Playing Santa is natural - for an extrovert
Our annual Christmas party came complete with a real live Santa. He would make his appearance about midway through the party, toting a bag of gifts for the kids. Santa had a reserved chair where he would take his place and start passing out these toys. Later, he could be seen reading a story to a very captive audience, seated on the floor around him.
Yes, old Saint Nick really knew how to work a crowd. He had everyone hanging on his every word – except, of course, for the older kids that had recently transitioned from believers to doubters over the course of a year. However, they all played along for the sake of their younger siblings who were still mesmerized by the bearded, chubby man in the red suit. After all, who would want to be responsible for ruining Christmas?
Santa was always played by my uncle Carl. He was, undoubtedly, the best candidate I had ever seen. He could literally get into the St. Nick mode within minutes. He had the perfect Santa body already - no need to add padding here. He wore wire-rimmed glasses, and had a white beard a few years back. Even without the beard (the suit had one anyway), he was still the best Santa I had ever seen.
That’s because it takes more than looks alone to make a great Santa. He was also a very outgoing person – critical to pulling this off convincingly. He seemed fearless in any social situation, and I have always admired him for that. I would love to be able to make an entrance and mingle the way he does. It is all 100% natural for him. He is as much a natural extrovert as I am a natural introvert.
Probably one of his greatest qualifications for securing the annual Santa Clause gig is the fact that he has this huge, booming, deep voice – perfect for the, “Ho-Ho-Ho. Merry Christmas” line.
About five years ago, Carl got the flu at the last minute and was not able to make the Christmas party. Everyone was in a panic to find a replacement Santa.
They asked me, but I had to politely decline. My social anxiety had never been worse. It was all I could do to come to the party at all, let alone be in the spot-light. There was just no physical way that I would be able to do something like that.
My brother and his wife pleaded with me when it became apparent that there was no one else willing to fill in. I was asked again because I was one of the immediate family (they couldn’t very well ask any friends or acquaintances). Well, that, and the fact that I was overweight back then.
Most of the kids were my own nieces and nephews and I felt obligated somehow. I was in a really bad situation.
Reluctantly, I agreed, and then proceeded to down several glasses of wine.
Next: The socially phobic Santa.
2 Responses to “Playing Santa is natural - for an extrovert”
While I too would not be comfortable playing such a role in front of family and friends who knew my real identity, I don’t think I’d be as uncomfortable if it were around a group of strangers who did not know who I was.
I’ve always been of the mindset that hiding behind a costume is an excellent way for a shy person or someone with social anxiety to “act out.”
Like Halloween, for instance. You go to a party filled with strangers, which would be very uncomfortable — at least for me — but you get to hide under a mask for the evening.
I’ve always thought that one of the best jobs for someone with SA would be to work as Mickey Mouse at Disney. You get to socialize and act out, but in total anonymity.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary
SA D.
Thanks for the reply Dave. Yeah, normally it would not have been so bad, except that there were many people that I didn’t know. I talk about it in my next entry.
Drew
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