What does a show really cost?

 

When people call inquiring about hiring us for an event, I often wonder if they truly understand all that is involved in putting on a show.
 
Aren't you just paying for the 45 minute show or the hour and a half full evening illusion show?
 
Do you factor in the time it took to lug in the equipment and set it up and take it down?
 
Do you put into account wear and tear on the props, vehicle, etc?
 
Do you consider travel?
 
Do you consider the office time it takes typing up contracts and making calls to get the show booked in the first place?
 
Do you think about the animals onstage? Time and money invested in them to train them and feed them, not to mention bedding and cleaning.
 
Do you consider the years of practice and countless hours it took to develop the skills he is making look so easy on stage?
 
So, the next time you see an entertainer on stage stop for a second and think what it took for them to get there.  The show is the easy part, and as I have always said that’s the fun part, but no one sees everything else that is involved.
 
Besides, what would you pay for an event that can create memories that will last a lifetime?
 

Wes Iseli's Iphone Prediction

Why Magic as a career?

In case you don't know my back story, I grew up spending summers with my dad in his video store.I watched movie after movie all summer long and I dreamed of being a special effects make up artist. I even planned on going to the Art Institute of Pennsylvania after graduating high school. Well, towards the end of my high school years Terminator 2 came out and changed the game. CGI or computer generated imagery, was the new hip thing in movies. I wanted to do hands on movie make up and could not stand the thought of spending 80 hours a week behind a desk tied to a computer. So I went to college to study marketing and decided to do magic instead since I always wanted to do magic but special fx seemed more like a real job. I knew it would be tough and I also knew I loved magic and I was determined. I have been full time now for 18 years and have seen and experienced some amazing things that I would not have been  able to if I worked a 9-5 job. 

Some highlights so far: 

Performing for the British Embassy and other prestigious venues

Performing for furtune 500 companies, resorts, high school auditoriums, performing arts centers and theaters all over the East Coast

Being elected the president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 320 

Teaching private and public magic lessons

Headlining magic conventions

Lecturing to magicians

Working on The Carbonaro Effect 

Wes Iseli's behind the scenes look at The Carbonaro Effect

Wes Iseli, Brian Staples and Wilson the Monkey on WINA 1070

Natalie's Drink in a Shoe Trick

Natalie is always wanting to help out in the show, so I had my voice over guy cut a track and all she has to do is follow along. Voice track by Dennis Phillips.

Our State Theatre of Culpeper Illusion show Recap

A few years ago we did a small public TV interview show called Virginia Living TV in Culpeper, Va. One of the interviewers was Tammy Barboza who now is on the board for the State Theatre of Culpeper. She said she never forgot us and that our magic really blew her away. They have had all kinds of acts at the State Theatre, but they had never had a magician since the renovation. They contacted us to see if we were interested, but one person on the board was hesitant because they had only seen our small show and they thought that's what they were buying. I assured them that our big show was not like my small show and that it would play on a large stage. Well, needless to say, we were hired and the show was a huge success; IT SOLD OUT!

They treated us great; providing us with dinner, a backstage crew, a light guy, a sound guy, ushers, and even security to watch over our merchandise that we sold in intermission and after the show. 

When we got to the show their were three guys ready to help us load in the show and we loaded into the theatre in only 20 minutes, which blew us away! We have never done it that fast before. We were completely set up in two hours when it usually takes us four, and with all our extra time we just hung out in the green room, had dinner, and invited friends and family back to hang out with us prior to the show. 

The show went great and the house manager was talking to Natalie about having us come back again next year. We will post the date of that show on facebook, twitter and Google+ when it is finalized.

Here is the show all set up prior to the doors opening

All our friends and family who hung out with us in the green room pre-show