Masters of Ceremony

As master of ceremonies at the Grand Country Music Hall, it's Mike Patrick's mission to make the magic — not the rabbit-in-the-hat kind of magic, but the delight-on-the-faces-of-patrons kind.

“Our job is to make people forget their troubles and make special memories they’ll keep forever,” says Patrick, who is the reigning emcee of the year in Branson and the heart that sets the beat for all the shows at the Grand Country Music Hall. “There are no boundaries between the entertainers and the audience. This is 100% real talent, performing for real people.”

Patrick learned about that kind of magic early, growing up down the road from Branson in Nixa, Mo. He attended church with the original Bald Knobbers, the Mabe family, who started the Branson family entertainment tradition in 1959.

"I was 5 before I knew not everybody did a show at night," Patrick remembers with a laugh. "I was always in love with Branson. I always knew I wanted to be a part of that world."

Patrick got his foot in the door as a train robber and a member of the saloon show cast at Silver Dollar City — 20-plus train robberies a day and seven shows at the saloon, where he says he "honed his comedy chops." After earning his bachelor's degree at Missouri State University, he went on to be an event producer at Silver Dollar City, helping shape the National Kids Fest, Southern Gospel Picnic and the beloved Old Time Christmas festival.

Since 2003, Patrick has been the general manager of the Grand Country Music Hall, the jewel at the center of Branson’s Grand Country Resort. The resort has plenty to offer on its own. It’s got lodging that can accommodate the whole family. It’s got an indoor/outdoor water park. It’s got an indoor go-kart track, mini-golf, laser tag, arcade, bumper cars and more. It’s got a wide variety of food choices for every taste, from burgers to pizza to a buffet of homestyle favorites.

But whether you've decided to make the resort your home-away-from-home in Branson or you're just in town to find Branson's best music, Grand Country Music Hall has it all. The hardest decision any music lover will have to make is which show to see, and Patrick says you can squeeze in three on most days or four on Friday:

Grand Jubilee — This is where audiences fall in love with Grand Country performers and make the choice to come back again and again! With the quartet New South and The Rhinestone Mafia centerstage, the show has won “Entertainers of the Year,” “Branson’s Best Show,” “Branson’s Best Variety Show,” “Quartet of the Year,” “Comedian of the Year,” “Emcee of the Year” and more. You’ll hear Top 40, country & gospel classics, and rock ‘n’ roll hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, all seasoned with comedy by Jamie Haage. And you’ll see emcee Patrick in a dozen different custom-made rhinestone suits from Hollywood because “half the magic happens through your eyes.” Grand Jubilee takes place every day but Sunday at 7:30 p.m., so you can build your schedule around it.

Comedy Jamboree — If you liked the taste of comedy you got at Grand Jubilee, come back for the Comedy Jamboree, where no two shows are ever the same but the comedy is always family-friendly and full of belly laughs. Showtime is 3 p.m. on select dates.

Pets & Giggles — Whether you’ve got kids of all ages or you’re just young at heart, you’ll love Pets & Giggles, filled with games, skits and the cutest dogs in Branson showing off their speed, agility, teamwork and trust. You might also find yourself a star of the show as audience members get in on the hilarious adventures. Showtime is 10 a.m. on select days.

Branson Country USA — Co-hosted by Jamie Haage and Mike Patrick, this late-night show promises the powerful harmonies of New South, lots of laughs and guest stars you won’t believe you’re actually seeing. The show is syndicated on radio and TV, so you just might get to see yourself on the air. Showtime is 10:30 p.m. Fridays.

Ozarks Gospel — With the sweet harmonies of Tammy and Tonya Bilyeau, you can’t find a better way to celebrate the Lord on Sunday. Showtime is 2 p.m. The Bilyeau sisters are back at 7 p.m. on Sundays for Ozarks Country, celebrating country classics of yesteryear combined with today’s hot country hits!

Audience members come back again and again, Patrick says, because they know they can count on multi-talented entertainers, wholesome entertainment and a family atmosphere — because Grand Country Resort is family owned and operated.

"We have 2,500 season pass holders," Patrick marvels of the Music Hall fans who are regulars. "We call them 'The Wild Bunch' because they are! They're the ones screaming and hollering — sometimes three generations of families screaming and hollering together! When we turn the house lights up, we see people we know — people who send us birthday cards and Christmas cards and baby announcements."

The Grand Country Music Hall is where "musicians become entertainers," Patrick says, and where they learn to laugh together, cry together and love the business of making music together. All audiences have to do is come in, sit down and get ready for a good time.

Patrick even has the answer for those who can’t make up their minds. He says an all-inclusive package brings together shows at Grand Country Music Hall, meals, lodging and tickets for Silver Dollar City and Dolly Parton’s Stampede. It’s what you do for family, he says, and everything about Grand County is family-oriented.

“We want to make the audience feel like family,” Patrick says. "Then we want to tie those emotions together with feel-good music."