...not sure if there's always the element of comedy, then again there's comic-illusionist.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls...

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Las Vegas Show ***Comedy Magician***, Stage Hypnotist and Illusionist ... - [ Traduire cette page ]
Las Vegas Stage Hypnosis and Magic show for corporate entertainment, night clubs and fairs. Comedy Magician, Stage Hypnotist and Illusionist provides Las ...
www.magicalhypnotist.com/

Jahn GALLO est magicien professionnel depuis une trentaine d’années et dans le cadre de cette activité il a beaucoup voyagé de par le monde. A ce propos il préfère parler de lui en tant que « fantaisiste professionnel » plutôt qu’en tant que « magicien professionnel » et il a notamment écrit : « The big secret when performing is to give a little more than expected, and to never ever forget ; magic by itself is nothing... But mixed with comedy, spectacle and audience participation... It can, with a bit of luck, take you around the world”
http://www.virtualmagie.com/comptesrendus/conf/magie-conf-Ga...

Dallas Magician, Comedian and Corporate entertainer, magic Dallas TX
***Comedy magic*** for corporate functions, private parties and trade shows. ... professional magician, comedian and entertainer will also create custom comedy ...
www.bogerard.com

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This is actually in the dictionary.
Also means: unconventional.
In a work of music, it means: fantasia

Hope it's clearer for you now.

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Note added at 2 hrs 1 min (2005-03-03 03:21:06 GMT)
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Performing artist is not bad too:

a. A kind, variety, or type: \"No species of performing artist is as self-critical as a dancer\" Susan Sontag.

I just did a quick run around the Internet when I ought to be asleep. Gosh, I really must get some sleep!

I think these terms are vague enough to mean that the person sings/dances/does comedy/acts, etc. Also, they are sometimes used in a somewhat derogatory manner to imply that what the "artist" does is far from being "art"... as in most singers nowadays (Britney anyone?) ;-)

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Note added at 3 hrs 59 mins (2005-03-03 05:18:27 GMT)
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Bibliography of Articles from Journals and Periodicals - Resources ...
... \"Le fantaisiste Glenn Gould\". La presse. (10 octobre, 1992). P. E3. ________.
... Medical problems of performing artists. Vol. 4, no. 3 (Sept. 1989). ...
www.collectionscanada.ca/glenngould/m23-501.2-e.html - 46k - Cached - Similar pages

Annuaire imitateurs - imitation - [ Translate this page ]
... Imitateur / chanteur / performer....il n\'a que 18 ans. ... Un talent de
fantaisiste se dessine très rapidement, il suit des cours d\'Art Clownesque avec ...
www.lememo.com/sources/annu/annu_Artiste2.asp?rub=4.18 - 68k - Cached - Similar pages

Pierre Jean - [ Translate this page ]PIERRE JEAN Maître de Piste et fantaisiste Ring Master and entertainer. Cliquez ici pour entrer dans le site Veuillez noter que ce site est optimisé pour ...
membres.lycos.fr/voyager/pierre.htm - 8k - Cached - Similar pages


Jules Verne et le rêve d\'Icare - [ Translate this page ]... Titre:, Jules Verne vu par ses contemporains : Verne, le fantaisiste de la science Jules Verne by his contemporaries: Verne, the entertainer of science ...
www.inist.fr/DEMOS/julesverne/ Icare/science-notice2.html - 7k - Cached - Similar pages