MySpace.com - Halfdan the Human Kabob - 51 - Male - Orig: Michigan City, IN, now Hartselle, AL, Alabama

Halfdan the Human Kabob

			"Sword Swallower . . . Dan Meyer" Male 51 years old Orig: Michigan City, IN, now Hartselle, AL, Alabama United States Last Login: 9/4/2008

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MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/dan_meyer

Halfdan the Human Kabob's Interests

General	Twitter Follow Dan at http://twitter.com/ Here are several interests and hobbies that I'm passionate about broken down into groups: Circus arts: Sword swallowing, fire-eating, human blockhead, juggling, clowning, exotic animals, circus and sideshow history Outdoor sports: Sailing, scuba diving, canoeing, fishing, camping, horseback riding, GeoCaching Exotic Animals: Arabian horses (Al-Marrah), Icelandic Horses, Gotland ponies, zebras, camels, llamas, emus, kinkajous, fennec foxes, wallabies, falconry, falcons, hawks, kestrals, owls, crows, ravens, peacocks, parrots, macaws World Travel, Foreign Languages, Cultures and Foods: I love to travel, especially in Europe and Scandinavia, Sweden, Skne, Norway, Lapland, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Bavaria, Bayern, Netherlands, Holland, Iceland, as well as living in India, Sweden, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Bahamas for several years, and traveling around the Caribbean and Central and South America. Enjoyed touring Ireland with the Celtic Christian Pop/Rock band Ceili Rain last year. My big dream is to go to Africa, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, and eventually Papua New Guinea where my mom was born. Studying Foreign Languages: I really enjoy studying Swedish, Svenska, Norwegian, Norsk, Danish, Dansk, Icelandic, Islenska, Old Norse, studying Viking runic inscriptions on runestones, studying German, Deutsch, Dutch, Afrikaans, Spanish, Espanol, Italian, Italiano, Russian, Dinka, Swaheli, Kiswaheli, Tamil, Telegu, and a smattering of words I've picked up in Chinese, Japanese, Lakota, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, or whatever other language I happen to run into along the way! History and Historical Reenactments: I love doing historical reenactments in any of these periods - Viking, Medievel, Colonial, Mountain Man Buckskinner Rendezvous, and Native American Indian Powwows. I also enjoy flint knapping arrowheads, carving runestones, brewing mead, wine, making and playing ancient musical instruments, etc. Foreign Music and Movies: I also love music and movies, especially really good music or movies in any of my favorite languages, such as Swedish, German, Spanish, and Italian. I also love music from these cultures, and enjoy studying and playing Celtic music, Irish pennywhistle, Irish cittern, Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish Highlands bagpipes, Swedish sakpipa, Swedish nyckelharpa, Andean panflutes, Andean Charango, Carribbean steel drums, Appalachian dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, concert and celtic harp, psaltry, etc. I also love to study anything odd, unique, interesting and different: I am really fascinated with hypnosis and hypnotism, and I am a certified NGH hypnotist with a National Guild of Hypnotists certification in hypnosis, and hope to be adding hypnotism stage shows along with my sword swallowing shows. And if you run across anything else unique and interesting, let me know!
