Rules of Flair Practice
Flair bartending can be the most fun you have with your clothes on but it can also be dangerous, frustrating, and exhausting. Over the years, I’ve developed the following rules for safe, smart, effective flair bartending practice:
1) Practice, practice, practice. If it was easy, every bottle-jockey would be doing it. Pick your up bottles, dust yourself off, and start all over again.
2) Service, service, service. If I come into your bar and see you clumsily flipping bottles while 2 people are waiting for drinks, I will order a Mojito, 2 Old Fashioneds, something with ice cream, and 5 different shots. And I won’t tip. The Flair Bartending Association’s motto: Service First, Flair Second, Competition Always.
3) Use the proper tools. If you can get your hands on a FlairCo Practice Bottle, please do. They are entirely worth the $25-30 investment; you will be happy you got one. They not only save you time from picking broken glass out of your hand but since they are nearly unbreakable they up your game by increasing your confidence and willingness to try some ridiculous moves. If you absolutely can’t get a plastic practice bottle, use empty Malibu bottles – the plastic wrap holds the bottle together when it breaks. If neither of these are an option, then wrap your empty bottles in packaging tape to minimize the damage done when they break.
4) Practice at home, perform at work. Never try anything at work that you can’t land at least 90% of the time at home. Spilling or breaking at work is not acceptable.
5) Always flair safely. Never flair without mats on the ground. Never flair around co-workers who aren’t comfortable with it or who don’t know how to move around you.
6) Never flair drunk. Seriously. I guarantee you’ll hurt somebody; you’re lucky if it’s you, not your guests or co-workers.
7) Practice a lot. Take a break. Then practice some more.
8 ) Be ambidextrous. Practice with both your left and right hands. I know it’s frustrating, but you will be glad you did. Learning basic moves with both hands, especially when you’re beginning, will make you a better flair bartender and make many moves easier as you progress.
9) Wear shoes when you practice. Trust me.
10) Have fun!
The Discussion...
9 Responses to “Rules of Flair Practice”
Thank for your message sir.
Nice one sir…….I will be glad if you inbox me all your videos at mahendras1985@gmail.com, Really these are amazing videos to learn……Good one.
good muy bueno……..
Best for begginers although I'm not a bartender , I just want to learn flair and throw bottles LOL.
Here is the first one, and the link to the next one in the series is at the end of each video :D
we had a flair tending lesson today and all I got is bruises and aching body… can you suggest some good way of not getting bruise especially at your hand?
thanks i appreciate
Thank for the rules .
Nice!