subject: Explore Flair Bartending To Increase Your Earning Potential [print this page] Although flair bartending has been around in various forms for many years, its rise to prominence is a relatively new advancement in bartending. Utilizing bar tools, liquor bottles, and glasses to entertain and create show pieces for guests, flair bartending is a difficult but lucrative skill for those able to master it.
The first step in flair bartending is often the most overlooked; becoming a bartender. Face it, flipping bottles in the air just makes you a juggler, and it takes more than knowing the difference between a martini and a mojito to make you a bartender. The best flair bartenders are those able to make amazing drinks while simultaneously doing unbelievable things with their bartending tools. Whether you are working the nightclub or one of the international flair bartending competitions that have sprung up over the last several years, knowing what bottle to pull and how to mix a great drink is imperative.
For years, becoming a bartender meant working your way up as a waiter, knowing someone, or getting lucky. Lately, bartending schools have become increasingly important for newbie's and seasoned professionals alike, bestowing accreditation, prestige and marketability. Not only will these schools teach you how to make drinks, many now either offer a flair bartending curriculum or have flair bartending schools associated with them.
For the best bartenders, the mastery of drinks is never a completed task; there is always a new drink to learn or new cocktail to create. For the flair bartender, on top of their normal duties comes the added responsibility of learning and innovating the entertainment side of the job. In the otherwise crowded bartending marketplace, accomplished flair bartenders are constantly in high demand. Part server, part entertainer, part entertainment draw, flair bartenders are often found in high-end, upscale, or well trafficked establishments. Translation: there is good money to be made. Not only do base salaries tend to be higher, but for the best, tips alone can pay the cost of flair bartending school in a week.
That said, the responsibility of a flair bartender is to practice. There are many ways to learn how to flair bartend, from online videos and instructions to flair bartending schools. At the end of the day though, it's up to the individual to perfect their abilities. Nothing ruins a good performance and a great tip like dropping a bottle on a simple cross-body flip and having it shatter on the floor. There is a reason that competitive flair competitions have continued to grow in popularity. Like any other sport, the degree of difficulty is high, and scarcity of truly great flair bartenders means that practice is at a premium. Training forces your mind and body to work together, and the more you practice, the stronger that connection will become.
There is no great secret to becoming a flair bartender. Be prepared to utilize the tools of the trade, whether it's Shaker Tape to give you a better grip, or flair bottles to practice. Be prepared to practice and be open to learning the latest. Consider school, watch videos, and observe your peers. In short, the more dedication you show to your skill, the more your skill will show.
