FAQ – Interview Questions for Sword Swallower Dan Meyer Dan Meyer

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QQ::: How/where did sword swallowing start? AA::: Sword swallowing started in India about 4000 years ago in 2000 BC by Indian fakirs.

QQ::: WHY did YOU want to learn sword swallowing? AA::: I saw sword swallowers firsthand as a missionary in India. I’d been a clown, juggler, and fire- eater for over 25 years, but learned there were at least 3-5 fire-eaters in every major city x 50,000 = 150-250,000+ fire-eaters and millions of jugglers! In 1997 when I heard that there were less than a DOZEN professional sword swallowers left in the world, it REALLY piqued my quest to learn!

QQ::: How did YOU learn? How long does it take to learn? AA::: It can take 3-7 years to learn. Took me 3+ years 1997-2001 practicing 10-12 times every day .

QQ::: You also perform “Glass-eating” and the “Human Blockhead” – What is that? AA::: Blockhead is pounding 4-5” nails, spikes, icepicks or even a running drill into the head.

QQ::: Why do you perform fire-eating, glass-eating, blockhead and sword swallowing? AA::: 1) . Always wanted to do REAL magic – This is as REAL as it gets – Real fire, real swords, REAL DANGER - being the REAL DEAL! 2) . I’m passionate about preserving this ancient dying art, 3) . demonstrating how incredible the human body is , and 4). Watching the audience’s faces!

QQ::: As a CAR SALESMAN, did you really swallow swords whenever you sold a car? AA::: Yes! My manager said to “make the buying experience one the customer will NEVER forget” so I’d “swallow steel to move metal!” Worked like a virtual business card - customers NEVER forgot!

QQ::: How do you work sword swallowing in performing for churches and touring with bands? AA::: Besides corporate events, TV programs, documentaries, I perform for church youth groups, Upward Unlimited Awards nights, performing artists/bands on national/int’l tours. I deliver a penetrating message that pierces to the heart and leaves an impact that audiences NEVER forget!

QQ::: So what’s the trick? What happens to the sword? Where does the blade really go? AA::: NOT a “trick” or “illusion” , it’s a real “ FEAT ”! Describe path in medical/layman’s terms – Down esophagus, between lungs, nudge aside the heart, down into the stomach. Show x-rays.

QQ::: What does it feel like to swallow a sword? AA::: Sometimes cool or cold going down. The sword nudges the heart aside and the blade leans against the heart, so you can feel and see the heart beat on the blade!

QQ::: Isn't it DANGEROUS? Have you ever hurt yourself? AA::: YES! Cut throat twice, and punctured stomach while swallowing 5 at once – almost died!

QQ::: What's the most swords you’ve ever swallowed at the same time? AA::: 8 swords at once! Show video/pictures – working on swallowing 10 at once now…

QQ::: You’re the Executive Director of the Sword Swallowers Association Int'l? What is SSAI? AA::: Intl Association of sword swallowers around the world. Annual convention, set records, network

Dan Meyer • Cutting Edge Inner †ainment • President, Sword Swallower Assoc Intl (SSAI) www.danmeyer.org • www.CuttingEdgeInnertainment.com • www.swordswallow.com (615) 969.2568 • DAN@SWORDSWALLOW .COM • [email protected] FF AAQQ –– IIInntteerrvviiieeww QQuueessttiiioonnss ffoorr SSwwoorrdd SSwwaalllllloowweerr DDaann MMeeyyeerr ---22---

QQ::: How many sword swallowers are left in the world today? AA::: Less than a few dozen actively performing professional sword swallowers, a few dozen more amateur/retired (10 are women ). It's a dying art – 3 less than last year, 4-6 serious injuries/year

QQ::: What was the article you wrote that was published in the British Medical Journal? AA::: First-ever year-long medical research study in 4000 years of all sword swallowers worldwide published in prestigious British Medical Journal on “Sword Swallowing and its Side Effects” .

QQ::: You won the national USA Network "Show Us Your Character" contest? Tell us about that AA::: Won 2 nd place in “Show Us Your Character” contest out of over 7000 entries nationwide.

QQ::: You hold 3 Guinness World Records in sword swallowing and a Ripley’s Believe It or Not? AA::: Most swords swallowed by multiple sword swallowers, sword swallowed by multiple SwSws

QQ::: You swallowed a sword while submerged UNDERWATER in a tank of sharks and stingrays? AA::: I swallowed a 30” sword while submerged 20’ underwater in 85,000 gallon tank of 80 sharks and stingrays at Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach during Bike Week.

QQ::: Weren’t you worried about the sharks, air rushing out of your lungs, or inhaling water? AA::: Sword swallowing requires razor sharp concentration, pinpoint accuracy. Took EXTRA focus to swallow underwater and not inhale water when I opened my mouth and air rushed out of my lungs. Had to pry open my epiglottis while concentrating on sharks/stingrays to not let them bump me!

QQ::: WHY did you attmpt underwater sword swallow with sharks? AA::: I’d survived alone on an island in the Bahamas for 7 years where I swam with sharks and stingrays every day to spear them for food, and I’d swallowed swords for 7 years – Knew I could do each of them separately, but wanted to see if I could do BOTH at the same time!

QQ::: What was the most dangerous part of the whole feat? AA::: Sharks and stingrays were UNFED , and I had JUST EATEN ! My mom always said not to get in the water right after eating, and especially not to swallow swords with sharks after eating! Viewed by over 40 million on 400+ stations - CNN, MSNBC, ESPN, WGN, KNBC, Univision, etc.

QQ::: You received the 2007 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine at Harvard University for your BMJ paper? AA::: It was a HUGE honor to receive it. Performed at Harvard, MIT, and on UK Tour to Oxford, BBC…

QQ::: America’s Got Talent - You were on several episodes in 2008 – How far did you make it? AA::: Nashville auditions, Atlanta regionals out of 16,000, 3 of 70 to Las Vegas semi-finals, finally top 50 to LA finals, plus Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live, others.

QQ::: What is “International Sword Swallowers Awareness Day”? AA::: February 28 each year (during “National Swallowing Awareness Month”) - Sword swallowers are recognized for contributions to medical science in being used in medical research since 1868.

QQ::: Where else performed? Where in future? What are you going to do NEXT to top this? AA::: America’s Got Talent, Today Show, Discovery Channel, CNN, ESPN, MTV, Ripley’s, Ringling, Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Europe, Vegas, IAEWP UN World Peace Conference in Korea