The Catalyst (TC): What did you do before you were a mall Santa?
Santa Clause (SC): I was a mall Santa at the same time that I was a firefighter. I was with Cal Fire for 36 years, and now I’m a retired fire captain. I also worked at Downtown Macy’s in the city for two years.
(TC): Are there certain requirements needed to become a mall Santa?
(SC): Well, when I started being Santa, everybody had fake beards and wigs. Then gradually over time, the malls started only hiring people with real beards. Now there’s no shopping center that will hire a Santa without a real beard. I also used to have to bleach my beard when it wasn’t white yet, but now it’s white and not bleached at all.
(TC): How long have you been a mall Santa for?
(SC): This will be 33 years. I started in 1986, but I had to take five years off because my daughter recognized me one time. She heard my voice and she said, “Hi Daddy,” when she was standing off to the side. So I missed it for a few years, and then I came back.
(TC): What’s the funniest thing a kid has said to you?
(SC): I had a five year old girl come up to me one time and she said, “Is Connor on the naughty list?” I asked the mom who Connor was, and it was her seven year old brother. I started laughing and I said, “Oh no, he’s on my good boy list. Just like you here!” And you should have seen the look she gave me – she could not believe it. It was like she was saying, if a guy like Connor can get on the good boy there’ll be nobody left off the naughty list!
(TC): What made you want to be a mall Santa?
(SC): It’s kind of something that I’ve always enjoyed. Some people like to sing Christmas carols, some people like to decorate their house, and I’ve always enjoyed Santa. When I was a kid, I was always excited to see Santa. I also just enjoy working with the kids. I wanted to make the kids happy.
(TC): What do you do if a kid doesn’t want to sit on your lap?
(SC): Well, I try to encourage the mom or the dad to come in. If the parents come in and the kid sits on their lap, they probably would like that. If a child is crying that’s okay – crying starts at 10 months old and goes to about 2 years old. The only time I tell the parents that we shouldn’t take the picture is if there are extremities – I don’t like doing that. They’re terrified then, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to take pictures like that.
(TC): What are the rules you have to follow?
(SC): Pretty much common sense. You look like the grandfather to these children, so you should act like the grandfather. Tell them to eat good foods at home, ask them what they want for Christmas, if they’re in school tell them to continue getting good grades.
(TC): Who are the oldest people who have visited you?
(SC): I had a 92 year old man and a 91 year old wife come, and they love it when I tell them, “The big kids have come to see me.” They love being told that.
(TC): Did you have to do training or go to a Santa School?
(SC): I did go to Santa college. It was at the Hyatt Regency downtown on the Embarcadero. We had a three hour class and there were about 30 people there. They even gave us a little diploma at the end. They took our Santa hats and moved them to the side just like you move the tassel to the side when you graduate college.
(TC): Are you in any organizations or unions for being a Santa?
(SC): Yeah. The Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas. We have a convention each year down in Southern California, and we have a ball. The one I really like was at Knott’s Berry Farm.
(TC): Is it competitive, or is it hard to find Santas?
(SC): I’d say it’s hard to find Santas. It looks like you have a real easy job, just sitting there all day long. But you get really hot inside the suit and everything else like that. It’s a long day. I have a bit of a habit of nodding off. Not falling asleep – just nodding off.
(TC): Do you do other special events as a Santa, or do you just do it for the mall?
(SC): I do special events. I’m going to be at a Mexican restaurant in two weeks, I’ll do a toy program the following day, I do the San Francisco Fire Department Station 10 as well, so I’m busy.
(TC): You don’t have to say what you make, but does it pay well?
(SC): I’m happy with the pay, but I’d do it for free.
