Youve probably all heard flair bartenders say things like, “he split the bottle and tin from a tennis grab, bumped it, grabbed the tin in tennis, then double tapped the bottle to a reverse nest…”
Most flair bartenders would be able to figure out the move I’m talking about, or at least have an idea of what it all meant. But how do you decipher flair bartending terminology if you are just starting out?
I’m going to share with you some of the most common terms that youll hear and attempt to explain them. There are hundreds more, and some change from country to country, but here goes:
Probably one of the most common moves, with the hand stall being the easiest to start with. A stall is when one balances an object on their body or another object they are holding, with control. Hand stall, arm, elbow, reverse forearm, base of the shaker, side of the shaker, head, nose, foot, shoulder and chin are all different variations.
Easy to understand, more difficult to perfect. This contact move involves rolling an object, usually a bottle or shaker, on a part of your body, although there are bar and object rolls, too. The most common is a tin roll up the arm. A roll can be a simple ‘point a to point b’ or a continuous roll down the arm, up the arm, across the chest and behind the back.
This is when you throw multiple objects in the air at the same time and catch them in any way. However, this is not to be confused with a multiplex (see below). These moves can be the most impressive and hardest to achieve…
Normally performed with bottles, but can be done with bottles and shakers together, tin on tin or even jiggers – as long as it’s performed with 2 objects. I’ve seen with 3… but never 4 – yet. Oh, and did I say, it has to be executed with one hand.
Hold the two bottles in one hand, throw them in the air at the same time and catch them again, either in the same hand or the opposite hand.
This is the step up from a stall and involves “bumping” the object off your body, or another object, to continue the spin of the object. Some flair bartenders have been known to achieve in excess of 300 forearm or elbow bumps.
FYI: Taps have nothing to do with water or plumbing. You could say it is the little brother of a bump, except instead of continuing the spin, a tap is when you hit the bottle mid-spin to make it spin back in the opposite direction.
This is a contact move where one manipulates an object through the fingers as if it is ‘rolling’ through them, staying in contact with the fingers at all times.
To master this move, the objects you are holding in your hands are thrown and then ‘switch’ places to the opposite hand.
Throw an item from one side of your body to the other, behind your head. It can be dangerous, but also a great crowd pleaser – as it is a blind catch!
And that’s it. This is just a sprinkling of some of the different types of flair bartending moves that are out there.
When you join our bartender course or any Flair Bartending course, you will learn variations of the above moves, as well as plenty of others that you can incorporate into your skills.
Just remember: A flair bartender uses a diverse mix of creative movements and ideas. Enjoy it and try to master all the different variations of moves to become better.
Flair bartending has become an increasingly popular skill among bartenders looking to impress customers and liven up the bar atmosphere The flashy drink-mixing tricks and juggling skills involved in flair bartending make for an exciting show that bar goers love
While flair bartending may look difficult and requires practice to master, there are many simple techniques beginners can start with to work their way up. With the right mindset, techniques, tools and consistent practice over time, anyone can transform into a flair bartender able to put on a great show!
Getting Started with the Right Mindset
The first step to learning flair bartending is having the right mindset Flair bartending requires concentration, coordination, balance and a willingness to put in consistent practice. Beginners should not get discouraged if tricks seem difficult in the beginning Like any skill, flair bartending takes time and dedication to improve.
It’s important for beginners to start small and work their way up to more advanced moves. Beginning with simple drink-pouring tricks is the best way to start gaining confidence behind the bar. While having an audience can add pressure, beginners should practice flair bartending solo first to get comfortable with the basics.
Patience and persistence are key – don’t expect to become an expert flair bartender overnight! Allow yourself time to improve coordination and technique. With regular practice, flair bartending will start feeling like second nature over time.
Learning the Basics First
When first getting started, beginning with the most basic flair bartending techniques is key. Starting simple allows you to focus on coordination and build confidence before moving onto more advanced tricks. Here are some easy flair bartending moves for beginners:
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The Basic Flip: Flipping a bottle from the palms to the back of the hand and catching again. This helps coordination.
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Ice Cube Toss: Throwing ice cubes in the air and catching them in a shaker tin or glass. This is a good starter juggling move.
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Bottle Stalls: Spinning a bottle in one hand and stalling it before catching again. Helps balance.
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Palm Spins: Rotating a bottle in the palm of one hand to practice smooth spins.
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Tin Pivots: Spinning a tin horizontally on its edge to work on finger rotation techniques.
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Pour Cuts: Doing a dramatic pour with swooping motions to make pouring interactive.
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Spoon Flips: Flipping a spoon end-over-end to work on basic utensil flipping.
Taking the time to drill these basics will build a solid foundation in the coordination and confidence needed for flair bartending. Trying to rush into advanced tricks too quickly can lead to frustration. Build up your skills steadily with regular practice.
