Audience members were silent, holding their breaths as Elvis music filled John R. Emens Auditorium on Friday night.
Then right before their eyes, under the hot heat of the stage lights, appeared a man with no legs impersonating the famous singer.
That's how the Swords for Africa Benefit Fundraiser began.
Danny Frasier, the world's smallest Elvis, made the crowd laugh with his humor.
He once scared a crowd of beach goers a day after a shark attack.
"I'm out there in the water hollering ‘shark' and pulled myself underwater like a shark's got me," Frasier said. "My mama runs in the water and picks me straight up out of the water and me having no legs, everyone saw that and thought I had really gotten attacked by a shark."
Frasier told the audience how he got started with Elvis impersonating.
"I happened to go to an event where an Elvis tribute band was performing," he said. "I thought if he's up there doing it and making people happy, why can't I?"
Jim Goldman, who's been featured on of "Ripley's ‘Believe It or Not,'" amazed the crowd by showing what all he can do with no arms. He threw knives, hit a baseball and made a basketball shot.
"If you want to do it, there's nothing you can't do," he said. "There's nothing I can't do, I can do everything everyone else can do."
Goldman doesn't drive any special vehicle either.
"They aren't going to sell me a car because they don't think I can drive it," he said. "I can drive anything in the lot."
The surprise of the evening was former Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith, who played two songs on the guitar and talked about the hardships of life.
"There's ups and downs, some poor, some good, but I'm always with God," he said. "God is the purpose behind [life.]
"Inspiration is not the reason why I live," he said. "It's for people to know God and understand God."
Rupert Boneham focused on his time on the reality show "Survivor" and Rupert's Kids, an organization that teaches young people about life skills and themselves, and how those experiences have changed him as a person.
"The strongest muscle you have in your body is your mind," he said. "When you believe you can do something, it's amazing what happens."
His goal was to get his family out of debt and he was able to do that through "Survivor."
Now Boneham has a new goal.
"Rupert's Kids is going to be worldwide," he said. "I love being involved and showing the empowerment of youth."
Dan Meyer, a sword swallower and Muncie resident, was the final performer of the evening
Meyer said he hopes his experience with doing the impossible in his life will inspire others to do the impossible in theirs.
"There is too much fear and not enough faith to do the impossible in your life," he said. "Think big and dream bigger."
The event was on the 10 year anniversary of Meyer swallowing his first sword.
"All the performers blew everyone away," he said. "I was honored to perform with these guys."
Graduate physiology major Michael Rogowski said he was impressed by Meyer's performance.
"I thought his showmanship was awesome," he said. "I was scared for the stuff he was doing."
The performers stayed behind after the show to sign autographs and take photos with audience members.
Want to know more about the performers? Visit:
danmeyer.org, rupertskids.org, jimgoldmaninc.com, dannyfrasier.webs.com
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