Music	Favorite artists on my iPod: Great singer/songwriters: David Wilcox, James Taylor, Jim Cole, Mark Heard, Bob Halligan, Dan Fogelberg, John Denver, David Kleiner, Steve Goodman, Jimmy Buffet, Stephen Bishop, Steve Taylor Favorite Producer: David Foster Pop/Jazz: Larry Carlton, Koinonia, Mezzoforte, Rippingtons, Fattburger, Tangerine Dream, Shadowfax, Kenny Rankin, Ink Spots, Earl Klugh, Andy Narrell, Andreas Vollenweider, David Sanborn, Dave Koz, Chris Geith Group, Najee, Dave Grusin, Vince Guaraldi, Mark Isham Film Music: David Foster, Freddie Fernbrant, James Horner, John Barry, John Williams, Leif Strand, Bjorn J:son Lindh, Mark Isham, Jerry Goldsmith, Klaus Badelt, John Debney Soundtracks: Riverdance (Bill Whelan), Lord of The Dance (Ronan Hardiman), Titanic, Braveheart, Troy (James Horner), Gladiator (Hans Zimmer), Lord of The Rings (Howard Shore), Kingdom of Heaven, The Chronicles of Narnia (Harry Gregson-Williams), The Village (James Newton Howard), The Piano (Michael Nyman), Pirates of The Caribbean (Klaus Badelt/Hans Zimmer) Classical: Beethoven, Handel, Bach, Debussey, Scarlotti, Khachaturian, Grieg Contemporary Christian: Ceili Rain, Bob Halligan, David Wilcox, Jill Phillips, Jim Cole, Mark Heard, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Steve Taylor, Dan Meyers, Kelly Willard, Alan Chrisman, Gina Darby, Michael Card, Maire Brennan, Kildare, and Ceili Rain Celtic: Ceili Rain, Lunasa, Sharon Shannon, Alasdair Fraser, Ceili Rain, Bob Halligan, Maire Brennan, Skip Cleavinger, Davy Spillane, Hooley, Ron Korb, L.E. McCullough, Mary Bergin, Joannie Madden, Leo Rowsome, Jerry O'Sullivan, Crystal Plohman, Natalie MacMaster, Stefan Engstrom, Iona, Off Kilter, Bad Haggis, Gaelic Storm, Seven Nations, Oysterband, Kildare, The Elders, Hooley, Kula, PlaidGrass, Ceili Mist, and Ceili Rain. Acoustic/Bluegrass: PlaidGrass, Nickel Creek, Bela Fleck, New Grass Revival, New Coon Creek Girls, Natalie MacMaster, Crystal Plohman Caribbean/Reggae/Soca: Jimmy Buffet, Andy Narrell, Bob Marley, Yellowman Swedish: Tomas Ledin, Marie Fredriksson, Roxette, Niklas Stromstedt, Nordman, Orup, Ratata, Mauro Scocco, Adolfson och Falk, Anders Glenmark, Leif Strand, Sofia Kallgren, Py Backman, Eva Dahlgren, Lena Philipsson, Peter LeMarc, Evert Taube, Cornelius Vrieswik Icelandic: Mezzoforte, Vikivaki German: Die Prinzen, Ulle Meineke, Herbert Gronemeyer, Andreas Vollenweider Italian: Lucio Dalla, Laura Paulsini Spanish: Soraya, Gipsy Kings, Gloria Estefan, Caifanes, Sergio Dalma, Ricky Martin Andean:Gipsy Kings, Kenai, Taky Winds Native American: AcoustiCon, GaWaNi Pony Boy, R. Carlos Nakai, Stephen Tindle HoYannah Funk: Jones World Instruments I enjoy playing: Guitars, keyboards, cittern, Irish pennywhistles (I play and endorse whistles by Michael Copeland, Michael Burke, John Sindt, Gary Humphreys, Bernard Overton, Colin Goldie, Mack Hoover, Sandy Jasper ElfSong), low whistle (Kerry), Uillean pipes (Bruce Childress), Electric bagpipes, Native American Indian cedar flute, Andean Charangos, panflutes, dulcimers, mandolins, harmonicas, blues harp, orchestral harp, sitar, and steel drums Bands I enjoy performing with: Brooks & Dunn, Ceili Rain, Ceili Mist, Jones World and glad to open for others! Just contact me!
Movies	I like Historical period pieces, Adventure, Biographies, Drama, Comedy, Foreign films, films about Vikings, Pirates, Sailing Ships, Travel, American Indians, Circus, and Animals: Historical Period Epics: Gladiator, Braveheart, Rob Roy, Robin Hood, Name of the Rose, The Bounty, Mutiny on The Bounty, Horatio Hornblower, The Patriot, Master and Commander Africa, India, Middle & Far East: Mountains of the Moon, Amistad, Out of Africa, Gorillas in the Mist, Ghost in the Darkness, I Dreamed of Africa, Bushbaby, Hatari!, Naked Prey, Breaker Morant, Lawrence of Arabia, Lion of the Desert, The Wind and the Lion, The English Patient, Midnight Express, Not Without My Daughter, Passage to India, Gandhi, Seven Years in Tibet, Kundun, Everest, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon South Pacific, Australia, New Guinea, Pirates, Sailing the 7 Seas: Rapa Nui, The Bounty, Mutiny on The Bounty, Horatio Hornblower, Master