The Branson Backstage Pass: Luke Menard

Print1.) Where are you originally from?
Crawfordsville, Indiana

2.) What are the 3 most played songs on your iPod/phone?
1. Perfect Symmetry by Keane
2.  On the Other Side by Augustana
3.  Feeling the Pull by Swell Season

3.) What are you currently reading?
 Born to Run

4.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Professional Golfer

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5.) How long have you been in Branson?
2 years.

6.) Where is your favorite place to eat in Branson?
Billy Gails

7.) When your friends come to Branson, what do you tell them that they have to do?
People watch.

8.) What is your favorite thing about being a Branson entertainer?
 My favorite part about being an entertainer is that the audience comes to us rather than us touring and traveling to our audiences and meeting new people everyday.

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The Branson Backstage Pass: Freya Lui

Print1.) Where are you originally from?
I am originally from Xinjiang Province, China.
我来自中国新疆省。

2.) What are the 3 most played songs on your iPod/phone?
a. Set Fire To The Rain by Adele; 
b. With Him by Babyface;
c. Last Christmas by Taylor Swift.
最常听的歌曲是:第一首是阿黛拉的《放火烧雨》,第二首是娃娃脸的《和他》,第三首是泰勒·斯威夫特的《去年圣诞节》。

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3.) What are you currently reading?
Power of Prayer by Dale Salwak
现在在看戴尔·萨瓦克写的《祈祷的力量》。

4.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A female astronaut. 
想做一个女宇航员。

5.) How long have you been in Branson?
Totally brand-new here, I visited here once last June, and came here this year on March 13. 
绝对是新来的,我去年6月来过一次,今年是3月13日到达。

6.) Where is your favorite place to eat in Branson?
Haven’t been to many places yet, but The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks is wonderful. 
我还没有去过很多餐厅,但绝对推荐欧扎克湖区学院自办的餐厅。

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7.) When your friends come to Branson, what do you tell them that they have to do?
They have to go and ride the ducks, go fishing by the lake, go on a tour cruise on the lake, and pick up whatever shows they want to see, but of course they’ll have to see the Acrobats of China show. If they can’t decide, I’ll just take them to a rack and let them pick up some of the fanciest rack cards and go!
我会告诉他们,他们要去坐坐鸭子船,在湖边钓鱼,坐湖上的游艇,然后去看任何想看的秀。如果实在不知道看什么秀,我就干脆把他们带到宣传架子那,选一个宣传单设计最棒的秀。

8.) What is your favorite thing about being a Branson entertainer?
It gives me a chance and great joy to know more about America and American culture and history in one small town. And I love to go to see shows. 
在这里工作让我有一个绝佳的机会更多地了解美国和美国历史、文化。我也特别喜欢去看其他的秀。

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The Branson Backstage Pass: Janice Martin

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1.) Where are you originally from?
Racine, Wisconsin

2.) What are the 3 most played songs on your iPod/phone?
#1 – “Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche
#2 – “Diary of a Madman” by Ozzy Osbourne
#3 – “For Freedom” by Avalon

3.) What are you currently reading?
“A Machine that Would Go Of Itself: The Constitution in American Culture” by Michael Kammen
“Country Wisdom and Know-How” from the Editors of Storey Books

4.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The First Female President of the USA

5.) How long have you been in Branson?
Since March of 2011

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6.) Where is your favorite place to eat in Branson?
My house!!!

7.) When your friends come to Branson, what do you tell them that they have to do?
See the Showboat Branson Belle, Dixie Stampede, Silver Dollar City, Whitewater, Ziplining and taking a drive out to some of the nature parks – I love the natural area around Branson!

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8.) What is your favorite thing about being a Branson entertainer?
I really love the wholesome atmosphere – first of all how beautiful it is here – crossing the dam every day to work and then actually working on a boat – the Showboat area keeps their grounds so beautifully, so every day is a feast for the eyes….quite a change from the cement and subways of NYC! Secondly, I love that this area is designed to be a place to bring families – having the privilege of performing for people of all ages feels great :)

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The Branson Backstage Pass: Jim Stafford

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1.) Where are you originally from?
Eloise, Florida

2.) What are the 3 most played songs on your iPod/phone?
Rolling in the Deep by Adele, Maria Elena by Nato Lima, and Tommy Emmanuel’s Guitar Classics

3.) What are you currently reading?
The Story of Walt Disney: Unabridged

4.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I picked up the guitar at age 12, I knew what I wanted to do!

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5.) How long have you been in Branson?
24 years of owning my own theatre on Highway 76.

6.) Where is your favorite place to eat in Branson?
Golden Corral and Cracker Barrell — can’t pick just one!

7.) When your friends come to Branson, what do you tell them that they have to do?
Check out Historic Downtown Branson, go to Silver Dollar City and to top it all off come to my show!

8.) What is your favorite thing about being a Branson entertainer?
I think all Branson entertainers are greatly relieved to not spend all their lives on the road. An added benefit is the people here are nice and a lot of fun!

