"You have to be up with all the tricks," the 76-year-old Dunedin man says.
Mr Knopp, a grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of two, is one of four Dunedin Santa's helpers employed by Westaff to entertain children at various stores and child-care centres during the Christmas season.
He started out playing Santa for his own children 50 years ago and gradually moved on to doing it voluntarily for groups and organisations about 30 years ago.
"I've been building up to it for a long-time," he laughed, patting his stomach.
The former UFS Dispensary at Green Island was a regular booking for many years.
"It was good fun. One year this mother brought in brand new twins and they came every year until way after they started school."
So when he saw an advertisement for Santas in the newspaper 11 years ago, he applied.
"I love it. I'd not be doing it if I didn't. It really is a lot of fun. The kids are no trouble, they're absolutely gorgeous."
The biggest problem was the parents, he said.
"They're so focused on getting the photo with Santa, they shove the child right into this hairy old monster and the child takes one look and lets out a yell."
His advice was to to lift or place the child with its back to him and then have the photo taken.
"It's so easy if done right."
Despite the job requiring little of them physically, Mr Knopp said it was hard work sitting for hours in the hot suit and wig.
After all these years, his favourite question is: "How are you going to get in 'cos we don't have a chimney?" And the answer? "Magic dust sprinkled around the door."
Westaff Dunedin Santa co-ordinator Rochell Fox said it was wonderful that most of last year's Santa helpers had re-applied for the job again this year.
"We did get a call from a female, and while we can't discriminate, Santa is a man."
The agency's four Dunedin Santa helpers were aged 50-plus and retired, although in other cities students, especially drama students, also got the jobs, she said.
All Santas had to complete a three-hour training session and pass police checks.
As this year's Santas were experienced, they were brushing up on their skills with a read of the Santa instruction manual and a quick quiz from Ms Fox, to make sure they remembered the essentials such as their hands having to be visible at all times, what were the top toys and how to answer those curly questions.
Co-ordinating the Santas was a big job with their schedules and costumes having to be organised and delivered by November 29, when the Santa visits started, she said.
A Good Santa
• Maintains the magic of Christmas.
• Keeps a smile under his beard.
• Always shows his hands.
• Knows the top toys for boys and girls.
• Never forgets the name of his reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
From Santa's Training Manual
