Dan Steininger works at the LEGO Model Shop in Enfield, Connecticut as a Master Model Builder.

He’s one funny guy (and no wonder – he’s also a professional clown!), and he’s always got a story to tell about his life before and since he came to work at The LEGO Company 14 years ago. Let’s talk to him and find out more!

Hi, Dan! What did you do before you came to work here?
I was an actor out in Los Angeles for 4 years, where my claim to fame was appearing on one episode of a TV sitcom called “9to5.” I moved back to New England with my wife and our 1-year-old son and we started an entertainment company called The Fun Works that we have been doing for over 22 years now. My wife does the bookings and I entertain as a clown along with two of our four children. When we needed more money, I moved into a full-time position selling flowers to flower shops.

Actor, clown and flower-seller…that’s quite a combination! So how did you end up at The LEGO Company?
It sounded like fun! A friend of mine who worked here referred me. But I still had 3 hours of interviews and had to build a LEGO model while being timed. They have tried several times over the years to get rid of me, but I always hide under my desk.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I play basketball and softball and love fishing (they call me the “Blue Gill King”). I also enjoy art, and I’m a Sunday school teacher too.

Do you do all of your LEGO building at work, or do you build at home too?
Mostly at work, but I have done some projects at home. My wife is not crazy about the LEGO toilet seat (just kidding!).

Do you do much building together with your family?
All the time when they were younger, but now they just ask me to buy them LEGO sets!

How did you become a LEGO Master Builder?
I started as a model builder trainee, and after 6 months I became an official model builder. After another year of showing a high level of quality work and training other builders, I was lucky enough to be promoted to LEGO Master Model Builder.

What was your first big LEGO project?
I was involved in building a 25-foot-tall clock tower model for the LEGO Store at the Mall of America. I worked on a lot of parts for it, but what I mainly remember is building the number “12.” I thought it was quite an honor!

What was your most recent project?
I took a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines from Vancouver, Canada to LA, California. On board, I put on two shows as Dan the LEGO Man and taught some workshops on building with LEGO pieces. I also built a dolphin model for the cruise line company. What a job – I get paid to play with LEGO bricks (“The Greatest Toy of All Time”) and go on a cruise.

What’s your all-time favorite building project?
My favorite project so far was the Children’s Hospital scale model that Erik Varszegi and I recently built in Denver, Colorado. Kids and families came by all the time to see our progress and help out. We really seemed to make a positive difference in their lives. The doctors, nurses and staff would come by and be silly, asking for larger offices or a closer parking spot. The finished model takes up an 8’ x 8’ space in the real brand-new hospital. It looks awesome!

What are the steps you go through in creating a big LEGO brick sculpture?
Creating a drawing/sketch of the concept, providing a quote for the cost, holding a kick-off meeting to decide how we’re going to handle it, designing the model, and building the model. I work on all of those, but building the model is my favorite part.

What’s your next big project?
I’m planning a building event where we’ll make an 8-foot-tall R2-D2 from Star Wars™.

What’s your secret for making a great LEGO model?
Put the model on a turntable and keep turning it around to check on the quality.

Any tips or advice for all the LEGO Club builders reading this?
Take your time building, and enjoy. Even when something falls apart, don’t worry – it’s LEGO bricks!

And how about some advice for kids who want to become LEGO Master Builders?
Stay in school and take lots of art classes. Or hope I get a better job…NOT!!!

Thanks for talking to us, Dan! And Club members, we’ll see you next time for another Master Builder Q&A!