Pt 2 My interview on Va Living TV Dec 2010

Here is part 2: This video also includes our finale sword basket illusion.

Pt 1 Va Living TV Interview Dec 2010

This video was filmed at Va Living TV station in Charlottesville Va. This is my 3rd time performing for this company.Although due to scheduling we did not have much time and I was fighting a cold, (that's why I sound a little funny) we still had a blast.

I would love to thank Lana, John, and last but not least Adam. You guys are Awesome!

Wes Iseli's Van Illusion

This Video was shot in October 2010. I wanted to do another illusion like my motorcycle production and this is what I came up with. This was filmed in one straight camera shot and I used no camera editing tricks of any kind. In the video I say goodbye to Natalie and I drive off. After my van clears the screen the camera turns around and I am holding the camera. I hope you enjoy.

Our new baby bunnies

It was the last week of October when I got the phone call, someone got a bunny for their child and everyone grew tired of it. “So Mr. Magician, would you like our bunny?” I get this phone call at least once a year. I have not purchased a bunny from a breeder or a store in a very long time. Anyway, back to the story. This person was giving away a male and a female bunny and they had been kept in separate cages. When we went to pick up the bunnies we were told that the child had let the bunnies “play together” a few weeks before and they just wanted to warn us. We get the bunnies home and put them in separate cages and made them comfortable. The next day as I went to feed she had pulled out most of her hair from her belly to make a nest. I grabbed all the
fur and the mom and put her in our special cage we have for mom’s complete with a nesting box. The next day she gave birth to 8 baby bunnies. We got 10 for the price of 2….

Check out my facebook page to see more pictures of the babies...

Our 24 hour show is behind us

This year's 24 hour show was a big success. We made more money this year than in the years past. This year we got to Walmart in Staunton around 9:30 am on Nov 17th to start unloading. We had to put up the tent, my performance table, our donation table that included a TV that played our commercial over and over for the whole 24 hours, and another table that held a coffee pot and other misc things we may need for comfort. We just barely made it, but we were ready to go at 10:00 am. About 2 weeks prior to the event I started putting out word about the event and that includes writing a press release and contacting local newspapers, TV stations, and local radio. My sponsor, The Downtown Hotdog Company also put the word out about us being there and the owner said he knows it was mentioned on at least a couple of radio stations. We wanted to integrate our sponsor into our event so they brought a banner that said The Downtown Hotdog Company and the Harry the Hotdog sculpture. The sculpture also made things interesting because people kept asking us how much for a hotdog or if we served coffee, which Natalie & I figured actually helped us because it brought people over and then we told them we were raising money for the Children's Miracle Network and I was doing magic for 24 hours and that the Downtown Hotdog Company was our sponsor. They then watched some magic and donated the money they had pulled out for a hotdog anyway.
It is hard doing magic in the cold for 24 hours. Besides lack of sleep, my hands get very stiff from the cold. I had some family come by and I had a magic friend come by to hang out for a while which really helps time go by more quickly. I even had a couple of college girls come by around 3:00 pm and they were so impressed that they got on the phone calling and texting all their friends to come by and see the magician who would be there all night. They even came back around 1:00 am with a gallon of steaming hot chocolate for Natalie & myself which was really nice of them. They left around 2:00 am and things slowed down significantly, no more big groups just 1 or 2 people at a time. This year's event was a big success and I want to thank everyone who came out, not only for the donations but for the support, it really did mean a lot to us.

Our 4th annual 24 hour magic show

Each year I perform 24 hours of magic to raise money for the Children's miracle Network. Starting on November 17th at 10:00 am - November 18th at 10:00 am I will be performing 72 shows in 24 hours. The event will take place in front of Walmart in Staunton Virginia and all the proceeds will go directly to charity. I will perform 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the entire 24 hours. This year marks our 4th year of doing this and we are hoping for our biggest turn out yet. We are proudly sponsored by The Downtown Hotdog Company of Charlottesville. They helped make this year's event possible. Please come out and see some magic and help support a great cause. For more info on this event feel free to give us a call toll free at 1 877 987 4201. Hope to see you then!

Filling magic webpage orders

We are working hard at making our webpage better. We are adding a lot of new inventory and adding a shopping cart for customer convenience. Although we are doing great now we can always do better if you have any suggestions please let us know. Don't forget to stop by the www.wesiseli.com to see whats new.

Wes Iseli Says "We're hiring!"

