15 Magic Shows in One Weekend: Life at Round Hill Farm

    

By Wes Iseli

As I’m writing this, I’m still exhausted from this past weekend at Round Hill Farm. Fifteen magic shows in two days will do that to you.

And the funny thing is, I’m the one who suggested adding another show.

We were originally scheduled to perform 84 shows at the farm this season. When I left the previous Sunday, the place was still full of people. This past week, I told the owner that maybe we should add another show to our usual Sunday run of six.

That brought us to seven shows on Sunday, along with eight on Saturday. Fifteen shows for the weekend.

Apparently, when I see a farm full of people, my first thought is, “We could do another show.”

We perform three different sets throughout the weekend, and there’s a lot happening between those performances.

After each show, I take pictures with audience members while Natalie sells magic. Then I switch microphones, grab my battery-powered mic, and take everyone over to the candy cannon.

Three bags of candy are loaded into an air cannon, ready to be launched into a field for the kids. Before the launch, I explain the rules and lead the countdown.

Then the candy goes flying.

Once that’s finished, I start walking around the farm, announcing that the next magic show begins in 20 minutes. I make my way around the property, letting families know about the show and building the next audience.

By the time I get back to the stage, I have about five minutes to reset for the next set.

Then we start all over again.

That’s the rhythm of the day: perform a show, take pictures, head to the candy cannon, walk the farm, reset, and perform another show. Meanwhile, Natalie is working right alongside me, selling magic while I’m meeting the audience after each performance.

It takes both of us to keep everything moving.

Between performing and walking around the property, I average about a mile of walking for every hour I’m working. If you’ve ever wondered how I get my steps in during a busy show weekend, there’s your answer!

And because everything is outside, we get the full fall-weather experience. It’s cold when we arrive, hot once the day gets going, and cold again by the time we leave. Somewhere in there, we’re trying to dress for all three.

Keeping your energy up through that many shows takes work. Each audience is arriving for its own experience, and I want to give that group a great show, whether it’s my first performance of the day or my seventh.

That’s one of the things I love about performing. There’s another audience to meet, another chance to entertain, and another reason to get back onstage.

So yes, I’m tired. As I sit here writing about the weekend, I can still feel it.

But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

All I’ve ever wanted to do is perform, and I get to spend my weekends doing exactly that, with Natalie beside me.

I have the best job in the world.

Although I may be a little biased…