I was playing Santa in the mall near the town where I live. It was an especially busy night, a lot of people Christmas shopping, and hundreds of children visiting me. I am always aware of what is going around near me. I have sensitive hearing when it comes to parents talking to their children, as they are still a good distance away. My eyes are constantly checking the people as they mill around Santa. The decorations, Christmas smells like peppermint, evergreen boughs, and food cooking lingering in the air; with the lights twinkling all around me and kids laughing. I noticed a couple of men watching the kids and me. They had to be about 25 or 28 years old. Their appearance was neat enough, and they were not loud or bothering anybody. Just standing there watching as a lot of other parents and adults do. I started to get suspicious, when I saw them pointing at this child and that, and writing something down in a compact notebook. Mall Security advised me to report anything out of the ordinary or fishy to them. Since these people hung around for more than an hour, and I saw them talking to several kids after those same kids left me, I motioned to a roving security officer. The security guard called in for another guard who arrived in a heartbeat. Together they both confronted the two men. After several minutes, the security guard motioned for me to come over. Since I had no children waiting at that particular time, I walked over to them with caution. One of the men stuck his hand out to me and introduced himself and his friend. It seems another mall in the area heard about my work as Santa Claus, and sent these two men to watch me and get an idea on what to do. We all laughed, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I met with them later after my shift to give them some of my experiences and wisdom gained over the years.
Another thing that I am in constant watch for is a child not attached to an adult. If I see a child not with a parent or an older sibling, either one of my helpers or I will watch over the child to a parent comes and gets them. Sometimes we will take them to the Mall Security. It happens more than you think. Kids will see Santa and they get away without their parents knowing it. I ask where their mommy or daddy is. If they cannot point them out to me, or the parent does not say that one’s mine, I go into action. I feel good that I have taken control of the situation and that child in not in any danger by being alone.
It is important to have a good working support team of helpers and assistants while playing Santa at the malls. They can be invaluable, and make your time go easier. Helpers watch Santa to make sure he is not in need of anything.
Santa goes long hours greeting and talking to kids and adults. (They see if he needs Water, Soda, break, etc.) The staff also needs to listen to parents and the kids. It is important not only to record the compliments, but also the complaints. There is the ever-present crowd control, mischief-makers, and let us not forget in this day and age, suspicious adults. If your staff is not in control and with you in this, the line gets long, parent’s patience gets short, and Santa gets over tired. If Santa tries to organize things, it takes away from him playing Santa Claus. A good staff person can help with convincing the kids that Santa is real. Going to the parents in line and asking the kids name or maybe the name of a pet. On the other hand, it could be something the child needs to improve, or a good thing the youngster has done.
With large groups, the hardest thing is trying to get everyone to smile at the same time. I cannot even tell you the amount of retakes of pictures we do. I believe the largest group I ever had in one sitting was eleven people, all kids from several families. Ages range from eight to thirteen, and I have a copy of the picture to prove it.
There is the feeling that there is no let up sometimes. The line is endless when you want or need to take a break. It is hard to tell people when they have a kid crying to see Santa, that Santa has to feed his reindeer (bathroom break). You tell your staff to shut the line by closing the ropes. People will just step over, and the line continues. To make all these people happy, I keep seeing kids even to the discomfort of not going to the bathroom. The kids just keep coming. I am hot and uncomfortable sitting for long periods. I stand to stretch my legs, and a child is right there with a gleam in their eyes.
You are thirsty from talking so much, but it is so busy; your staff cannot even take a minute to go and get you a drink. In addition, the lifesavers ran out hours ago.
At first, it was great doing Santa at the malls, and it still is, but you get so tired day after day. I look forward to that 15-minute break every two hours. In the beginning, I would work the entire time, sometimes eight hours with only an occasional bathroom break. Do you know how hard it is to smile all the time when you are tired? Alternatively, when the kids ask for the same things day after day. Some of them kids will come back and tell you again just to make sure you heard them.
I had a man come up to me and hand me five dollars for some needy kids. He said he was a Vietnam vet, and could not have kids due to his wounds he got overseas. He says, since I look like SC, I knew more kids than he did. He gives me this bear hug, and says welcome home brother. How he knew I was a veteran, I do not know to this day. I passed the money on the Toys for Tots that the U.S. Marines was sponsoring at the other end of the mall.
There have been a few times that I wanted to quit, but some parent always says, “You are the best Santa I have ever seen.” “Santa can you talk to God about my grandmother, or I love you Santa.” Those words keep me going for another year. All around me, I hear “hi Ho-Ho! Hi Santa!” It is fun to have all these kids pulling at me, and vying for my attention.
Here are more words to live by. Hold a small child's hands (age 6mos to 1 1/2 years) they will grab at your beard. If your beard is real, it will hurt. If your beard is false, it will come off. Little kids who are at that age are strong. Kids who do not want to sit on Santa's lap will kick and scream. I usually come away with some sore shins. If you expect a lot of this, try wearing shin guards. They will not show under the Santa suit. I wish I had them when this boy came up to me. He walked right up to Santa and kicked me hard in the shin. He raises an index finger to Santa and says. "You'd better not forget me this year!" Chances are with that kind of attitude is why he was bypassed last year.