We are looking for individuals who are wanting to make extra money working from home while working as many or as little hours when and where they choose. Wes Iseli will personally train each individual over the phone and you will also receive a package in the mail that will give you everything you need to get started. This is a laid back position; if you work you will get paid, if you don't we will not give you a hard time. To get started in possibly making an extra $1000.00 or more each month call us anytime toll free at 1 877 987 4201. This could be the job you have been waiting for, don't hesitate call today!

Wes Iseli's Magic montage in Myrtle Beach video

Natalie & I took a week off from the office to head down to Myrtle beach. We visited a few resorts down there and met with the activities directors and talked about doing our illusion show for them. We were encouraged by our contact at Blue green resorts to drop off our demo video and meet with them. We had a blast! We had meetings in the mornings and the rest of the day we were on vacation. We enjoyed the beach, went shopping and even went on a dinner cruise. While we were there we also filmed a video of me doing magic at the beach. These videos were filmed just minutes apart but several blocks from each other.

Work & play in Myrtle Beach

Wes Iseli's back on track

Our Blog Contest

This is my weekly blog called A Magician's Life. This blog is all about life on the road as a full time magician. I put up pictures from shows, from the road and also behind the scenes.

I know I have a lot of readers of my blog, but not many followers. This contest will hopefully change that.

If you sign up to follow my blog you will be entered to win a magic package that includes an autographed poster of Natalie & myself, 2 different trick decks of cards, a magic DVD teaching card tricks, a haunted dollar bill, outlaw poker, professor’s nightmare, and the genie knows card trick.

The total value of this package is around $45.00.

Remember to sign up to follow my weekly blog and 1 lucky person will be chosen on August 31st, 2010 to win the free magic package.

Sign up today at
wesiseli.blogspot.com

23 Shows in One Week / A NEW RECORD!

Natalie & I performed 23 shows this week and that is a new record for us, breaking our old record of 21 shows in 1 week. We performed at Massanutten resort, Shenandoah crossing resort, school shows, library shows, a company picnic and more. We performed illusion shows, our smaller family shows, and even taught magic classes. We worked hard and we even got to work in dinner dates with Natalie's parents while performing in Roanoke and her aunts & cousins while performing in Richmond. As of now we have 55 shows on the books for next month, but after last week that sounds like a piece of cake.

The show must go on pt 2

This summer has been our busiest yet and this past week was no exception. This week started out like any other this summer; we performed our illusion show at Shenandoah Crossing and we taught magic classes at Massanutten and several other shows, but this week at Massanutten after performing thousands of shows over the years I did something that I have never done before. Let me set up the scenario; Massanutten has a temporary stage they use in the summer for the entertainment they bring in like myself and bands and a comedian but this stage has no back stage or curtains just a raised platform. So during our illusion show if I "need" something off stage I have to go through the audience and upstairs to a loft then come back on stage the same way. We constructed this year's illusion show so that I would need to leave the stage at various times during the show so Natalie could do magic behind my back. We have even gone as far as roping off the area where I need to run so I don't run into anyone in the audience during these trips. The show this Thursday at Massanutten was great with a huge crowd and standing room only. About 30 minutes into the show it is time for me to exit the stage and I go running through the audience and upstairs. When it is time for me to return I come running back, well I did not know that while I was gone a kid knocked over a whole bottled water onto my path and I came barreling down the isle and at the last moment as I went to make the jump onto the stage clearing the stairs I planted my left foot into the puddle and went down hard onto the stairs, only my ribs broke my fall, my legs were under the stage and I laid on the stairs for a few moments trying to figure out what just happened because I have done this hundreds of times before. After a few seconds I got up and continued my lines in the show like nothing happened. My adrenaline was pumping and I hurt but I had to pretend like everything was ok. After the show as my adrenaline wore off pain truly set in. I did not have time to go to the doctor that night because we had another show to do. Natalie & I debated going to the emergency room that night but we decided to wait it out to see how I felt in the morning. The morning was terrible, we still had no time for a doctor because we had several shows to do that day. Natalie stepped up and did all the heavy lifting and helped me by feeding me Advil around the clock and every spare moment we had she would plug in the heating pad and put icy hot on my back. I never went to the doctor, we just guessed I bruised my ribs and pulled some muscles in my back. I am still really sore and I am using a heating pad while I am writing this blog entry but I have 23 shows next week, I have not missed a show yet, and I don't plan on sore muscles or sore bones stopping me anytime soon. The show must go on!