Advancing to More Complex Moves
After becoming comfortable with basic flipping, spinning and pouring techniques, you can start advancing to more impressive bartender tricks. Here are some popular intermediate flair bartending moves to try:
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Juggling: Once you’ve mastered throwing and catching one item, try juggling two or three bottles, tins or fruit items. This takes coordination.
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Aerials: Flipping bottles fully upside down and catching behind the back or neck. Requires precision.
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Rollovers: Rolling bottles over the shoulders and down the arms fluidly. Needs good movement.
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Flaming drinks: Adding flare by lighting drinks on fire and passing flames between bottles. Safety first!
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Bottles stacks: Balancing bottles and tins on one another requires focus and stability.
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Combination moves: Linking simpler moves together into a sequence creates an exciting show.
Pushing yourself to learn more complex tricks expands your flair bartending repertoire. But take it slow by mastering one skill at a time. Precision is better than speed as a beginner.
Stocking Your Home Bar with Flair Tools
Having the right tools can help beginning flair bartenders develop their skills faster. Outfitting your home bar with specialty flair bartending tools allows you to practice tricks using the right equipment. Here are some key items to invest in:
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Flair practice bottles: Shatterproof plastic bottles designed for flipping allow risk-free practice.
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Double jiggers: Measuring tool allows for smooth pour tricks.
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Weighted shaker tins: Heavier tins assist with spinning and flipping moves.
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Long-handled bar spoons: Long handles give leverage for advanced tricks.
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Cocktail mats: Protect your working surface from spills during practice.
The more you can replicate a professional bar setting at home, the better prepared you’ll be for live performance. Having proper tools improves the learning curve.
Drilling the Basics and Practicing Regularly
Becoming a talented flair bartender doesn’t happen overnight. It requires focused practice several times a week to build muscle memory. Routinely running through flair bartending drills is the best way to improve.
Dedicate 30-60 minutes 2-3 times a week to practice new tricks and drill old ones. Break down each move into steps and repeat slowly before trying at speed. Record your practice sessions to review and see where your form can improve.
Making incremental improvements through regular practice over several months is the key to developing flair skills. Celebrate small wins like successfully landing a new trick or pulling off a smooth sequence. Track your progress to stay motivated.
Be patient with yourself as a beginner and stick to a consistent practice schedule. Your flair bartending abilities will grow exponentially with regular training over time.
Finding an Experienced Mentor
Getting guidance from an experienced flair bartender can provide a helpful shortcut when learning. Observing professionals demonstrate tricks provides valuable insight into proper technique.
Reaching out to seasoned flair bartenders in your local bar community can allow you to pick their brains. Ask for tips on their practice routines, techniques for specific tricks, and common beginner mistakes to avoid.
If possible, see if a bartender is willing to take you on as a mentee and let you shadow their training. Hands-on guidance provides an invaluable learning experience for an aspiring flair bartender.
While in-person mentors are ideal, online tutorials and videos can also be helpful. Watch footage of champion flair bartenders to analyze the nuances of their form. Mimic their posture and motions.
Ready for Your Flair Bartending Debut?
Once you’ve spent significant time honing your skills, you’ll feel ready to start incorporating flair into your bartending shifts. Before unleashing your newest tricks on unsuspecting bar patrons, run them by your bar manager first. They’ll let you know which tricks are appropriate.
When debuting your skills, read the room first. Gauge customer reaction and interest before launching into an intense sequence of flipping and juggling. Start with subtle flourishes and builds up to more extreme moves for crowds that seem engaged.
You don’t need an elaborate routine – sometimes a few smooth drink pours are all it takes to impress customers. Focus on providing an enjoyable experience over showing off.
With the right motivation and practice techniques, the fluid drink-flipping skills of professional flair bartenders are within your reach. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small victories and stay dedicated to regular training. In time, you’ll gain the confidence and ability to put on an exciting flair show!
The journey to flair bartending excellence starts with a single well-executed trick. Which flare will you start with?
Palm spin, figure 8, thumb around with a shaker | First steps in Flair Bartending | Tutorial 01
How do I learn flair bartending?
In summary, learning flair bartending requires practice, patience, and a willingness to learn. Using these tips and resources, you can develop your skills and become a master of the art of flair bartending. As you can probably imagine, starting with tossing real glass bottles will be costly (and dangerous) until you get some skills down.
Do bartenders know flair techniques?
Many bartenders don’t know flair techniques, but it’s not that hard. The key elements for successful flair bartending tricks are concentration and balance. It is just like any other sport—you need to practice before you can do it in front of an audience! These easy moves will have you becoming the bartender with all the skills in no time at all. 1.
Why should you learn flair bartending?
Allows for recognition: Learning flair bartending can help bartenders gain recognition among their customers and with other service professionals in their area. It can also allow them to participate in local or national bartending competitions. You can consider these steps to help you learn flair bartending: 1. Make a goal
What makes a good flair bartender?
Showmanship is also essential as flair bartending is not just about the tricks and moves but also about engaging and entertaining your audience. A great flair bartender knows how to interact with the crowd, create a fun atmosphere, and keep their guests entertained from start to finish.
