Volume 5 Issue Number 5 May 2012

Wes Iseli & Party Magic
The Magic & Illusion Show
Newsletter
Volume 5 Issue 5
May 2012
Gearing up for our busy season
Special points of interest:
• A magic show review
• Magic news
• Trick of the month
• Entertainment news
As you probably already know, summer has been our busiest season for
the past 10 years now. We do around 400 shows per year and last summer
June through August we did 183 shows. This year we will be working
Massanutten Resort, Shenandoah Crossing Resort, and other resorts as
well as county fairs, company picnics, and many other types of shows.
More on what we have planed inside this issue.
Natalie, Lana, & I are all doing well; we are
getting the hang of packing for all of us for
our road trips. W e are so lucky that Lana is
so laid back, she is the perfect little roadie.
• Party Magic news
This month is looking like a busy one with
end of the year school shows, we will be performing at 3 different resorts this month as
well as a few family shows and church
shows.
For weekly updates check out our blog
at www.wesiseli.blogspot.com
Quote of the month: "Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and
triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory."
Ghandi
Inside this issue:
Who is this Guy/
Wayne Houchin
1
Entertainment News/
Now You See Me
2
Headlining FCM
convention
3
After Prom
testimonial
3
Magic News/ Dirk Arthur’s show closes
4
Our newest illusions
4
Teach a Trick/ The
melting penny
5
Don’t forget to check out our weekly
blog & youtube channel now with links
on the homepage of wesiseli.com
Natalie, Lana & I at the Cherry
Blossom festival in DC
Who is this guy? Wayne Houchin
In 2003, an underground tape of Wayne's original
work found its way into the hands of Banachek, one
of the world's foremost mentalists. Banachek immediately befriended Wayne, which led to him being
brought on board as a consultant for the critically
acclaimed A&E television series Criss Angel: Mindfreak. In 2006, W:H Entertainment was born and
Wayne released his self-produced sophomore effort
(following the success of his first project, Sinful:
Coin in Soda Can),
Cont on the next page...
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Who is this guy? (Cont)
the groundbreaking DVD Stigmata. The effect, as well as the production quality of the video itself, garnered widespread
critical acclaim within the magic community and the DVD became an instant international bestseller. Indecent, Wayne's
third project, was also released later that year. In 1999 Houchin made headlines by escaping from a straitjacket while
hanging 50 feet above an intersection packed with thousands of people - he was 16 years
old. The next time he found himself on the front page was for accurately predicting the
outcome of the Superbowl, then it was for being blindfolded with duct tape and driving
down Highway 99.
Wayne's original sleight-of-hand magic has delighted non-magicians and magicians alike.
Wayne co-founded the popular magic website theory11 and has headlined at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. As part of the Curiosidades team, he made history in
2010 by stopping time in the Dominican Republic - for the entire nation! The illusion was
broadcast on live national television to a captivated and stunned audience. One year later,
Houchin again garnered national attention, this time by executing an epic dual escape with
his wife, Frania.
I first met Wayne while he was on tour lecturing for magicians in Staunton Va. Wayne did
all of his best known effects plus several more. He definitely thinks outside the box and is Here I am with Wayne after
very creative. If you ever get a chance to see him perform buy a ticket you will not be dishis lecture in Staunton, Va
appointed.
For more on Wayne check out his website: www.waynehouchin.com
Entertainment News / Now You See Me
Now You See Me is due to hit theaters in January 2013.
This movie is about a super group of illusionists who steal from the rich and give
to the poor.
Here is the description according to IMDB.COM: FBI agents track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their
audiences with the money.
Cast includes: Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Woddy Harrelson, Morgan Freeman,
Isla Fisher, Michael Caine, Common, Jesse Eisenburg & more.
Magic based movies have been hit or miss in the past, I’m crossing my fingers on
this one and hoping it will be good.
Isla Fisher is billed as the world’s best
looking escapologist
Video of the month/ Wes Iseli’s Electric Deck
This is one of my newest card tricks I love to perform, it takes everyone off guard and people seem to really love it. This
was filmed in Charlottesville, Va after my show at a retirement community. The guy in the video was the night clerk at
the front desk.
These photos show the three stages of the trick. One have them pick a card, two it is lost in the pack and will rise to the
top over and over stage threee the trick stops working because the batteries are dead.
To see this online go to youtube.com and search Wes Iseli’s Electric Deck.
