Contact Person:
Dan Meyer - Director |
| Ministry associates: Dan Meyer |
| Ministry target(s):
Adults - Median, Teenagers, Children, Family, Men's Ministries, Adults - Young, Adults - Seniors |
| Web site: http://www.cuttingedgeinnertainment.com |
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DAN MEYER is a unique performance artist who specializes in the extremely dangerous and very narrow field of cutting edge innertainment - Sword Swallowing.
After working as a missionary in India, in the Christian music industry with the Bill Gaither Trio, and with the secular music industry in Nashville TN, Stockholm Sweden, and London England, Dan shifted his focus from music to variety entertainment as circus clown, juggler, stilt-walker, fire-eater, and the most dangerous of all performance arts - Sword Swallower!
Hearing in 1998 that there were "less than a dozen sword swallowers left around the world" led Dan on his quest to locate as many of the surviving sword swallowers as possible while mastering the 4000-year-old art. After 3 years of research, study, and daily practice, Dan taught himself to swallow solid steel swords while networking the remaining sword swallowers into the Sword Swallowers Association Int'l.
Described as a “Christian David Copperfield” who combines real feats with a powerful message instead of just tricks and illusions, Dan eats fire and swallows solid steel swords, blades, sabers, and other objects from 15 to 30 inches in length and up to 8 swords at once.
As the only professing Christian sword swallower and fire-eater in the world, Dan uses his extreme form of innertainment in a motivational and inspirational program with a touch of comedy as a way of touching audiences in a profound way that other ministries might not be able to reach.
“God made each person unique with their own special gifts; I use my unique ministry to let audiences know it's ok to be unique and stand for what you believe in, whatever your calling is! I've found that I am most fulfilled when I am living out my calling, my destiny, when I combine my unique talents with my passion to impact people for the kingdom of God!"
"I grew up in a Christian family and made a decision to give my life over to the Lord when I was a teen. Because I grew up shy, it was awkward for me to witness to people through words alone," Dan confesses. "My extreme ministry allows me to reach a wide audience and touch folks across a broad spectrum that other ministries might not be able to reach, from youth to yuppies, teens to seniors, Goth rockers to bikers, including those who might never step foot in a church. Just to see God using me, seeing people's faces when I perform, and knowing God is using me to impact lives is tremendously exciting to me."
A multiple Guinness World Record holder, featured Ripley’s performer, the world's ONLY Christian sword swallower, and one of only a few dozen professional sword swallowers left around the world, Dan is recognized as one of the premiere sword swallowers in the world today. Dan has been featured on programs such as CNN, ESPN, MTV, America's Got Talent, Discovery Channel, Learning Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery International, Daily Planet, USA Network, Food Network, Armed Forces Network, Shocked & Amazed TV, Discovery Health, CNN Health, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX News, MSNBC, BBC, CBC, NPR, CTV, CMT, PBS, WGN, MSN, NTV Russia, ITV UK, Univision, Telemundo, Primer Impacto, USA Today, Newsweek, NY Post, NY Times, London Times, National Geographic, Forbes Magazine, Scientific American, Science Daily, Nature Magazine, Christian Activities, Christian Index, Religious Newswire Service, National Catholic Reporter, Absolutely Alabama, Tennessee Crossroads, and hundreds of other radio, TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews around the world. Dan has performed on national tour with Brooks & Dunn's Neon Circus, on international tour with the Celtic Christian band Ceili Rain, at Ripley’s Believe It or Not attractions around the country, with Ringling Brothers Circus, and at churches, colleges, universities, concerts, festivals, Bible camps, Upward Awards night programs, medical and science centers, and other events in 10 countries around the world.
As Director of the Sword Swallowers Association International, co-author of the first ever medical study on sword swallowing published in the prestigious British Medical Journal that won him the 2007 Ig Nobel Award in Medicine at Harvard, and an avid historical researcher and collector of sword swallowing artifacts, Dan is widely recognized as the foremost authority in the world on the art of sword swallowing.
Despite a close call resulting in a near-fatal injury while swallowing 5 swords at once, Dan enjoys amazing audiences with incredible feats. “I like to comfort the afflicted while afflicting the comfortable by performing REAL feats people think are impossible in order to prove how awesome God made the human body," Dan says. "I remind audiences that ALL things are possible with God, and I encourage folks to live life abundantly, with gusto... not just to sip life, but to GULP it!"
To prove his point, Dan swallowed a 30 inch sword while submerged 20 feet underwater in a tank of sharks and stingrays for Ripley’s Believe It or Not, a feat witnessed by over 25 million viewers on over 400 TV stations around the world.
Dan and his wife Lisa live in Hartselle, Alabama where they raise Arabian horses. Dan is available for conventions, Christian festivals, artist tours, church youth events, Upward Awards shows, and other bookings through Cutting Edge Innertainment. |
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