When Magic Doesn’t Go as Planned: Fail Stories With Wes & Natalie

 When you perform live, things occasionally go wrong. Equipment has problems, unexpected interruptions happen, and a show can take a turn you never saw coming.

In Wes Iseli’s Magiclife Podcast S6E34: “Fail Stories with Wes & Natalie,” Natalie and I share stories about those moments—and what we have learned from working through them together.

Some experiences are easier to laugh about once the show is over!

Watch “Fail Stories with Wes & Natalie” on YouTube.

The Stories Behind the Show

Audiences see the performance, but there is often another story unfolding behind the scenes. Technical difficulties and unexpected incidents can leave you making decisions while everyone is watching.

In this episode, we revisit some of our own experiences performing magic, including the challenges of working at county fairs and resorts. Different venues bring different conditions, and being prepared also means being ready to adapt when your original plan stops working.

You can rehearse your act, check your equipment, and arrive ready to perform. You still need to pay attention to what is happening around you.

Thinking on Your Feet

One of the skills you develop through live entertainment is knowing how to keep moving when something unexpected happens.

Sometimes that means adjusting your presentation. Sometimes it means finding another way forward. And sometimes a little humor helps everyone—including the performer—get through an awkward moment.

Working together gives Natalie and me a shared perspective on those experiences. We can look back at what happened, talk about how we handled it, and recognize what we would do differently next time.

Those conversations are part of improving the show.

Natalie’s Nutrition Business

We also step away from the stage to talk about Natalie’s nutrition business and website, including her work offering nutrition guidance for individuals taking GLP-1 medications.

It is another part of our family’s life that we get to share through the podcast. Alongside the performances and travel, we are building businesses, pursuing goals, and learning as we go.

Visit Natalie’s Nutrition Nation to learn more about her coaching and resources.

Learning From the Moments You Would Rather Forget

A difficult performance can be frustrating, but it can also give you something useful to carry into the next show.

Looking back helps you ask better questions: What could we prepare differently? What did we handle well? What should we change?

That applies beyond magic, too. A setback does not have to end the thing you are working toward. You can learn from it, make an adjustment, and keep going.

This episode gives us a chance to share a few laughs while talking honestly about that side of performing. We love what we do—even when it gives us another fail story to tell.

Watch the episode, then leave a comment: Have you ever had something go wrong during a performance, presentation, or important moment? How did you handle it?

Learn more about our shows at WesIseli.com.

For more magic, behind-the-scenes content, and podcast extras, join us at Patreon.com/wes_iseli.

Wes Iseli's Magiclife Vlog #311 (Gearing up for Summer)

 Getting ready for summer means juggling a growing show calendar with everything happening at home. In Wes Iseli’s Magiclife Vlog #311: Gearing Up for Summer, we share a little of both, from my return to performing after leaving the hospital to family updates and a few vehicle headaches.

Watch Magiclife Vlog #311: Gearing Up for Summer.

Back Onstage in Northern Virginia

The Northern Virginia show featured in this episode was my first performance since leaving the hospital. It went well, marking my return to the stage as we prepared for several more shows.

A Little RV Suspense Before the Show

Before the performance, the RV gave us trouble when it would not start. Fortunately, it ultimately worked properly, giving that part of the story a much better ending.

If you have followed our travels, you can revisit Magiclife #255, when we bought the RV. This episode adds another chapter to its place in our performing life.

Natalie’s car also had windshield wiper issues. Between the RV and the car, transportation supplied its own share of the behind-the-scenes activity.

Haircuts, Musical Theater, and Mischievous Cats

Natalie also catches everyone up on things at home, including giving our sons haircuts.

Lana’s directing and choreography work in her musical theater class went well, adding another kind of performance update to the episode. There is plenty of creativity in this family beyond the magic show.

Meanwhile, our new cats have been contributing some chaos with their destructive behavior. Between the children, the animals, and the show preparations, there is quite a bit happening away from the stage.

Preparing for a Busy Summer Season

With several upcoming shows on the calendar, this episode catches us as the summer performance season begins to pick up.