and Commander, Swiss Family Robinson, In a Savage Land, Peace Child, Thin Red Line, The Piano, Once Were Warriors, Utu, Whale Rider, The Real Macaw, Pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean, Yellow Beard, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe, Man Friday, Castaway, Old Man and the Sea Arctic, Scandinavia, Viking: Polar Bear King, Never Cry Wolf, White Fang, Call of the Wild, Glory and Honor, Zero Kelvin, Kristin Lauransdatter, Anchoress, Vaegvisaren, The Pathfinder, Den Hvite Vikingen, Korpen Flygger, Korpens Skugga, Utlaginn, Erik the Viking, The 13th Warrior, Pelle The Conqueror, Babette's Feast, Oxen, The Ox, The Emigrants, The Immigrants, The New Land, Mitt Liv Som Hund, My Life as Dog, Fanny & Alexander, The Sacrifice, Intermezzo, Seventh Seal, Through a Glass Darkly, Virgin Spring, Persona, June Night, Children of Nature Europe, Biography, Music/Art: Martin Luther, Cyrano, Amadeus, The Red Violin, Immortal Beloved, Ludwig, Vincent and Theo, Schindler's List, Europa Europa, Das Boot, Cinema Paradiso, Il Postino, Life is Beautiful Discovery of America, Central/South America, Native American Indian, US History: 1492, Christopher Columbus, La Mision, The Mission, Old Man and the Sea, Mask of Zorro, Romancing the Stone, Proof of Life, End of the Spear, Emerald Forest, Medicine Man, Black Robe, Squanto, Last of the Mohicans, The Patriot, Little Big Man, Dances with Wolves, Lakota Women, Windwalker, Broken Chain, Geronimo, Never Cry Wolf, Polar Bear King, A Man Called Horse, Man in the Wilderness, Jeremiah Johnson, Far and Away, Tombstone, Wyatt Earp Horses, Animals & Birds: The Horse Whisperer, Black Stallion, Black Beauty, Man from Snowy River, Sea Biscuit, Dreamchaser, Racing Stripes, Weeping Camel, Two Brothers, Project X, Paulie, The Real Macaw, Ring of Bright Water, Rascal, Dance with the White Dog, White Fang, Never Cry Wolf, Polar Bear King, Born Free, Born Wild, Bushbaby, Joey Circus, Clowns, Sideshow Freaks: Greatest Show on Earth, Circus World, Circus, Houdini, P.T. Barnum, Sideshow, Alive on the Inside, Freaks, Elephant Man, Nightmare Alley, She Freak, Gibtown, Carny, Cirque du Soleil, The Clowns, Emmett Kelly, Patch Adams, Shakes the Clown Drama, Comedy, and Misc other favorites: Facing the Giants, FlyWheel, Pay It Forward, Children of a Lesser God, Shine, Rainman, A Beautiful Mind, Good Will Hunting, The Piano, Awakenings, Fire In The Sky, Shadowlands, My Life, Left Behind, Saving Private Ryan, Thin Red Line, Roxanne, The Game, The Jerk, Bean
Television	America's Got Talent, Discovery Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Times Channel, Travel Channel, The Learning Channel, History Channel, Documentary Channel, National Geographic, Mythbusters, Animal Planet, Food Network, USA Network, NBC's America's Got Talent, Fox & Friends
Books	"Memoirs of a Sword Swallower" by Daniel Mannix; "Black", "White", "Red" by Ted Dekker; "Rosens Namn" "Name of the Rose" by Humberto Ecco; "Horse Follow Closely" by GaWaNi Pony Boy; Bible by 66 different authors
Heroes	Jesus Christ, role models who display good leadership, and good leaders who make great role models, all the men and women in uniform, our military, police, and fire-fighters, explorers Leif Eiriksson, Daniel Boone, world traveler, explorer and linguist Sir Richard Francis Burton, my grandpa Henry Foege (one of the first missionary/ explorers into the interior of Papua/New Guinea!), my dad, and my uncle Armin Meyer (US Ambassador to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Japan).
Groups:	sideshow tent, carnies and freaks, Carny Town, MYSPACE'S HOTTEST CARNIES (PLUS SIDESHOW FREAKS) an Elite Dance Troupe LSD., Sideshow Collectors, Sword Swallowers, Ceili Rain, Fellowship of Christian Hypnotists View All Halfdan the Human Kabob's Groups

