As a young boy, Dan Meyer was skinny, shy and scrawny with a low self-esteem and a fear of everything from the dark to sharp objects.
Growing up in Michigan City, Ind., he was beat up at school.
"Because I was not allowed to play in their ‘reindeer games,' I vowed I wanted to do real magic," Meyer said.
And he did. He went from wimp to world record holder.
"I saw [sword swallowing] when I was little with my dad at the LaPorte County Fair and I thought ‘That can't be real,'" he said. "In India, I realized it is real and it made a huge impression on me."
The beginning
After coming back from India, Meyer met a sword swallower in Nashville and asked for tips.
"He said it's extremely dangerous and don't try it," he said. "He said there is less than a dozen sword swallowers left around the world and this persuaded me to go after a passion and learn how to do it."
For the next four years, Meyer searched everywhere, trying to find the remaining sword swallowers to ask them for tips.
Success
"On Feb. 12, 2001, I got my first sword down my throat for practicing 10-12 times a day for four years," he said. "I was scared to death I had punctured something."
In order to do it, he had to nudge his heart aside with his sword for 13,000 unsuccessful attempts.
It took another two years to become consistent at it and another five years to master it.
Swords for Africa
Besides performing on shows such as ‘America's Got Talent' and ‘Stan Lee's Superhumans,' Meyer will perform in John R. Emens Auditorium in a benefit fundraiser for Joy in the Harvest, a Christian mission working in Tanzania.
Mary Ruble, who is one of the 10 people going on the trip, said the group has about half of the funds raised.
"To have someone of the caliber of Dan Meyer willing and able to help us do this is extraordinary," she said. "Dan brings an energy and excitement with him that we think will transfer to everyone who comes out to see this event."
Aside from Meyer, Rupert Boneham from ‘Survivor,' the world's smallest Elvis Danny Frasier, Mr. Elastic and Jim Goldman will also be part of the event.
"I realized the one thing we all have in common is we have all overcome obstacles to do the impossible in our lives and change the world of people around us," Meyer said.
"Our goal is to not only entertain but to educate [the audience] and amaze them so that they think in new ways," he said. "Our ultimate goal is for people to believe they can go do the impossible in their lives."
After the show, the performers will sign autographs, T-shirts, books and more with proceeds going to Joy in the Harvest.
Ancient art
"There are less than a dozen professional sword swallowers actively performing around the world today," Meyer said. "With 6.8 billion people in the world, that makes me rather unique."
To keep this art going, Meyer created Sword Swallowers Association International in 2001. At the convention, 19 people swallowed a total of 50 swords.
"It was the most sword swallowers swallowing swords at the same time," he said.
That is until 2005 when nine people swallowed 52 swords. That year, Meyer hit his own record and swallowed seven swords at once.
Two weeks later, he swallowed five and punctured his stomach.
At the time Meyer said he wouldn't ever swallow them again and gave up.
A month and a day later, he swallowed the five swords and has continued the art ever since.
Mentality
Before performing, Meyer has to swallow his pride before swallowing his sword.
"If I get too cavalier or arrogant or think too highly of what I'm doing, it can put my focus in the wrong place," he said.
Meyer said he concentrates on breathing, relaxing and smiling.
"Sword swallowing requires razor sharp concentration and pin point accuracy," he said. "If I'm not careful, all it takes is one mistake."
"I do it to demonstrate how incredible the human body is that God made," Meyer said. "And to inspire people that you can do the impossible if you just put your mind to it."
As the president of Sword Swallowers Association International, Meyer said it's part of his duty to preserve and promote sword swallowing as a performer andto make a living.
The impossible
"It's not so much swallowing two feet of steel, the impossible thing for me is getting into a crowd of 10,000 people and telling my life story and inspiring them to do the impossible in their lives," he said.
Today, Meyer is no longer that wimpy kid from Michigan City, but a confident world record holder who lives in Muncie.
"Bullies, this is for you guys. I'm doing the impossible now," he said.
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