Sunday, July 18, 2010

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.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

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.

Friday, July 2, 2010

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!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

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

Friday, June 11, 2010

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

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

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