Halfdan the Human Kabob's Details

Status:	Married
Here for:	Networking, Friends
Orientation:	Straight
Hometown:	Orig Michigan City IN now Nashville soon Hartselle
Body type:	6' 1" / Average
Ethnicity:	White / Caucasian
Religion:	Christian - other
Zodiac Sign:	Aries
Children:	Someday
Education:	Grad / professional school
Occupation:	Sword Swallower

Halfdan the Human Kabob's Schools

Belmont University Nashville,Tennessee Graduated: N/A Student status: Alumni Degree: Other Major: Music Business Minor: Audio Engineering	1987 to 1988
Recording Workshop Chillicothe,Ohio Graduated: 1982 Student status: Alumni Degree: Professional	1982 to 1982
Indiana State University Terre Haute,Indiana Graduated: 1982 Student status: Alumni Degree: Bachelor's Degree Major: Music Business Minor: Radio Broadcasting/TV/Film Clubs: Resident Assitant, Lincoln Quad	1979 to 1982
Waldorf College Forest City,Iowa Graduated: 1977 Student status: Alumni Degree: Associate's Degree Major: Music Clubs: Waldorf College Choir	1975 to 1977

Halfdan the Human Kabob's Companies

SESAC, Inc. Nashville, TN US Copyright Licensing, Internet Licensing Licensing Dept.	1988-2000
STIM Stockholm, SE International Liaison	1990-1991
Sword Swallowers Association International Nashville, TN US Executive Director www.swordswallow.org	2001 - date
*Cutting Edge Inner†ainment* · swordfish productions Nashville, TN US	2001 - date
Sword Swallowing Resources To The Hilt Sword Swallowers Hall of Fame Nashville, TN US www.swordswallow.com	2001 - date
ANSA Arabians Hartselle, AL US www.ANSA-Arabians.com	2003 - date

Halfdan the Human Kabob Getting ready for thunderstorms this evening.

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Halfdan the Human Kabob's Blurbs

About me:

Artist Bio DAN MEYER
Cutting Edge Innertainment swordfish productions

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 several years in the music industry in Nashville Tennessee, Stockholm Sweden, and London England, Dan Meyer shifted his focus from the field of musical entertainment to variety entertainment as circus clown, juggler, stilt-walker, blockhead, fire-eater, and eventually, the most dangerous of all performance arts - Sword Swallower!

After being amazed while watching fire-eaters and sword swallowers, first at circus sideshows while growing up as a child in Indiana, and later witnessing Indian fakirs, snake charmers, fire-eaters and sword swallowers while serving as a missionary in India, Dan became passionate about learning the incredible feats himself.

Hearing from a sword swallower 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 4,000-year-old art.

After three years of research, study, and daily training, Dan taught himself to swallow solid steel swords up to 30 inches long and up to 7 swords at once while networking the remaining sword swallowers into the Sword Swallowers Association International.

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, bayonets, and other objects from 15 to 30 inches in length, and up to 8 swords at once.