For another look at that rhythm, revisit Magiclife #188, when our summer show schedule was in full swing. Together, these episodes offer glimpses of both getting ready for the season and being in the middle of it.

Thanks for following along with our family as we gear up for more shows and another chapter of our Magiclife!

Learn more about our performances at WesIseli.com, and visit our Patreon to support our work and explore more magic and behind-the-scenes content.

84 Magic Shows at Round Hill Farm: Behind the Scenes

This season at Round Hill Farm, I’m performing 84 magic shows, with eight shows on Saturdays and six on Sundays. That makes 14 performances in a weekend, along with photos, meet and greets, candy cannon countdowns, and plenty of walking around the farm.

It’s a busy schedule, and I love being part of it.

There’s a lot happening between one show and the next, so I thought I’d share a look at what those fall weekends are like for Natalie and me.

From the Magic Show to the Candy Cannon

Each round begins with a 30-minute magic show. Afterward, I take pictures and spend some time meeting the families who came to watch.

 

                                                    

Then I pick up my handheld speaker and, with my headset microphone, lead the crowd across the farm to the candy cannon. It’s a little like being the Pied Piper, with the candy cannon as our destination.

Before the launch, I explain the rules and get everyone lined up behind the starting line for safety. Once everyone is in place, I start the countdown from ten to one.

Then comes the boom!

The compressed-air cannon sends three bags’ worth of candy out into the field for the kids to collect. It’s a whole extra event following the magic show—and another part of my day at the farm.

 

   

                                              

Announcing the Next Show

After the candy cannon, I pick up my speaker again and make a lap around the farm, switching into my best carnival barker voice:

“Free magic show starts in 15 minutes, followed by the candy cannon! Come see a free show and get a ton of candy—all starting in 15 minutes!”

That walk helps let visitors know what’s coming up and brings the next audience toward the stage.

By the time I get back, I usually have about five minutes to finish getting the props ready, grab a sip of water, or squeeze in a quick bathroom break.

Then the next show begins, and we start the cycle again.

Natalie Keeps Everything Moving

I’m fortunate to have Natalie working alongside me throughout those busy days.

She stays near the stage, handles almost all of the resetting, sells magic, and helps me onstage during every show. While I’m leading the crowd to the cannon or making announcements around the farm, she’s helping get everything ready for the next performance.

Having her there makes an enormous difference when the turnaround is that tight.

A schedule like this involves much more than the time spent performing. Props need to be ready again, customers need help, and the next show keeps approaching. Natalie’s work connects all of those pieces and helps us keep the day moving.

Fall is my Favorite Season

These weekends keep us busy from one performance to the next, but they also give me the opportunity to spend the season doing something I love.

I get to perform magic, meet families, work alongside Natalie, and be part of Round Hill Farm’s fall activities.

The farm has also been part of our MagicLife story over the years. You can revisit our Round Hill Farm vlog from 2019 and the Round Hill Farm episode of Wes Iseli’s MagicLife for a few earlier farm memories.

This season, there are 84 shows on the schedule and plenty to do between them.

I love this time of year. I love this farm. And I love magic.

The Show Must Go On: Behind the Scenes of a Full-Time Magician

 People usually see us when the lights are on, the music is playing, and the magic is happening. They see the laughs, the illusions, and Natalie and me doing what we love.

There are a lot of hours on either side of that performance, though. Our latest MagicLife video, “What a day…”, gives you a look at some of them.

A problem with our trailer turned a trip to a show into hours of waiting, towing, and repairs. We were stuck, tired, and ready to get home.

And we had another show tomorrow.

A Morning Show Turned Into a Long Day

We were traveling to a show in Northern Virginia when another driver alerted us to a problem with our trailer. We made it to the show and performed, but afterward we needed to get the problem taken care of.

At a tire center, we learned that the trouble was mechanical and something they couldn’t repair. Later, another driver warned us that our trailer was smoking. We had to stop and arrange help.

A tow got the trailer to a nearby truck stop. Then came the wait for a mechanic, followed by more waiting while he got the parts needed for the repair.

