Wes Iseli's Billiard Ball Routine

This month I decided to show you my billiard ball routine. In magic the billiard balls are a staple, they have a rich history and they are sought after by magic collectors. I own several sets of billiard balls but this set is my favorite.
The billiard balls is a purely sleight of hand effect, it takes lots of practice to get it just right.
We filmed this video at Shenandoah Crossing Resort after our illusion show was over and everyone left, because during the show Natalie is up to her hijacks as she plays the violin behind me and we did not think it would translate to video because it would be out of context.
I hope you enjoy the video

Performing at Adventure Camp

Adventure camp is a 4 day camp held each summer for children and teens with lost limbs. Natalie & I were hired to perform for this camp, but we did not know much going in. As soon as we started the show everyone got into it and had a blast. I had a great time, these kids held nothing back and I was surprised how they all got a round (with ease). We had such a great time that after the event I sat on the floor with everyone and performed some close up magic for about a half hour. This camp is a wonderful place for these kids to go and be with people who are also missing limbs and share and bond together. These folks may be missing limbs but they are not letting that hold them back. The camp also has activities that normal camps have like swimming, fishing, rock climbing, a ropes course, and they also do lots of hiking and exploring in the many acres they have surrounding the camp. Kids from all over the country come here each and every year.
Below are some pictures from our show at Adventure Camp...

Our newest employee disappeared...

Last month I wrote about our newest employee we hired to come on the road with us to help load and unload the large illusion shows and help in the office booking shows.
When we hired her we decided that she should come with us to every show for the first 2 weeks so she would know what we do for different types of shows.
Well after 11 days of traveling with us and working mostly 12—14 hour days due to traveling, she quit.
There were no hard feelings, she just said she couldn’t keep up with us and even though we warned her as to how busy we were it was a lot harder than she realized. So for now it is just Natalie & I again doing it all ourselves. We have talked it over and we may try again to hire someone after the crazy summer schedule is over, because it was also hard on us training someone while on the road everyday.

Wes Iseli's 30 Second Mail Bag Escape

This video was shot at Shenandoah Crossing Resort in July 2011. This effect came about because Natalie is 16 weeks pregnant and will still be growing during our 14 week contract and this is an effect she can do the whole time. I hope you enjoy it!

We are growing & expanding!

This week Natalie & I hired a new employee; her name is Danielle Powdrell. Danielle's job title is personal assistant/ office manager / roadie. Since Natalie is expecting Danielle is picking up her slack with the loading and the unloading of the illusions for the illusion shows. Since we are on the road so much Danielle will be able to book shows while we are performing. She will also be our personal assistant (PA) helping us run errands and odds and ends since our schedule is so crazy.

We are super excited, Danielle has great ideas on improving an already great company. After week one she has already showed us she has what is takes as a roadie and as a (PA) and has even dabbled a little with the office side of the business. Her first week was packed with small shows, illusion shows and even a 3 hour drive to Va Beach and back home for a school show. We plan on bringing her along to everything for two weeks so she can see all aspects of our business before turning her loose in the office and only bringing her to our big illusion shows.

Natalie has told me a few times this week she is happy Danielle working for us, it will help take a little of the load off of our back especially during our crazy busy summer schedule.

Our 2011 busy season

As I am writing this I am wore out, tired, and exhausted. We are only beginning our crazy busy season. Since 2003, June through August has been our busiest time of year. During those months we perform at company picnics, county fairs, at local resorts, and much more. This week we had 16 shows and today we were on the road for 10 hours for two 45 minute shows.

The pictures here are of Natalie sleeping in the car between gigs and of me visiting with my friend Ron after using his restroom while on the road.

Chesapeake Magic Lecture Testimonial

Subject: Wes Iseli Lecture Review

As is my custom I am reporting and reviewing another lecture.

The lecture was given by Wes Iseli. Wes built his shows around his own principles and developed how he wanted to do business as a magician. That may seem like an odd statement, but once you see his lecture you will understand. His lecture is all about building yourself as a magician and how to do the business end of your magic.

Let me clarify, you haven't seen anyone give this type of hard hitting, talk about every phase of building a magic business and growing your business so you really make money!

Wes tells you everything, no punches pulled and nothing about the magic business is taboo, it's all out there. Over my years I have seen all kinds of books and courses with all kinds of advice and systems that offer you "pie in the sky" success, that is only if you do everything this person says, exactly the way they say. After reading just about all of them you discover that the system just doesn't come off as reality. How did all these people develop the same basic system and develop and sell e-books, tape sets with eight to ten page 'come-ons' to sell you this expensive system , book or document. And then what? You read it, maybe give it a try and/or put the stuff on a shelf and never go back to it.

Wes said more in his two hour lecture that made complete sense than any of these systems, e-books or documents ever told me. He talks from the heart and tells you what he did and how he does it. He leaves nothing out and takes questions as he goes along. He gives full and understandable answers to every question. He talks about what to charge for each thing he does and tells you exactly what he charges and why. All this is backed up with solid reasoning and examples of how he does it. His lecture notes are full of those things we all have thought we purchased to help us in business...only to find out what we bought didn't show us those answers. Wes gives you all the answers of how he did it and he even tells you the prices he charges and why he charges those prices. I have been in the biz for nearly forty years and this is the first time I have seen someone tell you the truth about actual money!!!

He has the clearest most thought out method of booking restaurants that I have ever seen. All the steps and the reasons why you do them and how you do them. A couple of guys asked some pointed questions about this and they had disagreements with his method but as you take in what Wes says about the process and the way he backs it up with super solid reasoning and facts the questioners suddenly had more realistic questions and they shifted from kind of show off questions to real info gathering as they saw the truth hit them.

There was noting left out and there were no frills or uber motivational hype to get you fired up under false pretenses... this was the real world and how you work with the realities of booking restaurants. His material is sure fire and right on target, you could see physical reactions when he described the steps to getting your booking, what you do, say and what you use as handouts and contracts and after showing what you do and have to offer, you ask for the gig. If the manager says he needs to think about it, Wes tells you what to say to him and how you end your interview and walk out. You then go the restaurant next door or across the street. He also tells you why you do what he suggests and all the reasons why.

I never, ever heard this much sense and solid reasoning in a magic lecture before...and this was only the first half of the lecture. Information like this is valuable, it's incredibly valuable. If you want to get your head on straight and build your business and have fun doing it, get your group to book this lecture! Wes is not a tall guy but in my estimation he stands a lot taller in his directness and reasoning than most of the lecturers I have seen bar none.

Jack Shea