Dan's show features REAL feats combined with light comedy and audience participation with volunteers from the audience so everyone feels part of the show! Dan performs extreme feats such as fire-eating, the human blockhead, and sword-swallowing in a professional family-oriented show that's educational, inspirational, motivational, and UNFORGETTABLE with just the right touch of comedy.

A multiple Guinness World Record holder, featured Ripley's Believe It or Not performer, and premiere sword swallower out of only a few dozen actively performing professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today, Dan has been featured on programs such as CNN, MTV, ESPN, ET, The Today Show, America's Got Talent, The Discovery Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Times Channel, Discovery Canada, Discovery International, Daily Planet, The Learning Channel, Documentary Channel, Travel Channel, USA Network, Food Network, Armed Forces Network, Shocked and Amazed TV, Xtreme Life TV, Ripley's Believe It or Not, CNN Headline News, CNN Health, ABC News, CBS News, FOX News, NBC News, MSNBC, PBS, BBC, CBC, NPR, CMT, CTV, XLTV, NTV Russia, Univision, Telemundo, Superstation WGN, 48 Hours, 20/20, Entertainment Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mancow Show, Absolutely Alabama, Tennessee Crossroads, USA Today, Newsweek, New York Post, New York Times, Irish Times, London Times, British Medical Journal, Scientific American, Science Daily, Nature Magazine, National Geographic, Forbes Magazine, Amusement Business, Circus Report, Bizarre Magazine, Annals of Improbable Research, NADA Auto Exec Magazine, RoadKing Magazine, Women and Horses Magazine, Christian Activities, and hundreds of other radio, TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews around the world.

Dan has performed on national tour with Brooks and Dunn's Neon Circus (Rascal Flatts, Trick Pony, Dwight Yoakum, Cletus T. Judd, and others), on international tour with the award-winning Celtic Christian pop/rock band Ceili Rain, at Ripley's Believe It or Not! attractions, at Upward Unlimited awards night programs, and at conventions, corporate events, colleges, universities, church youth events, and other programs around the world.

Despite a close call resulting in a near-fatal injury while swallowing 5 swords at once, Dan continues to amaze audiences with his skills. “I enjoy performing REAL feats that people think are impossible in order to prove how incredible the human body really is…” Dan explains.

To prove his point, Dan swallowed a 30 inch sword while submerged 20 feet UNDERWATER in a tank of 80 live 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.

As the Executive Director of the Sword Swallowers Association International, an avid historical researcher and collector of sword swallowing photos and artifacts, and the author of a year-long medical study on sword swallowing published in the prestigious British Medical Journal that won him the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard, Dan is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the world on the history of the ancient art of sword swallowing.

Dan and his wife Lisa live in Hartselle, AL where they raise Arabian horses. The Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) was founded to preserve the ancient art of sword swallowing, and includes sword swallower members from around the world (www.swordswallow.org). SSAI maintains a sister site with general information on sword swallowing for the general public (www.swordswallow.com).

Dan is available for appearances for corporate conventions and events, colleges, universities, science and medical centers, church youth events, Upward Awards nights, festivals, opening for major touring artists, talk shows, media interviews, documentaries, films, TV commercials, and other performances through Cutting Edge Innertainment. Dan can be reached at DansGotTalent@gmail.com

Join Dan's newsletter mailing list to be notified of upcoming performances

Quotes
"Absolutely unbelievable! Wowie, wow wow wow!
I've never seen anything quite like this in my life!
Those were real knives...
My Lord, that was almost disturbing!"
--Paul Konrad, Superstation WGN-TV, Chicago

"Wow! ...That's dangerous stuff!"
--Dan Miller, Anchor, WSMV TV4, Nashville

"I've seen a lot of incredible things in my life,
but I've never seen anything like THIS before!"
--Pat, Cameraman, Oprah Winfrey Show

"That was absolutely amazing!...
(WGN Anchor) Robin Baumgarten couldn't watch it...
She put the entire Chicago Tribune over her head!"
--Dean Richards, WGN-TV, Chicago