Teaching magic classes

Natalie & I teach private magic lessons all year long to a couple of continual students, but in the summer we teach magic classes to anyone who is willing to sign up. In our private magic lessons we build skills upon what we learn in each class, but in the summer we only have one day to teach the students some magic they will ever forget and will be able to do. We teach 2 magic classes during the summer; an adult magic class and a kids magic class. Both have easy and baffling magic that can be done with minimal practice. This summer we are teaching classes at Shenandoah Crossing Resort and Massanutten Resort weekly and we are also teaching magic classes sporadically at libraries, schools, & community centers. If you are interested in becoming a student of magic you can either sign up for The Trick of the Month Club or call us toll free at 1 877 987 4201 and we will see what we can arrange.

Our Busiest Summer Ever!

This is our busiest summer ever. We have 77 shows in the month of July alone. We had 14 shows this week & we put 200 - 500 miles on our van everyday this week. On most days we leave before the sun comes up and we get back home after dark. Our work van is equipped with a cooler for soda and snacks, a couch we take turns napping on while the other drives, and a Sirius satellite radio for entertainment on those long trips.
This Friday we had a school show in Va beach in the morning and a company picnic in Charlottesville that evening. Here are a couple of pictures of Natalie napping in the passenger seat and awake and smiling as we came out of the tunnel and saw the ocean.
She loves the beach and is so excited about our vacation plans. In September we plan on spending a week at Myrtle Beach and renting a beach house with a friend for a few days in Va beach. We just have to make it through our busiest summer first.

The show must go on!

Being an entertainer is a ton of fun; I get paid to travel all over and perform at resorts, hotels, private parties and theaters all over the East Coast. We love performing. The sound of applause is much sweeter when it is for you than someone else. We love signing autographs and meeting people after the shows. Natalie & I also really enjoy being able to do what we love together, I think it makes us, as a couple, so much stronger. But there is a side to show business that makes you wish you had sick days built up somewhere. In 2003 I lost my father on a Friday evening and I had 4 shows the following Saturday. I had to do the traveling, the loading and unloading of equipment, and worst of all perform with a smile on my face. It was hard. We have had to work 37 hours straight traveling from one gig to the next all without the audience or the people who hired us knowing how tired we were. I have had to perform sick, or what just recently happened, I went in for a dentist appointment and they decided my wisdom teeth needed to come out. They extracted 2 last Friday at lunchtime and I had a show booked for 10:00 am the next morning and more shows scheduled everyday for the rest of the week. My jaw was sore and I lived off of Mac & Cheese. The hardest part is the fact that my show has so much dialog and I have to try to project my voice, all the while cringing in pain; but as they say the show must go on! Even though it sounds crazy, I wouldn't have it any other way. I think it helps to separate the professionals from the wannabes. THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

Wes Iseli & The Team Fox Foundation

My father was diagnosed with Parkinson's when I was 7 years old and he fought hard with the disease until his death in 2003. My dad was my best friend and losing him was, and still is, hard. I recently became affiliated with Team Fox as a way to help them find a cure so the other 5 million people who suffer from this disease can get back to a normal life. Through magic I may be able to shine a light on this disease that I feel is not in the forefront because it disables and does not kill. I am proud to be a part of this wonderful organization and I know dad is cheering me on also. Here is my new commercial I shot for my dad and Team Fox.

Wes Iseli's Magic at After Prom Party pt 2

This month's video is the second video filmed at an after prom party I recently worked. This is the torn & restored card trick I mostly use, although I do sometimes perform other versions; this one gets great reactions.

We try to film a new trick or illusion each month and put it up on youtube.com. To see past videos just search wes iseli.

I hope you enjoy this video and remember to check out wesiseli.com

To see this video "Wes Iseli's Magic at After Prom Party pt 2" cut and paste this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAnzPoFO2uE

Performing magic for libraries

Libraries all over hire us to perform magic and help promote their summer reading programs. We work libraries all over Virginia, from Alexandria to Norfolk. We really enjoy these shows because it is a real change of pace for us. Some libraries use us as a reward for the children who have completed their reading quota and some libraries use us to help advertise the program itself to boost the numbers of children who sign up. Some libraries have us perform at schools, parks and recs, or even at the libraries themselves. We are also scheduled at several libraries this summer to teach our magic classes to anyone who wants to attend. These shows and classes are open to the public and are absolutely free.



Don't forget to click the 'follow' button above to receive our weekly blogs and also check out our website at wesiseli.com

Wes Iseli's Close up magic at after prom party

This month's video I wanted to perform a quick close up effect in front of a live audience. This was filmed at an after prom party around 3:00 am. I really enjoy performing this effect because it can be done as a straight magic trick or as a gambling demonstration.
We try to film a new trick or illusion each month and put it up on youtube.com. To see past videos just search wes iseli.

