The home of the Black Tiger is proud to offer its products to one of the Four Asian Tigers. We are once again able to send packages to Singapore.

Previously, Ellusionist had removed availability to Singapore because of an extremely high number of returned packages, reported as “package could not be delivered” or “address not found.” We come across from time to time, but not at the statistically anomalous levels we were getting. We have worked tirelessly the past few months to resume our service, and finally we’re able to announce that we can again ship to Singapore.

For those who order from Singapore, please be aware that fulfillment of your order may be delayed by up to 24 hours while we verify address and shipping details, to ensure you get your package. That means that if you order after 1 p.m. on a Monday, your order should ship no later than Wednesday of the same week. We apologize in advance for the delay, but it means that you join the ranks of those international customers who get their awesomeness delivered by the postman.

Also noteworthy: Because Singapore is a separate city/state from Malaysia (it’s its own country — it’s like the New York, N.Y. of the South Pacific), we have not been able to do the same for Malaysians yet.

Sammy Cortino is ready for the big show.

The 22-year-old magician from Hickory, N.C., who was endorsed into the IBM by Lance Burton and Siegfried and Roy, is set to tour around the world, and it starts with a show in his hometown. He and his partner Lyndsay Thomas will perform, then head to Nashville for a series of appearances booked by Music City Artists and Alkahest Artists and Attractions. About a year and a half ago, he set a world record for card manipulation.

Why are we telling you about him? Because this could be you.

We’re under no illusions here: Starting a career in magic is hard. But it can be done. Ask these guys:

~ Nick Bretz is a martial arts master and stay-at-home dad from Perham, Minn. He is also a magician and comic who recently did a New Year’s Eve show for 2,000 in Grand Forks.

~ Carlos Sawyer, of Oroville, Calif., trained with Victor Kent while in high school. Now 32, he just finished performing a sold-out show Sunday at the Copa De Oro. He also holds on to his day job.

What do all those guys have in common? They received coverage in local newspapers (we linked to the news reports instead of their websites). They worked their art and built their business well enough to get attention and become newsworthy. Their performances are good enough to earn reviews strong enough to catch the ears of editors.

In the spirit of helping add fuel to the fire of your performance goals for 2012: Why can’t that be you?

Of course, you’ll need help, and maybe some mentoring. We got you covered: Our Performance HQ Forums are filled with all kinds of advice on how to get work. And, if you pass the test, you can get some great help in the Back Room.

Yes. That is a TIE Fighter. From Star Wars. Made out of Rider backs.

This heap of awesome is possible with a new invention called Skallops (spotted on Gizmodo). These laser-cut pieces of wood enable you to easily and seamlessly connect cards in a variety of ways. The guys behind these little connectors have launched a Kickstarter page, so you can get your own set once they go into full-scale production.

A Skallops connector features a variety of slots that hold either cards or other connectors. The idea has been in the head of creator Marshall Grinstead, who was able to make his creation come to life once he found a laser that can cut birch plywood. It’s like a bunch of wooden K’Nex specially made to turn your cards into Legos. A starter pack costs $45 and comes with two decks of cards.

Tip o’ the hat made out of cards to David Mitchell, who has already allegedly built a second bunker out of Skallops and cards.

Color changes are some of the most visual effects possible in card magic. Magicians have strived for well over a century to create a color change that required no funny moves, and no cover – but it’s been impossible. A playing card just doesn’t change without help… until now.

Jay Crowe and Jason Brumbalow teamed up to create Aura – the card that prints itself.

From a blank deck a card is chosen and placed in the hands of a spectator. They are told to think of a card, and visualize the image flowing forth from their mind to the blank card in their hand. Slowly, Visually, face up, the image materializes from nothing. The blank card has manifested ON ITS OWN, becoming the very card they had in their mind. 
Witness what real magic should look like as the image of their card breathes itself into existence before their eyes.

With Royal Wave, G has created magic that will make you the most feared player at the card table. After showing a hand that any player in their right mind would muck, you flick your wrist – and show the cards have changed – into a Royal Flush. No gaffs, no gimmicks, no pulls – just sleight of hand card magic at its best.

Today is a very good day for magic.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an opinion column by Joe Hadsall.

For years, I’ve been frustrated about how magicians seem to spend way too much time behind, and in front of, a camera.

I discovered this art in 2004, when my understanding of magic went from “Eh, it’s all gaff cards” to “Holy crap, you can do THAT with a normal deck of cards?” in the time it took for me to watch the trailer for the Ghost deck. Since then, I’ve put in a lot of my spare time toward learning the mysteries of Erdnase, Hugard and Braue, Vernon, Fisher and many, many other card magicians.

I’ve also spent a lot of time watching magic performances, from live appearances to YouTube videos. Those performances have included everything from magic to flourishing. And it’s frustrated me that, after watching so many videos, it’s clear that the performer spent much more time on the video editing than the magic.

That, to me, was the enemy. Why were magicians so hooked on filming a performance for an unblinking eye, instead of the eyes of actual spectators? People can applaud, scream, bug their eyes out and give us so much more of a reaction than a little box with wires and glass. I don’t know about anyone else, but I got into magic to blow people’s minds, not make videos of myself. I wanted to learn how to perform a diagonal palm shift, not how to pan and fade.

But then I read “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” by Brian Selznick.

That book inspired the Martin Scorsese movie “Hugo.” The story deals with a boy who is obsessed with repairing a clockwork human. (It appears the movie follows the book’s plot very closely, but I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I can’t verify that.) MILD SPOILER ALERT: Without revealing too much of the story, the boy’s efforts cross his path with George Melies, the famous magician-turned-filmmaker. Inspired by John Nevil Maskelyne and Robert-Houdin and taught by Emile Voisin, he brought his magic to the lens with such artistry and aplomb that he would later be called the first “cine-magician.” Though best remembered for this iconic image behind “A Trip to the Moon” (considered the first sci-fi movie), he was known for his innovation in special effects, such as stop tricks, multiple exposures, time-lapse, dissolves and more. END SPOILER ALERT.

Magicians being inspired by movies is no rare occurrence. The Museum of the Moving Image, in Astoria, N.Y., has a new exhibit based on stage magicians who took their art to the screen. Before Criss Angel and David Blaine caused controversy over using TV tricks for street magic, David Copperfield and Doug Henning brought magic to TV and left just as many viewers in awe.

Then it occured to me. That Ghost deck video, the one where it’s just the hands of Justin Miller and Lonnie Dilan, the one that got me interested in sleight of hand and changed my life into that of a practicing magician: There’s not a single audience member in that trailer.

Yet I was inspired.

So I’m backing off my frustration at magicians diving into movies. Magic and moving pictures go together like ambitious card routines and double lifts. In fact, I empower you. Take your art to the camera. There’s a lot of coolness that can be created, and it can be just as impactful and impressive to a spectator who clicks a “play” icon.

Just don’t forget to still perform for live people. Because there is nothing like a live reaction.