ERIC L. ANDERSON
Duck Master™

Eric L. Anderson joined The Peabody Orlando in 1995 as a concierge. In 1997 he was promoted to assistant guest services manager, and in October, 2002 accepted an additional, but highly-coveted position: he was named Peabody Duck Master. Anderson donned the gold-trimmed crimson jacket, silk duck-motif necktie, and with brass duck-head cane in hand, marched The Peabody Ducks down the red carpet, continuing the time-honored tradition begun in Memphis, Tennessee, over 70 years ago by Edward Pembroke, the first-ever Peabody Duck Master.

No one could be better suited or qualified for the position. A native of Baton Rouge , Louisiana , Duck Master Anderson is an outgoing, erudite, highly accomplished musician, singer and conductor. With a BA in Speech Communication from Louisiana State University , he has managed to run dual careers in the hotel industry and music business since 1989.

As Duck Master, Anderson is responsible for the daily care and well-being of the most famous ducks in the world, The Peabody Ducks. These North American Mallards are some of the hotel's most cosseted VIPs, Very Important Poultry. Anderson trains the ducks to march on the red carpet to the music of John Philip Sousa's King Cotton March . There are several teams of Peabody Ducks, each team consisting of four hens and a drake. After 90 days at the hotel, each team returns to the local Peabody Farm, and another team replaces them in the Duck Fountain at the hotel.

Duck Master is responsible for feeding the ducks twice a day and for providing some “snacks” in the fountain several times a day. Each morning, Duck Master exercises the ducks on the tennis deck, prepares breakfast and dinner of Romaine lettuce, which is shredded into duck-bite pieces, live meal worms, shredded carrot, and special Peabody Duck trail mix.

The Peabody Ducks are well used to the limelight. They have been filmed by all the major networks and have been featured on the cover of the Washington Post's Style page. Eric Anderson also is experienced before the camera. Before joining The Peabody Orlando, Anderson was chosen from an international audition for a year-long stint as a cast member of Up With People . Travel locations included eight months in the United States and four months in Northern/Central Europe.

In 1992 he became an Attractions Host and Trainer for the Disney-MGM Studios. In1995 he was promoted to Guest Relations Host/VIP tour guide for high profile guests of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Anderson is married and has two young children.

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