[SantaDave]

How I got started is kind of a funny story. Hope you enjoy it.

1977. I was 14 years old and a freshman in High School. I had to go to the doctor for something. I think it was
for a tetnus shot. Anyway, we got to talking as usual, (I went to school with his son. I was a year ahead of him.), and he asked if he could ask a favor of me. I, of cours said sure and asked what was on his mind. Here is pretty much the complete conversation we had. The first question out of his mouth was what I thought was the dumbest question you could ask a kid at that time. Actually it kind of still is.

Dr. Rice: "Do you want to make some money for Christmas?"

Me: "Well Duh!!!! That's kind of a no brainer Doc. What do you want done"

Dr. Rice: "I am having a party next week and want to know if you would play Santa for me?"

Well, now... I had no desire to do anything like that. I was a shy kid growing up and was deathly afraid of crowds and the like. So I came with the best excuse I thought there was.

Me: "Well Doc, I would love to help you out, but I don't have a Santa suit. Sorry."

Dr. Rice: "IIIINNNKKKK!!!!!!! Wrong answer!!!! I got one you can use"

Well I knew I was done for. A day or so later he brought it over for me to try on. It fit. I went and did his party. Have to admit, it was fun. I knew most of the kids that were there. There were 2 that I did not know.
I actually saw a couple of them last year when I went home for class reunion, and we got to talking about my
being Samnta nowadays. They said they still can't get over that it was me that night so long ago.

Anyway, the next day, I took the suit to the cleaners and had it cleaned, took it back to him, he cut me a check for $40.00 and said to keep the suit. Now folks, for those of you that remember those days, you know that $40.00 was a lot of money back then. I took that suit home, placed an ad in the paper, and did a handful of parties for the last few days before Christmas. Had a Blast!!!!!! That was the beginning for me.


While I was home last year, I went to see Doctor Rice. Was informed he was in Iraq or Afganistan. He is in
the Military Reserves as a Doctor. Whenever I go home, (About once a year at least), I go by and see him.
I let him know this was his fault. HA HA HA. I do thank him for this. If it wasn't for having to go see him that day so long ago, I would not be here doing this.

[Santa Rielly]

Great story Santa Dave! Thanks for sharing!
:spinthanks:

[AuntieMistletoeElf]

:thumbup2: That is a good story, Santa Dave. I'll bet it helped you with your shyness a bit too.

[Santa TJS]

While I got my first Santa suit at age 12 and did an appearance as a santa elf with my Uncle Phil as Santa. My first time putting on the suit as an adult came when my late father decided that he needed to be around with the grandkids when Santa arrived. My father had been Santa for them and for us too as kids at the cubscout parties. Well all 130 lbs of me back then put on Dad's suit .My Dad's 220lb frame did not need the pillows I used to fill out the suit. That was 25 years ago but thats how it began.

[Santa Robert in KC]

I started as Santa about 15 years ago. I'm with the Greater Kansas City Dog Club (An AKC Obedience Club).

At one of the meetings, someone suggested we do pet photos as nobody in the area was doing them and they had seen it done elsewhere. Somebody had a camera, someone a chair, somone else had some drapes for a backdrop and some props. One person said her brother in law had a Santa Suit she could borrow. They then said they needed a Santa and everyone looked around at me. I've had my beard for over 30 years and I come in Extra Large size so they said I was a natural.

So in a Borrowed (read CHEAP) Santa suit, rubber boots and nasty spray in white on the beard, I did the pictures. They came out great.

After several years, my Mrs and my Mother conspired and my Mom made me a very nice Velvet Santa Suit. I have three total now. Still do the pet pictures as well. I've had some people who look for me for their pictures and have 8-10 years of pictures in a row on the wall - Me with all their pets each year.

Santa Robert in KC

[AuntieMistletoeElf]

:stock: Thank you for adding your stories, Santa TJS and Santa Robert!

[Santa Jim of RI]

My first time of portraying Santa was also at a local animal shelter. I was trying to encourage people to come to the shelter with hope that some of the dogs and cats would be adopted. I did not have a real beard back in those days. The Chief of Police would not allow anything but a moustache. I look back at those photos and now know why children were afraid of Santa. The next time I wore the suit was with a real beard and the suit the mall provided. I have done several sittings for pet photos to benefit two local shelters. Since I was working at the Animal Hospital at the time we got quite a few pet owners to get their phtos taken with the pets.

Santa Jim of RI

[Santa Buchan]

I would love to be a Santa in a mall/department store one day

[SantaCraig]

put on my first suit 10 years ago. It was a wal mart suit, think I paid 20 bucks for the suit, beard, belt. I dont even remember the reason I bought it, but I would put on the jacket and beard, hat, and then me and my girlfriend (now wife) and another couple would drive around the mall parking lot at night and wave to kids, it was fun!

