Talent agency recruiting dozens of WA santas this Christmas

Perth Now

09-07-2025

Christmas may still be five months away, but the North Pole is already recruiting dozens of special helpers to spread magic in the lead up to the big day.
Talent agency Scene to Believe is on the hunt for dozens of West Australians to spread the spirit of Christmas and dress up as Santa, Mrs Claus and their elves this festive season.
Santa character manager Viviana Diaz said the demand for Santa's had skyrocketed and said she was looking to hire around 40 Santas this Christmas.
'Every year we have more and more bookings (for people to meet Santa), more people are looking for joy and hope,' she said.
'Everyone that is Santa is here because they have it in their heart, it's just lovely to work around kind people.
'You don't have to look like Santa, you have to have the personality to be Santa, so you have to be caring and sharing.'
Ms Diaz said successful applicants were sent to 'Santa School' to learn the secrets of Christmas. Peter Prestidge, Jeff Swayn and Norm Patison getting their Santa on Andrew Ritchie Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
'At Santa School we learn about posture, we also learn how to approach different personalities and how to connect with people,' she said.
'You are going to (learn) how to walk and how to perform your 'ho ho ho's.''
Ray Sorensen has been donning the red suit for the past eight years and says it feels like being on holiday 'all year round.'
'I just love it,' he said.
'I keep coming back purely because of the children and the people that I meet.
'It's a joy to watch (the children) overcoming challenges like the frightened child ... sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
'Generally children don't really understand (what's going on) until they (are told) three magic words: Christmas, Santa, presents.'
Mr Sorensen said the secret to being the perfect Santa was to 'be yourself' and 'love the children.'
'Don't expect anything, just go with them and get the empathy that you have within yourself,' he said.
'You'll have times when it's going to be really sad ... the tears and the joy make it all wonderful.'
His advice to young ones to stay on the nice list?
'Be kind, be helpful, tidy your room ... and pick up your clothes and toys,' Mr Sorensen said.
'It's just the little things that you do to make your parents and grandparents happy, it's those little things that make the difference.'