studies, and support that turns "what if" into "I did it."
Subscribe at: DarkHorseInsider.com
Episode URL: DarkHorseSchooling.com/EP529
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