I was shocked when I finally got to witness it...
Hearing about it is one thing,
but seeing it is another!
--James Davis, Producer, The Learning Channel

"This is by far the coolest story I have ever worked on!"
--Chris Rattican, Food Network "Unwrapped"

"That was the most fantastic show I've ever seen
in Nashville! It was awesome!"
--Suzanne Holmes, VP ..ary Channel

"In my position with Ripley's Believe it or Not,
I'm always on the lookout for unbelievable acts.
Dan delivers just that! His poise and humor,
along with his boyish smile and amazing talent
really holds the audience's attention...
along with swallowing swords and pounding nails up his nose!
Believe It or Not!"
--Tim O'Brien, VP Ripley's Believe It or Not!

"Watching Dan swallow a sword is like driving past a horrific car accident...
You don't want to look, but you can't take your eyes off it!"
-- Paula Sanning, Jefferson, MO

"The sword swallower was freaky!
My husband said it made his whole body tense up.
He was unbelievable!"
-- Dr. Susan Crisafulli, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

"That was awesome! I was blown away!"
--Phillip List, Huntsville, AL

"Dan presented a professional top-notch show that appealed to all ages...
The kids and adults laughed, oohed, and awed with equal enthusiasm!"
--Clayton Owen, Upward Unlimited, 1st Baptist Church, McKenzie, TN

"Dan's sword swallowing is amazing on its own,
but his sword swallowing mixed with a positive message is revolutionary!"
--Pastor Les Jones, New Song Family Church, Decatur, AL

"Dan's performance was one of the main reasons
our little county of 6000 raised a record $30,000
for our American Cancer Society Relay for Life...
Nobody had ever seen a performance like that before,
and people are STILL talking about it!"
--Mike Carey, American Cancer Society, Trousdale County TN

"...like a Christian David Copperfield,
but instead of just doing magic tricks,
Dan combines incredible real feats
with a powerful message
in a show that is impossible to forget!"
--Juergen Beck, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL

"Absolutely Alabama is about people who are of,
about or unique to Alabama; Dan certainly qualifies
because he is not only absolutely Alabama,
but he's also absolutely amazing!"
--Fred Hunter, Absolutely Alabama, Fox 6 News, Birmingham, AL

"I think you are completely fascinating - from India to the desert island to the green room in Shane's truck to Op Camp. You blessed us in a huge way and gave the kids an experience they will never forget!"
--Coach Gravitt, Opportunity Camp, Merkle, TX

About Me

I have been blessed to be able to experience and enjoy a wide variety of adventures and creative avenues around the world, and have gotten to meet many wonderful people in my travels, and am most thankful for my beautiful wife who continues to inspire me every day. As a result, I enjoy giving back by sharing the gifts and talents I have been given with others.

My hope is that what I do can inspire others to think beyond the obvious and challenge them to rise above their limitations, to dream bigger than they thought possible, and dare to do the impossible in their lives.

Who I'd like to meet:
Jesus Christ (just not quite YET!)

I'd also like to meet other sword swallowers, fire-eaters, jugglers, circus/sideshow performers, exotic animal lovers, Al-Marrah Arabian horse owners, Gotland and Icelandic horse owners, zebra lovers, flint knappers, GeoCachers, world travelers, Celtic musicians, Uilleann pipers and pennywhistle players, Ceili Rain fans, Christian bands, Christian Hypnotists, Booking Agents, Christian Artist Management Companies, and other fun and interesting people!

If you are an events planner interested in hiring Dan for corporate events, colleges, universities, science or medical programs, please contact us.

If you are an Upward Unlimited Sports Coordinator, Christian Festival organizer, church youth director, or youth pastor looking for some very unique, fresh, and unforgettable talent to make your event one your audience will NEVER FORGET, please contact us!

Friend requests from bands or people I don't know will be reviewed and may be denied. I appreciate your interest, but prefer to link to friends I know or people/bands who have similar interests or are from my area. If you think we have similar interests, please send me a note and let me know what we have in common. Thanks.

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