By around 9 p.m., we were finally heading home. Between the tow and the repair, the day had cost us roughly $1,000.

We still had about two hours of driving ahead of us, and we needed to find dinner for the family. Everyone was hungry, and we expected to get home after 11 p.m., well past the kids’ bedtime.

What a day, indeed.

What Being a Full-Time Performer Really Looks Like

I’ve been a professional magician and illusionist since 1996. Making a living as a full-time performer means taking care of everything that allows the performance to happen.

That includes rehearsing, answering booking inquiries, maintaining equipment, loading the trailer, traveling, setting up, and packing everything away afterward. Sometimes it also means spending your evening at a truck stop waiting for a repair.

When you watch a magic show, you’re seeing the result of all that work. The audience has come to enjoy an experience, and our job is to give them our attention and our best performance.

A difficult day on the road can be frustrating. It can be expensive. It can leave you exhausted. You still have to work through it and prepare for the next commitment.

That’s a big part of being a professional entertainer.

Life on the Road Is a Family Effort

Natalie and I travel and perform with our children, so a breakdown affects the whole family. There are hungry kids, delayed plans, and a long wait that nobody wanted.

We love getting to share this life together. Days like this are part of it, too.

One reason I share behind-the-scenes videos from our MagicLife is to give people a fuller picture of our traveling magic show. We get to have wonderful experiences and meet great people. We also have ordinary problems to solve while trying to get our family and equipment home.

This particular day involved plenty of patience and a repair bill we hadn’t planned on.

The Show Must Go On—There’s Another Show Tomorrow

Keeping moving forward sometimes starts with stopping, getting help, and figuring out the next step. On this day, it meant arranging the tow, getting the trailer repaired, finding dinner, and making our way home.

Then we needed to rest and get ready to do it all again.

Tomorrow’s audience deserves the same energy, preparation, and care we bring to every show. They’re looking forward to their event, and we want to make it special.

We can be tired and frustrated and still love what we do. One hard day doesn’t change that.

Yes, we were stuck. But we kept working toward getting back on the road, because there was another show tomorrow.

The show must go on.

Learn more about Wes & Natalie Iseli’s MagicLife Live and booking our magic and illusion shows at WesIseli.com.

Wes Iseli's Magiclife vlog #310 (Natalie's Graduation)

In this episode we travel to Lynchburg Va to celebrate Natalie's graduation from Liberty University with a 4.0 with a Masters in Nutrition & much more.

Wesiseli.com Patreon.com/wes_iseli nataliesnutritionnation.com

Wes Iseli's Magiclife Vlog #309 (Natalie's Health Battle pt2)

 This vlog episode details Natalie's ongoing health crisis, which began four years ago with what was thought to be heartburThis vlog episode details Natalie's ongoing health crisis, which began four years ago with what was thought to be heartburn but ultimately led to a bile duct stone, pancreatitis, and sepsis. After multiple hospital visits, surgeries, and failed treatments, Natalie recently underwent emergency surgery to remove the stone and address an infection. Despite the successful removal of the stone, she continues to experience chronic pain and has been prescribed medication to address nerve overstimulation. The episode highlights the significant impact on the entire family, particularly Natalie's husband Wes who has been providing care and support, as well as the challenges of managing their business and children during this period.

wesiseli.com

Patreon.com/wes_iseli

Wes Iseli's Magiclife Vlog #308 (Natalie's Health Battle)

 This vlog episode details Natalie's ongoing health crisis, which began four years ago with what was thought to be heartburn but ultimately led to a bile duct stone, pancreatitis, and sepsis. After multiple hospital visits, surgeries, and failed treatments, Natalie recently underwent emergency surgery to remove the stone and address an infection. Despite the successful removal of the stone, she continues to experience chronic pain and has been prescribed medication to address nerve overstimulation. The episode highlights the significant impact on the entire family, particularly Natalie's husband Wes who has been providing care and support, as well as the challenges of managing their business and children during this period.

wesiseli.com Patreon.com/wes_iseli