Flair Lesson #30: Double Flat Back to Front
This move is a twist on the Flat From Behind the Back so make sure you are proficient at that move – especially with both hands.
1) Even though it is a two item move, we are going to focus on one hand at a time. Set down the tin and just focus on the bottle first.
2) With the bottle in your right hand in a “juggler’s grip” – pour spout touching the middle of your palm, fingers extended down the neck – we are going to do the Flat Behind the Back. However, instead of throwing it to the side, focus on trying to land the bottle in front of you. And try catching it with the same hand you threw it with. We’re aiming to get it about 6-10 inches in front of your shoulder, maybe a little lower down your body but at least in line with your shoulder. Once you can consistently get this throw, Continue Reading » Flair Lesson #30: Double Flat Back to Front
Flair Lesson #18: Combo #1 with Stall
If you’ve been following the previous tutorials, then this move should be pretty simple. We are doing our First Combo – which was the Same Hand Flat Behind the Back combined with the Flat From Behind the Back – and simply adding the Stall on to the ending. Make sure you are good to go on all of those previous moves.
The only real pointers I have to this move are such:
1) At the end of the move, practice catching the bottle with either hand.
2) Once you are comfortable catching with either hand, try stalling the bottle with either hand. This will be difficult for your non-dominant hand at first, but will be good practice for down the road.
That’s it. Practice, practice.
Flair Lesson #14: Same Hand Flat Behind Back
This is a great basic working flair move that I really dig because when you land it, it just feels good. If you haven’t already gotten comfortable with the Flat Behind the Back, go back and make sure you can do that move. This one is only slightly more difficult but the catch is the same – so if you’ve got that catch down already, then you’re halfway there. Key points to land the Same Hand Flat Behind the Back:
1) Grab the bottle by the body (not the neck or the shoulders.)
2) Hold the bottle at a 45 degree angle up and away from you (away to the side, not pointing forward.) The biggest tip to getting this move down is to keep the bottle at this angle the whole time it’s in the air. You want a perfectly static bottle toss – no change in the x, y, or z axis. This way the bottle will be at the same position or angle for the catch.
3) The throw is really a matter of hinging your elbow. Continue Reading » Flair Lesson #14: Same Hand Flat Behind Back
Flair Lesson #13: Flat From Behind Back
This is a great beginning, working flair bartending move that can be absolutely frustrating when you are first starting out. This is an important move to get comfortable with and will be useful in a number of future routines. My advice for learning the Flat From Behind the Back:
1) Let’s start with your grip on the bottle. Start by placing the pour spout directly in the middle of your palm and wrapping your fingers around the neck of the bottle – specifically with your index/pointer finger pointing all the way toward the bottom of the bottle. This move really depends on your finger movement, and that really depends on your proper grip of the bottle. As the bottle passes the center of your body, focus on pushing the neck of the bottle forward, against the natural motion of the bottle, to keep it from spinning. Use your pointer finger to push the neck of the bottle, counter-acting the natural spin on the bottle.
2) Ideally we want to to be able to do this move Continue Reading » Flair Lesson #13: Flat From Behind Back
Flair Lesson #12: Flat Behind Back
It’s time to take off the training wheels and get into your first difficult, working flair move. The Flat Behind the Back is still considered a basic move, but from my experience it’s the first bottle move we’re going to try that will take a bit of practice to get comfortable with. Here are the key points to successfully learning the Flat Behind the Back:
1) There are two parts to this move: the throw and the catch. Let’s break down and focus on each part.
2) Hold the bottle by the body. When you are first starting, gripping the bottle by the body (not the neck or shoulders) will be the easiest for tossing the bottle without rotating it. Ultimately, you will want to be able to pull the bottle out of the rail Continue Reading » Flair Lesson #12: Flat Behind Back