Edd answers readers mail

We've now come to my new favorite segment of the blog: Ask a Chicago Comedy Magician

Reader Lisa A asks: What's the difference between an effect and a production?

Thanks for the question Lisa and thanks for reading my blog. Effect and production are two magician terms for things everyone else calls something else. See, magicians usually think very highly of themselves. So much so that the common magician word for non-magicians is “laity” or “lay people.” Which is the same term that clergy use for non-clergy people. So magicians think of themselves in the same order as priests. Which, I might add, is probably not a group magicians what to get lumped in with right now. I know what some of you are saying, “I thought it was 'muggle.'” Well it's not. First off, that word just came into popular use in the last 10 years or so and magicians have thought better of themselves for centuries. Also, I think if you use that word professionally you have to pay JK Rowling a commission.

So, back to the question at hand. What is an effect? It's a fancy word for “trick.” Most people would say, “The magician performed the trick where he links and un-links the rings.” Well, “trick” was too unrefined for the tail coat and top hat crowd. So, they call them effects. The magician would say, “I performed the linking rings effect.” Give me a break.

The word production can mean two things. A theatrical show is often called a production and trust me putting on a theatrical show is a production. In magician-ese “production” is the term for what most folks would call a magical appearance. The members of society that don't pretend to have magical powers would say,”He did that trick where he made the elephant appear.” When magicians use the word production I can't decide if they are making the elephant in a factory or if they are birthing it on stage. The first would be really boring and the second is illegal in Illinois.

Next time on Magician Madness, we answer more reader mail.

Edd Fairman is a corporate and comedy magician from Chicago. He lives with a 1000 crazy pets and one beautiful assistant.