Thirty years and millions of laughs later, Merchant’s artistic gamble paid off, as he is now a renowned ventriloquist. In 2004, he was named Entertainer of the Year for Crystal Cruise Lines, a cruise line that has been named the world’s best for the last 10 straight years by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

Merchant’s big break into the entertainment business was a bit of luck, as he actually got his first opportunity after applying for a public relations position with Carnival Cruise Lines in 1978. In addition to his Clayton State dental hygiene degree, he also had a journalism degree from Georgia State University and was also employed at Trust Company Bank in Atlanta, GA, leading to his interest in applying for the public relations job.

On his application for the position, it had a section reserved for special talents, and he listed his ventriloquist skills as one of those. It just so happened the cruise line was in need of a ventriloquist, and the rest was history.

"Nothing against the dental or public relations professions, but it just didn’t do it for me creatively," said Merchant. "I love performing; I really come alive when I go on stage."

Merchant says he began learning ventriloquism at the age of 10 after his parents bought him a book and record on how to master the art. He first became interested after seeing the comedian/ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson, doing his Nestle’s commercials with characters, Farfel the talking dog, his pal Danny O’Day. The famous jingle went ... "N-E-S-T-L-E-S … Nestles makes the very best … chaaawwwwwclate."

"My parents provided me a lot of artistic opportunities took piano lessons for one," said Merchant. "One Christmas, they bought me a record and book that taught ventriloquism. It was the one art form that I would practice. I would sit in front of the mirror for hours, telling jokes and trying not to move my lips."

While in high school and college, Merchants says, he performed at parties and other functions and continued to improve and eventually paid his way through college with the skill.

"It was my ticket to popularity as a teenager," said Merchant. "I wasn’t involved in athletics or anything. "I loved to make people laugh."

One of Merchant’s best stories is how he met his wife, Cindy. Back in the late 1980’s, he was performing for a metro-Atlanta elementary school. As part of his show, one of his puppet characters began flirting with the teacher, who was Cindy, and asked her out on a date.

The proposal from the "dummy" didn’t go on deaf ears, a few days later, Mark and Cindy went on their first date and were married two years later in Gatlinburg, TN. Mark’s best man for the wedding was one of his puppets named Sherwood.

Said Merchant, "I tell everyone, it (ventriloquism) paid for my school, has allowed me to travel around the world five times and introduced me to my wife. (Jokingly) Two out of three is not bad."

Merchant is different than most ventriloquists in that he is constantly updating his material and structures his material to fit specific audiences.

He has as many as 15 characters but three main ones. They are: Wing Tip Shu, a Chinese male; Alonzo Jackson, an African-American male; and Zelda Rose, a white female. He is also in the process of a developing a George W. Bush character.

"I love performing," said Merchant. "My goal is make people believe that I’m having a conversation with one of my puppets…to suspend their disbelief and even forget that I’m a ventriloquist."

Even though Merchant does not use his college degrees directly in his current career, he says his education has been an important part of his development.

"My writing background has helped my career in being able to combine facts with creativity and come up with clever comedy," said Merchant. My degree in dental hygiene also helped by making me so aware of the cost of dental neglect and how one’s smile and pleasant looking teeth are one of the first impressions others see in us."

Merchant has traveled all over the world, recently returning from Alaska on a cruise and will later this month visit the Mediterranean for performances. He enjoys the cruises but says corporate events are more lucrative financially and allows him to spend more time at home with his family.

His favorite places to perform are in Reno, Nevada at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. He has opened for Rich Little, Brenda Lee, and Tony Orlando there to name a few. He worked four years as the comedy act on the Princess Casino in Freeport Grand Bahama Island.

In 1987, Merchant entertained nine months at Resorts International in Atlantic City and was nominated by Atlantic City Magazine as "Best Variety Act." One of his highlights was when he was on camera with David Letterman in 1992, and in 1986. Merchant was also the opening act for the late great George Burns in Duluth, MN.