I hope you enjoy this video and remember to check out wesiseli.com

To see this video "Wes Iseli's Close up Magic at After Prom Party" cut and paste this link into your address bar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q56t_EmGkrI

Gearing up for our busiest season ever!

June - August just may well be our busiest summer yet. With 169 shows on the books for only those 3 months we will be very busy. Summers have always been our busiest season with so much going on all at once like company picnics, family reunions, county fairs and of course the resorts. This year we will be working 2 resorts both twice a week. We will be teaching magic classes and then on another day performing a 45 minute show with an illusion or two at each resort. We really enjoy performing all over and Natalie & I are so thankful to be able to do what we love and to be able to do it together. After 14 years of performing full time I am used to it and Natalie has also become accustomed to the schedule as well. The schedule can be very tough; it is common on those summer days to be on the road for 16 hours at a time then doing it all again the next day. The performing is the easy part, it is the loading and unloading of the equipment and the set up and take down and the driving time that is hard. That is show business! I couldn't think of a better way to earn a dollar. To see one of our shows this summer check out our public show schedule at wesiseli.com they are posted in our newsletters.

Miracles of the Bible illusion kit

This week's blog is about a new project I just finished; it is an Illusion kit called Miracles of the Bible. It is the first of its kind and the reviews and advanced sales have been great. Check out the description below.

Imagine going up in front of your Sunday school class and telling a story of a miracle being performed in the bible then being able to illustrate that with a modern day illusion. Recreating the events from the past and making it more than just a story and then end by saying this is only an illusion and only God can perform miracles. This lesson will soon not be forgotten.

This is what I wanted to create with this Illusion kit. Five stories of miracles from the bible and recreating them using illusion to make them more memorable and to have a more lasting impression.

This is my way of making the learning of bible stories fun and entertaining instead of droil and possibly boring as in the way I have heard stories in the past read in a monotone, sleep inducing voice.

Each kit is hand made and comes complete with bible stories, picture illustrations, and the necessary props to help accomplish the illusions.

In this kit you will learn 5 stories and illusions that include: water to wine (non alcoholic version), loaves & fishes, sweetened the waters, parting the sea, stick to serpent.

To order your copy email us at wesiseli@gmail.com or call us toll free at 1 877 987 4201 anytime.

Don't forget to check out wesiseli.com for additional magic for sale and more.

Wes Iseli's slow motion dove production

In this month's video I decided to do a little animal magic. We use doves and rabbits in 99% of all the shows we do and even on occasions use ducks. This month I decided to perform my new dove production and do it as slow as possible for effect. We filmed this video on stage just before our illusion show for Nelson County High school. We are really proud of this effect because I can perform it anywhere and I am able to hand out the cloth for examination and show that there is nothing hidden in my jacket before producing the dove. We try to film a new trick or illusion each month and put it up on youtube.com. To see past videos just search wes iseli.


To see this video "Wes Iseli's slow motion dove production" cut and paste this link into your address bar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO1SvAqATkM

Rockingham Memorial Hospital Volunteer luncheon

Natalie & I were hired to perform at a volunteer luncheon at Bravo's Italian Restaurant in Harrisonburg Virginia last week. The event was for the volunteer committee at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. The restaurant had a little stage in the banquet room and the show could not have gone better. The volunteers I used had a great time on stage and that made my job so easy all I had to do was play off of them. I picked the boss out of the audience completely on accident to help me with my comedy cards across routine and everyone loved it. The group had so much fun that at certain points during the show several people were laughing so hard they were crying. Once the show was over I tried to turn the show back over to the committee chair person but before she got the microphone they all gave us a standing ovation. This show was a blast and we also had a great time. We received tons of great comments after as a lot of people came up to us asking for business cards and wanting to tell us how much they enjoyed the show. This show had it all; magic, doves & rabbits, lots of comedy, retro magic words were used like Shazam, and even an appearance from James Brown (Inside joke).This is a show we will remember for a long time.

Don't for get to check out our website at wesiseli.com

Nelson County Magic & Illusion show

On April 22nd Natalie & I performed our Magic & Illusion Show at Nelson County High school. The event was a fundraiser for the band department. The director also wanted Natalie & I to get to the location early to help with the in school promotions. We got to the school and performed close up magic in the cafeteria for both the middle school and high school lunches. I was performing close up magic and talking up that night's show telling them this is just small stuff, wait until tonight. They even had several band students walking around selling tickets. The kids loved it, I was at times completely surrounded with spectators and the director said more people bought tickets during those lunches than the whole month they were on sale. That night Natalie & I went on stage and the show went great. The audience was great, the director doubled as my light and sound guy and he did a great job. I had some family come to the show which made the night even more special. Everyone said they had a blast and couldn't wait to come back to see us next year. Thanks so much Nelson we had a lot of fun!

