This is Shriver’s second full year of portraying Santa professionally, although he started in the role a long time ago borrowing the suit of the late Tim Myers, another popular Oxford Santa fill-in, mainly for children of friends and colleagues.
In addition to portraying Santa for community events, Shriver, of Oxford, also takes his role to private and family gatherings, the Animal Friends Humane Society’s pet photos with Santa, and to EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester Twp. That latter gig has been both this holiday season and last summer for the attraction’s Christmas in July event.
By choice, he has never been mall Santa.
“Mall Santas are typically working with a photography company. I have not done that. I didn’t want to be one of those Santas,” he said.
His holiday season started Nov. 11 with his first Santa gig and it has accelerated to as many as 10 appearances per week. A measure of his love for the role, however, is that he said he wishes the holiday season was longer and he could do it even more often.
“Every day is full but when I think it is too much, I see the kids’ faces and brighten up,” Shriver said. “It’s great fun. I wish the season was longer.”
Portraying Santa Claus was an evolution for Shriver that started in the summer after the death of his mother. He decided to start growing his beard and from that had the idea of portraying Santa.
“(My wife) said, ‘When are you going to shave it off?’ and I told her I was thinking about doing Santa,” he said. When she agreed it was a good idea, Shriver ordered a Santa suit.
“She was thinking $75. The suit was $900. That was her first sticker shock,” he said.
He now has quite a collection of outfits, including two red suits and two he calls “toy shop” suits as well as a collection of magic tricks he uses to impress the children.
“Some people like collecting trains. I collect Santa things — not stuff to put on the walls, stuff to wear,” he said.
Being Santa Claus is an art. There is a Charles W. Howard School for Santas in Midland, Mich., and an annual summer convention in Branson, Mo., complete with a parade featuring hundreds of Santas.
Shriver is a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Beard Santas and has his own Facebook page as Santa Ray Scott.
There are several talents, he said, that make a successful Santa, starting with some opening chatter to bring a smile to the child.
“Every child is different and has different expectations. The key to success is to exceed expectations. Be yourself and be a good listener. Sometimes, you only have to say three words. Take some time to hear the kids,” he said. “I hope I look like I’m enjoying myself, because I am. My plan when I started out was, first of all, do it because I like it.”
That has not been a problem. He takes his time with each child, hoping for a memorable moment while also keeping in mind the line of others waiting to visit. He hams it up with children, makes silly faces with them for the camera, and has even been known to turn a child or two upside down, drawing smiles and giggles.
“I’ve had lollipops stuck in my beard,” he said with a laugh. “I haven’t dropped a child. I’ve had a child caught on my large belt buckle. I’ve had my beard tugged. It doesn’t hurt.”
He jokes with children about getting socks and underwear when they cannot come up with gift ideas on their own. That quickly prompts some alternative ideas, he said, but some gift requests are especially poignant.
“I’ve had children say they want a sick friend to get better or their parents to get back together. I’ve had kids say they want me to give gifts to other kids,” Shriver said. “I never promise anything, but tell them I will do my best.”
He said he has had children ask if he is “real.” In response, he invites them to touch his arm and tells them he is real and then adds, “I believe in you.”
Being able to be in the role of Santa Claus has its own magic, Shriver said.
“It truly makes me a believer, even more than the kids even,” he said.
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