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Headlining FCM Convention in 2013
What is the FCM? The Fellowship of Christian Magicians is an international organization of people, from all
walks of life, dedicated to using a high standard of presentation of the Gospel and to leading the lost to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why do we use the various performing arts to teach and preach the “Good News?” Because a person will only
retain a small percentage of what they hear, but if you give them visual illustrations along with the lesson, their
retention factor increases greatly. Add to the illustration a mystery or surprise ending, and you lock in on their
curiosity and they will long remember what you’ve taught.
Natalie & I are honored to have been asked to headline the 2013 Fellowship of
Christian Magician Convention in Columbus, Ohio. We will not only be performing in the Gala show, but we will also be lecturing and setting up a vendor
booth to sell magic I have created and more.
I have been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians for over 10
years now and I have performed at churches all over the East Coast. Even
though I have worked in this field for a while now, this will be my first FCM
convention.
If you are reading this and are a member of the FCM please try and make the
2013 convention, I have heard just some of the things they are planning and it
sounds like this is the year not to be missed…
Always adding to our show
One of the newest effects in our show is where we take a member from the audience and turn them
into a magician and they do a ton of magic without a moment of practice. This is a comedy piece and
it has been going over great! Below are a few pictures from a family show we did at Culpeper Country Club.
Picture 1
Putting on the outfit
Picture 2
Performing magic with a little
help from Natalie
Picture 3
Getting the audience involved
and a little dancing
Party Magic News / Another Satisfied Customer
“Wes you were awesome and the kids loved it. While in the gym I overheard one of the kids
tell the other kids that they needed to check out the magician ‘that he was amazing’ then
proceeded to tell the kid what magic trick he watched you perform. The other kid immediately left the gym to see you for himself. When you can do that it’s wonderful! Thanks again!
I’m recommending that the committee books you for next
year for all night. “
Signed: Karen Gochenour
Luray High School After Prom All Night Long Event
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Gearing up for a new season
As I am writing this I am also brainstorming and working out the kinks of several new effects for our summer
illusion show season.
We are working on several new effects:
* Houdini’s metamorphosis: I have never performed this classic of magic because most magicians who perform it do it poorly. Natalie & I will be trying to add our spin to this classic of magic.
* A haunted packing crate: a new illusion where a box is wheeled out on stage and shown to be light as a
feather then it starts to move and levitate all on its own. As it is floating Natalie pops her head out and is reveled to be also floating inside the box.
* Our comedy spectator magician effect we spoke about on page three of this newsletter
* A signed bill to impossible location: We borrow a bill, it is signed and disappears only to be found later in a
single portion box of cereal that has been hanging above the stage the entire show.
Here are a few photos from
rehearsals this year:
Magic News / Dirk Arthur’s show closes at O’shea’s
Dirk Arthur starred in the Las Vegas show Xtreme Magic, at the Tropicana Resort & Casino. The show featured leopards, Bengali Tigers, and
snow tigers. After a six year run, the show celebrated its final performance on March 12, 2010. Large objects such as a diesel locomotive and
helicopter were made to magically appear during the show.
O’shea’s in Las Vegas is/was the new home of Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic
show. This show promised (and delivered) an up close and personal experience with a big cat illusion in a very intimate setting.
Since the casino closed on April 30th so did Dirk Arthur’s show. What
will rise in the place of O’Shea’s is a brand spanking new project featuring the world’s largest Ferris wheel amongst other no-doubt luxurious
amenities.
No word yet on where Arthur or his cats might turn up.
Miracles of the Bible
WES ISELI & PARTY MAGIC
Wes Iseli & Party Magic
580 Locust Lane
Ruckersville, Va 22968
Phone: 877-987-4201
Fax: 434-990-4276
Email: [email protected]
Website: wesiseli.com
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.
We want your next event to be magical!
We’re on the web
wesiseli.com
You can also get daily updates on Facebook.com,
Google+ & Twitter.com; just search Wes Iseli
This is my way of making the learning of Bible stories fun and entertaining instead of droll and possibly boring like 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.
Only $20.00
More magic available at wesiseli.com
Teach a Trick / The Melting Penny (Trick or stunt?)
Effect: Pull out a hand full of change grab a penny and hold it between your fingers reach into your pocket and pull out a lighter. As you heat the penny up it begins to melt in front of their eyes, you can then hand it out for examination.
Secret: You already have a secret bent penny in your hand. As you pretend to
reach into the hand full of change and you pretend to pick up a penny, you’re
really just pushing the bent penny into view between your forefinger and thumb.
As you pretend to heat the penny up simply push more of the penny into view and
it will appear to melt in front of their eyes.