Ekko Title Grand Opening

Natalie recently accompanied me to a show in Northern Virginia where the company Ekko Title was opening a new location. I was asked to perform walk around close up magic only. We got to the location around 15 minutes early, I set up a table to perform at, and I was introduced to everyone at Ekko Title. Their main clients were realtors. They had a band, lots of food, and an open bar for the event. I did walk around for the party going from room to room performing until it got so busy it was hard to fit down the hallways. That is when I went to my table and entertained there for the rest of the time near the front door. It worked out a lot better; I could work for bigger groups and people knew where I was, they did not have to look for me. They had a tent which attached to the building over the front doors and stretched out into the parking lot, that is where I was. Natalie & I had a blast, the event was a success, and even the guys from the band came out and were very funny with their reactions to the magic, they were blown away.

Don't forget to check us out online at wesiseli.com

Wes Iseli's card spinning and card throwing video

In this month's video I wanted to do something a little different. I choose to demonstrate some card spinning and card throwing. Card throwing and spinning have been around for years. Howard Thurston, a magician & illusionist in the early 1900's, was known for sending a playing card out into the balcony onto an audience member's lap.
Playing cards have been thrown so hard that they travel over a 100 yards and at close range they can puncture the skin of a water melon. Natalie & I took our video camera to a local park and attempted to film this demonstration. Due to high winds it was impossible, so we went to a local library and got permission to film the video in their conference room. That explains why you can hear babies faintly crying in the background in the video.

To check out this video cut and paste this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oftuIPbrZxk

To all my other videos log onto youtube.com and search wes iseli

Magic & Illusion dinner & wine tasting show

On Saturday April 10th Natalie & I performed at Hazel River Restaurant in Culpeper. The restaurant had prepared a 4 course dinner and went in with a local winery, Rappahannock Cellars, to complete the meal. On the menu was Crab Cakes, House Smoked Salmon, Filet Mignon with Mushroom Sauce, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and a Vegetable Medley, then for dessert they served a Magical Volcano/Baked Alaska. I performed close up walk around magic during the first 3 courses then during dessert Natalie & I performed our dove opening routine and then performed an illusion surrounded as the finale. Everyone had a really great time and the customers were asking when this was going to happen again so they could bring back their friends. By the time we packed up, the restaurant had already started talking about doing this again in the fall. They said next time the dinner & show would be held in the larger hall next door to accommodate more illusions and more people.

Wes Iseli's Walking through a wall illusion

On March 10, 2010 Natalie & I filmed this illusion at a local park. This is an idea I have been toying with for some time now and I had made it tough on myself with the criteria I wanted this illusion to meet. It had to be easily portable, it had to be light weight, I wanted to make it from scratch, and last but not least I did not want any angle issues that you may have with other versions of this trick. Well the finished product of this illusion met all those demands and it worked so well we were even able to perform it outside. You can even hear kids screaming in the background playing. We try to film a new trick or illusion each month and put it up on youtube.com. To see past videos just search wes iseli.

To see this video "Wes Iseli's walking through a wall illusion" cut and paste this link into your address bar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOklI4f7G84

Fredericksburg Moose Lodge Illusion show

On March 21st Natalie & I performed our Magic & Illusion show at the Moose Lodge in Fredericksburg Va at 2:00pm. This show was only offered to the members of the Moose lodge. We got to the location at 10:00 am and started to unload the van and trailer. Since this stage was smaller than what we were used to we needed to figure out all the logistics for the staging of the show. The doors opened at 1:00 pm and since there was no front curtain Natalie & I hung out in our dressing room, which was a storage closet. The show went great and everyone had such a great time that even before we started packing up people had already started talking about when they could bring us back. As of now they are looking into a date for early October. Natalie & I had a great time and we could tell the audience really enjoyed themselves. Thanks again for everything, we will see you guys again in the fall.

Picture above is of all the volunteers who lent a hand making this event a success.

A backstage look at our show

I know as a kid I always wondered what was going on behind the curtain before the show started and I remember watching the feet walk back and forth within that 1 inch gap between the curtain and the stage. This month I thought it would be fun to show you some pictures from the road. They are all backstage from the endless waiting between set up and performance time to the application of the stage makeup; I wanted to give you a true behind the scenes look at our show.