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The Branson Backstage Pass: Clay Cooper

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1.) Where are you originally from?
Wylie, Texas

2.) What are the 3 most played songs on your iPod/phone?
AC/DC- Back in Black, Hall & Oates- Private Eyes, Any Asleep at the Wheel

3.) What are you currently reading?
My daughter’s crazy tweets!

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4.) When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An FBI Agent

5.) How long have you been in Branson?
27 years

6.) Where is your favorite place to eat in Branson?
Vasken’s

7.) When your friends come to Branson, what do you tell them that they have to do?
It depends on who’s coming! Golfing, zip-lining, playing on the lake, and of course, seeing other shows are all things I recommend.

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8.) What is your favorite thing about being a Branson entertainer?
Getting to do what I love to do (perform) and doing it with my family!

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Celebrate Romance in Branson

Branson’s unique, scenic location in the Ozark Mountains makes us an ideal location for a destination wedding, anniversary gathering, vow renewal and family celebrations.

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From weddings on the lawn overlooking Table Rock Lake at Big Cedar Lodge to Branson Stonegate Glass Chapel nestled among the trees, the opportunity to create your dream wedding or event is truly limitless.

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Maybe you are looking for something fit for royalty, like a wedding on an exact replica of the Grand Staircase at the Titanic Museum Attraction.

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Or are you are wanting a unique venue, like the picturesque Dewey Short Visitors Center, featuring beautiful grounds and three levels of decks overlooking Table Rock Lake?

Branson is a perfect match for weddings and honeymoons. For those celebrating a wedding, planning a romantic honeymoon or marking a milestone anniversary, the Branson/Lakes Area is the perfect place to celebrate your special day. For more information visit: http://www.explorebranson.com/weddings

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Ozark Mountain Spring

Ozark Mountain Spring is a beautiful time of year here in Branson. From March through May, the Ozarks flourish with vibrant colors and sounds. While dogwoods, redbuds and wildflowers bloom, Branson’s world-famous shows, family attractions and unique theme parks introduce new acts, features and exhibits.

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From sporting events such as golf tournaments to the international folk music and cuisines of WorldFest at Silver Dollar City, a springtime visit to Branson offers much to discover.

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When we asked our Facebook fans what they love about springtime in Branson, this is what they had to say:

Linda D. – The dogwood blossoms.
Anthony N. – Fishing on Taneycomo
Karen P. – The people and the lake
Katy G. – Silver Dollar City and the Branson Landing
Sheila M. – The green rolling hills

Now come see the beauty for yourself. Visit www.explorebranson.com for vacation information.

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Branson’s Fish Like a Pro – Ultimate Fishing Giveaway

Fishermen and fisherwomen… this is for you! Have you ever dreamed of fishing with a pro? If so, we’ve got an exciting opportunity for you.

All you have to do is tell us your best (believable) fishing story and upload a photo of you fishing for a chance to win Branson’s Fish Like a Pro ultimate fishing giveaway. You’ll get free lodging at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center and a seat in a boat with a fishing pro during the Professional Anglers Association tournament on Table Rock Lake, Sept. 5-7, 2013.

Enter today at http://woobox.com/o5fpdo

FLW - Fishing - Anthony Gagliardi

Contest Terms: Entrants must be 18 or older to enter. Prize package includes three nights lodging and a seat in a fishing boat with a professional to be selected by PAA officials. The winner will be responsible for transportation, meals and other expenses. The winner also will need to bring his/her own tackle and equipment for bass fishing. The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB and the Professional Anglers Association reserve the right to use images or video of the contest winner in marketing materials. This package has no cash value. No substitutions can be made.

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Branson in the Final 4 for SoMeT13US!

Branson has advanced to the Final 4 of destinations in the running to host the Social Media Tourism Symposium (SoMeT13US). We will be in a face-off on Facebook against Missoula, MT on Tuesday, March 26th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  And we need your vote!

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We know that you love Branson for its unmatched live entertainment, pristine lakes, award-winning theme parks, fantastic museums and much more. Help bring this conference to town, so that they can fall in love with Branson, too.

Vote here http://woobox.com/d68im7  and share with your friends. Let’s bring SoMeT13US to Branson!

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Help Bring SoMeT13US to Branson!

We know that you LOVE Branson and we need your help!

Branson is one of the 13 finalists in the running to host SoMeT13US. SoMeT (Social Media Tourism Symposium) will bring 300 social media influencers from around the U.S. to town and we want to show them how awesome Branson is!

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Voting will begin at 11 a.m. (CDT) on March 13 and end at 11 a.m. on March 15. Voting will take place on the voting tab on the Social Media Tourism Symposium Facebook Page. We will share the direct link when it is live.

After you have voted, come back and leave us a comment on this blog to be entered to win a Branson goodie bag!

Vote Branson!

Thank you for your help!

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