Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Daniel
Hi Mark, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got the entertaining bug during high school when I fell in love with horror movies and the art of special effects makeup.
I dreamed of becoming a special effects makeup artist and creating monsters like legendary make-up effects artists Dick Smith and Rick Baker. At the time the only place teaching the art of make- up was the Joe Blasco makeup school in Orlando. The bad news was that they offered no scholarships. I then found a passion for film editing. I enrolled in TV production class and began experimenting with stop motion animation. This process took many hours of filming and editing which I fully enjoyed.
One of my stop-motion short films Jammin’ with the Clayboys won first place in my division for animation.
While in high school I landed a part time job in the Entertainment Department at Walt Disney World doing the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom.
After I graduated Armwood High School in Sefner FL. I moved to Orlando with the intention of getting full time work in the Entertainment Department at Walt Disney World. Finally after many auditions and hard work I was offered full time at Disney MGM Studios (Now Disney Hollywood Studios) in their entertainment department performing in Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D. For 7 years I performed in multiple stage shows, parades, special events, commercials, and nationwide tours for the Walt Disney Character Department.
During my time in Disney Entertainment I began doing improv comedy. First by being introduced to an improv group called Comedy Sports. I then enrolled in the SAK Comedy Lab training group called Lab Rats and eventually became an ensemble performer with SAK Comedy Lab.
In 1998 I auditioned to become an Equity Actor at Walt Disney World and was hired and cast as and actor for Disney’s newest theme park the Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I performed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom until I was moved to EPCOT as a storyteller and improv actor with The World Showcase Plays (A comedy troupe originally founded by the before mentioned SAK Comedy Lab) as an actor I also worked with directors from Disney Event Group creating a variety of unique characters, an ensemble player with SAK Comedy and the Comedy Warehouse improv show at Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World. Later I began doing stand up comedy and was a Headliner comic for Bonkers Comedy. From Epcot I returned to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the opening of the American Idol Experience as the warm-up host. This was a daily park show that featured actual parks guests singing for votes. The attraction was made up of two experiences. The first was where you could experience auditioning for American Idol in front of professional casting directors. Second, if you were a great singer you would be cast into one of the daily shows at the American Idol Experience where the audience would vote for their favorite singer. Guests would win a Dream Ticket and if they fit the TV shows age restrictions they could use the Dream Ticket. The ticket allowed them to have their first audition be for the TV judges.
That warm-up role led me to more opportunities as a warm up host for many events and conventions both nationally and globally. My performance history enabled me to be a perfect host of the Disney web series iNside Disney Parks and led me to become the Social Media Host for Walt Disney World a title that did not exist prior to my involvement. I now have my own business as a freelance host and emcee for Mark Daniel Entertainment LLC. I am very proud to have created the term Live Personality to explain what I do for a living. LIVE PERSONALITY: A dynamic entertainer that thrives in the moment using charisma, quick wit, and stage presence to create unforgettable in person experiences that captivate and engage audiences. (and that’s what I love to do)
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a career performer it’s difficult to not place your worth on what others think of you. Sure we have confidence in ourselves but most work in this industry comes from auditions, submissions, and word of mouth and someone ultimately saying Yes. For every yes there are 100’s of no’s you must accept and deal with.
For me, in the beginning it was difficult because people wanted to see me where they felt I belonged, unfortunately for me they felt I belonged away from them. Many people in the industry felt because I was a tall, black male, I should be playing basketball. They felt that this could be my only contribution to the world.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My LLC is Mark Daniel Entertainment. Here you can book me as a professional host, emcee, or moderator for live events.
I specialize in hosting Live, pre recorded, and Live-streamed events and productions. Through my years as a performer with the Walt Disney Company, an improv performer, and stand up comic I’ve created a unique brand. I’ve won awards in every aspect of my career including a daytime Emmy Award as part of the Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration (Warm up Host) Central Florida’s Funniest Comic, and a Telly Award as the Host of iNside Disney Parks. As a Stand up comic I created the brand LOL4LIFE and sold my hand made stamped leather bracelets after my shows. LOL4LIFE is the belief that Positive laughter leads to a happier and healthier life. This is a belief that was proven to me through my grandmother’s actions who loved to laugh and tell stories until her passing at 104.5 years of age. Thats right I said .5 she earned it.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me there are two answers. The first I wish I knew earlier in my career. It’s a quote from poet, memoirist, civil rights activist, and scholar the great Maya Angelou: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it”
Second is a Japanese concept of finding purpose. Ikigai: Finding the intersection of four elements: What you love. What you’re good at, What the World needs. What you can be paid to do. Finding your Ikigai or purpose will allow you to feel succseful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MarkDanielComedy.com
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/markdanielwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lol4markdaniel
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@lol4markdaniel