Then about 6 years ago I was up at our hunting camp when my uncle from dallas came up one day and we were just talking and he told me about the time he hired Santa to come to his house for this daughter. The next day sitting out in the woods all day my mind just kept rehashing the time I took that chheap suit and went around waving to kids, and how this could actually be fun, rewarding, and make me a bit of extra spending money to boot. When I got home from hunting, I searched the net high and low and found a real nice suit (paid 300 bucks for it and was sweating the whole time wondering if I would even recoop that money) I went out that first year and did quiet a few "gigs" and not only made the money back but enough to invest in some other "Santa needables" to make the character into what it is supposed to be. The more jobs I did, the better I became.

My Santa business has sprung from those humble days of a cheap suit and cheap thrills of getting a kid to smile, to now a very professional look and act, but it is the cheap thrill of a kid smiling and having fun that makes me want to get into that suit every year.

[Santa TJS]

You have come along way for sure. What a beautiful suit & beard, you do a complete and realistic portrayal as Santa. An example for others,Well done!

[Santa Buchan]

I havn't really told the whole story when I became Santa it was in 2003 I was in a mall watching a Santa and thaught I'd love to be Santa and I just happen to see a notice board about The Santa Run, I took a note of the address and wrote of my application form. On the day I was greeted by red suits everywhere I put on my suit and I felt this is it forever it felt like I had abit of Christmas magic in me and I had a fun in the run ever since. I have kept the newspaper cuttings and they all say the real Santa could be in there. A great thrill for me was 2 years ago I went to a event up town were many folk of the Santa Run came in their suits during the event a little girl tugged on my suit and tod me what she wanted for Christmas, her Mum whispered "she thinks your the real Santa" which was a great honour. the suits at The Santa Run havn't always been good so last year I went out and bought a better suit which is very comfy and so for this year I've got a better beard so I'll look like a proper Santa.

[Santa Bill]

I first put on the red suit about 18 years ago. It was for a famliy christmas party.I did that for a couple of years. Then the place I worked wanted to have Santa on the weekends. It was a home improvment co. We built a Santa's workshop it had some tools in it and I would make little things and then I would hand them out to the people. And we would take photo's of the kids with santa. Then I started to do home vists. Been doing them every year. Then the last 2 years I have more or less stayed Santa all year long and it has been a blast.

[Santa Bear]

I love reading all of your stories.

I can remember being very young, four or five, and "making" a Santa outfit to wear around the house. I played Santa for my little sister. I even had a beard set I made out of cotton balls of all things!! I'm sure I looked very funny, but I remember having a blast doing it. I think it came from the excitement I had watching the old Rankin/Bass TV specials. Christmas was always a special time in our house growing up. My mother went to great lengths to make it as magical as possible.

I bought my first real, and very cheap, suit when my oldest son was about to have his first Christmas. I enjoyed it so much that we started doing visits for family. Eventually I ended up being Santa for my kids Cub Scout units. I still do a few Cub Scout units and I still enjoy them. Home visits have been my main part of portraying Santa, but this year we are getting lots of interest in other areas and it looks like we will be branching into those new areas. I can't wait to expand and learn more. To me, its a true pleasure to present the magic of Santa to my family, friends, and everyone I encounter. There isn't much to compare with the feeling I get doing this. Its hard to put into words. The only way I can describe it is that it just makes my soul sing when I see that look of wonder and magic in a little one's eyes. And I don't mind the "I love you Santa"'s either!!

This post has been edited by Santa Bear: 25 November 2007 - 12:33 AM

[Santa TJS]

Another Santa who started out as a boy Santa, I know Santa Phil and I had dressed as Santa as young boys now we can add a third.Do you have any photo's I was lucky enough that my sister had a couple of old poloroids. Santa Phil had pictures when he was a kid. Perahps we should have a gallery of child star Santa's!

[Santa Bear]

I know some were taken. I don't have any of them, but I will see if I can dig some up.

[Santa TJS]

I was 44 too, 11 years ago!

[Santa James]

I just started this year, as I was surfing the net, I emailed some company's about being Santa for next year,2008. Since I didn't think I would find anything, I searched for volunteer positions and found an animal shelter, Every Creature Counts, doing photo's at a local Petsmart. But before my appointed day with the pets, a local company called and they were in a bind for a mall Santa. I went in, they took pictures, and asked me to work the coming weekend. Things were going fast, and I was worried about my lack of experience and training. The were nice enough to let me talk to another Santa who gave me a lot of pointers, and the day came for me to be at the mall. Thankfully they provided a good quality suit while I provided the beard, even though I did have to touch up in a few places with the white spray, and I had to keep my hair up under the hat, since it comes down to a little lower than halfway down my back! I was nervous and jittery, and without my prescription glasses, blind as a bat! And my first job was a walk around for a breakfast with Santa at the mall. I came up the escalator to 100 to 150 kids and parents, what a site! And in seconds I was surrounded! From that second on, I had a blast, I forgot who I was and became Santa! My first day lasted from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm, and it went by very quickly and except for a little dehydration I was ready for more. The company said they received good reports back about Santa and asked if I could fill in some more days, which I am looking forward to. It took me a little longer to decide to become Santa than some others, but I will never regret the decision because it has invigorated me and it's keeping me young, if only in mind and spirit!
Thank you for your great story, and I will keep in touch as I learn more about this site. Thanks again
:spinthanks: