Bartender HQ Podcast : Bar Culture, Cocktails and Flair Bartending for Everyone.

In this week’s podcast I discuss how you can use suspense in creating a flair bartending routine for competitions to draw your crowd in and make them more emotionally invested in your performance.

Following the Masters of Flair bartending competition where I won Best in the Midlands, I identified a few reasons behind the success, as well as the areas I can easily adjust to improve my score.

My flair bartending routine was very much based around the bottle and tin combo with a few extras mixed in which we’ll come to later. I should be able to increase my score substantially by incorporating more of the moves I can already perform with multiple objects, though this entry was quite last minute and not really prepared for as I would like.

On the plus side, as usual I had very few drops and the judges commented on the smoothness of my performance. I think I had 2 drops in the routine, plus one after the end of the time which I don’t think counts in a 6 minute routine plus the big ass move segment. That its pretty rare, even at the highest level.

Admittedly, at the highest level the moves are far more challenging, but the point is that you should be flairing within your ability. Working the bar last night I was flairing for five hours.

Total drops? Two. In five hours.

If you’re dropping bottles and tins all the time on shift, you’re trying to do stuff you’re not ready to do behind the bar and you’re making flair bartenders look bad as a group. The bar is not the place to be learning new moves, that should be done in your own time and your own space.

Why should Flair Bartending competitions be any different?

Then we move on to the subject of tension – you can draw in your audience by adding tension, as I did at Masters of Flair at a few points – the Martini glass balance on the forehead, blindfold flair and throwing full drinks over my shoulder.

These points where it could all go horribly wrong are just the thing to engage your audience, in the same way you can’t take your eyes off the TV when a formula one car is flying through the air towards a tyre wall or the police intercepters are chasing down the bad guys – you HAVE to know how it turns out!

Links in this week’s Podcast

* BartenderHQ.com/YouTube

* BartenderHQ.com/iTunes

* Instagram.com/BartenderHQPics

* Facebook.com/BartenderHQ

* Twitter.com/BartenderHQ

We’re back with the podcast 🙂

This week we’re talking about…

Restaurants taking money from their staff

In the UK news this week there have been a number of restaurants called out for not just taking a cut from employees gratuities as has been reported in the past, but Las Iguanas have been reported to be taking a percentage of the sales made by each member of the team at the end of their shifts too as reported here:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/23/restaurant-tipping-policy-forces-waiters-to-pay-to-work

Las Iguanas have released a statement on this, refuting the accusation, however they acknowledge that a percentage of tips made are taken to share between the staff in the form of rewards and incentives.

If this is indeed the case, I genuinely don’t think its a better situation. They are essentially funding their incentive scheme out of the pockets of their employees and then expecting a thank you – Las Iguanas – you’re a big company, if you want to give incentives, then pay for them yourselves. Its not ok to take money from the staff who keep you in business and then decide how you want to give it back to them if they’re good.

Las Iguanas are not the only bar being called out for being unfair with tips, but it does seem what they’re doing is worse than the more typical, yet still not ok ‘Admin charges’ that others levy on credit card gratuities.

What do you think about this? Let us know on the Facebook page.

Masters of Flair 2015

Last weekend saw the Masters of Flair competition which I hosted with the West Midlands Flair Club and I was delighted to win “Best of the Midlands UK” for my routine. Congratulations to all the other bartenders too, especially Andre Lenes who retained the Masters of Flair crown.

Big Changes

I’ve changed my day job and will be far more involved in bars for more of the time. That also means I’ll have access to a bar for filming any time and I’ll be releasing my first flair bartending course very soon – make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter to be the first to know when its available (and you’ll get my 10 killer cocktails eBook free when you join!). I’ll be randomly selecting some of the subscribers to get early FREE access to the course before the launch, so get signed up today 🙂

On this week’s mini show:

How to organise a piss up in a brewery

We spent the weekend over at the Batemans Brewery in Skegness for a friend’s wedding. It’s a beautiful old complex of buildings centred around the tower of the old windmill, now lacking its sails but no less iconic. The bar built into the tower’s round base is a particular highlight.

I think I managed to try nearly every beer on offer and was even given a few mixed beers straight from the hand pump which really change the flavours. I personally recommend their Black Pepper brew which is served with more ground peppercorns to add to taste.

Masters of Flair prep

No show next Sunday as I’ll be hosting and competing but you can watch the competition live on uStream (details and a link will be posted on our Facebook page and Twitter as soon as they’re available).

As I’m competing now keep an eye out for practice videos this week – I have all the bottles I need now (I could use a few more Stoli but I can manage) so keep your eyes peeled.

I’ll also be aiming to interview the competitors at the competition and get as much video as I can from the Masters of Flair so keep your eyes on BartenderHQ.com over the next week or so!

Upcoming Podcasts

Over the next few weeks I’ll be talking to Sean Duprey from Angostura Bitters and Rums and Samuel Trett from (Minus)-33 and Loca Lab Distilling. If you have a question you’d like to ask either of them just let me know as soon as possible! 🙂

Be Social

Don’t forget to join us on the usual social channels:

* Facebook.com/BartenderHQ

* Twitter.com/BartenderHQ

* Instagram.com/BartenderHQpics

* BartenderHQ.com/YouTube

* BartenderHQ.com/iTunes

* BartenderHQ.com/Stitcher

On this week’s show:

Soju – The world’s best selling spirit Taste Test

Soju is the world’s best selling liquor, and yet few people in the West at least have heard of it! It sold over 61million cases in 2014, and we’re taking a taste on this week’s show.

Bacardi Carta Fuego Taste Test

We broke the news a few months ago about Bacardi’s brand refresh with their new logos and bottles, and the Bacardi Carta Fuego has finally arrived in bars – I take a taste with Dave from the West Midlands Flair Club at Reflex Arcadian and give you our thoughts.

MetroGnome’s iPhone & Breaking Bad Remixes

The music I’ve chosen for Masters of Flair (and possibly further in the Flair Project) is two remixes by MetroGnome  (@itsmetrognome), the iPhone Remix and the Breaking Bad remix. You can find MetroGnome on SoundCloud and have a listen to all the tracks. Thanks to MetroGnome for permission to use the tracks and the support!

Flair in the Dark and Blindfolded Flair

I wrote a piece this week on flairing while blindfolded, and today I’ve shot some footage of flairing in almost pitch black with bright lights shining in my eyes – the blindfold skills come in very handy when you can’t really see much of anything, the situation you may often be in with competitions or any kind of flair exhibition work.

Want the BartenderHQ Podcast as soon as its released each week? Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio.

Join The Flair Project at http://TheFlairProject.com

On this week’s show:

ScareTrack Podcast

The guys over at ScareTrack podcast got in touch early in July and asked if I’d arrange some video for their monthly podcast with a horror themed drink. I met Colin from the show a couple of years ago being a Zombie with him at the 2.8 hours later citywide game in Birmingham UK, and we got on great, so I was only to happy to oblige.

Check out the full recipe for the ScareTrack Zombie here, including alternatives for some of the less common ingredients so everyone can make it! Find ScareTrack on Facebook here.

Masters of Flair V

Masters of Flair is taking place on Sunday 23rd of August 2015 at Reflex Arcadian in Birmingham. In addition to comparing as last year I will also now be entering the competition, so check out this week’s show to hear where it differs from Roadhouse which will be the aim of The Flair Project in terms of the routine, rules and that Big Ass Move!

Be Social

Don’t forget to join us on the usual social channels:

* Facebook.com/BartenderHQ

* Twitter.com/BartenderHQ

* Instagram.com/BartenderHQpics

* BartenderHQ.com/YouTube

* BartenderHQ.com/iTunes

* BartenderHQ.com/Stitcher

Expanding on my article about Flair Training like a Body Builder, I’m discussing how to get the best out of your flair practice.

Setting goals for your flair bartending, not simply so that you can measure the outcomes but so you know what you actually want to achieve beyond ‘improvement’ will drastically increase your rate of acquiring new moves and sequences.

Its far too easy to call picking up a bottle and tin and casually throwing them around ‘Training’, something I’ve been guilty of myself in the past, but with The Flair Project picking up pace, I need personally to focus on getting the improvements I need in my skills, and planning practice properly will certainly help with that.

The Flair Project

This week’s contribution to The Flair Project comes from Sunny Chana, a stall which is performed palm up! If you’d like to submit a move to The Flair Project, join us over at TheFlairProject.com or tweet it with the hashtag #TheFlairProject

Video Guidelines

Vertical Video Syndrome is a menace we all have to work together to face – play your part and hold your phone the right way around!

Want the BartenderHQ Podcast as soon as its released each week? Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio

On this week’s podcast:

Drunk Tech Review

We’re featuring Drunk Tech Review on Youtube – hilarious videos featuring the latest tech reviewed by a bunch of friends playing drinking games. You get really honest reviews as a result and these guys don’t pull punches! NSFW, but lets be honest, most of us don’t work in your average office!

Brugal & 86 Company bottles from a Flair Bartender’s perspective

We put the latest Brugal bottle style complete with it’s net covering through its paces in flair bartending, followed by the 86 company’s bottle (as you would buy Aylesbury Duck vodka, Fords Gin, Cana Brava Rum or Tequila Cabeza) with surprising results!

The Flair Project

Roadhouse Rules Breakdown

We delve deep into the Roadhouse Flair rulebook to work out where the points are, how to maximise your score and find those neglected areas where the smart bartenders can boost their placing without learning new moves! Check out our previous article on improving your score in competition here. If you’d like to read along as we break down the rules you can find the pdf here.

If you want to learn more or get involved in The Flair Project, check out the full details here

Want the BartenderHQ Podcast as soon as its released each week? Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio

Imbibe Live 2015

June 29th & 30th 2015 saw Imbibe Live take over the Kensington Olympia venue in London. With a huge number of exhibitors from craft distilleries to distributors and multinational brands, it was the perfect place to make connections in the drinks industry.

With multiple classes for those wanting to expand their knowledge in various areas in addition to the finals of Sommeliers vs Bartenders and the opportunity to sample hundreds of different spirits, wines and beers, Imbibe Live is an amazing opportunity for bartenders and bar owners alike to learn more.

The Flair Project

The Flair Project is being launched on today’s BartenderHQ podcast. With the help of bartenders from around the world I’m intending to enter the Roadhouse World Flair competition in 2016.

What makes The Flair Project unique is that I’m crowd sourcing the routine, so I’m looking for bartenders to submit moves that I’ll include in the routine for the competition. You’ll then be featured in the final video too alongside the routine.

If you want to learn more or get involved in The Flair Project, check out the full details here

Want the BartenderHQ Podcast as soon as its released each week? Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio

On this week’s show – Louie La Vella – Nightlife Marketing Guru!

Louie will get more people through the doors of your bar and make you more money – so listen up! We discuss a variety of nightlife marketing topics for bars, restaurants and nightclubs, whether you have a large social following or you want to build one, there are tips inside this video and podcast for you!

The interview ends with the bullets of the top 5 tips, but there’s great information throughout!

http://louielavella.com

You can find Louie La Vella on Facebook and his Facebook Page for Nightlife Marketing. On Twitter he’s at @LouieLaVella, Instagram and YouTube (Check out his interview with Lady Gaga!)

Want the BartenderHQ Podcast as soon as its released each week? Subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher Smart Radio

On this week’s podcast we’re taking a look at restaurant and bar jobs, how they interact and what’s right for you.

Finding the perfect restaurant and bar jobs

If you’re aiming to follow a career in the hospitality business and looking for restaurant and bar jobs, this is an episode you can’t miss!

From bussers and bar backs to waiters and bartenders, right up to management, where do you fit into the restaurant and bar jobs market and what should be your next step? Find out here!

In the UK The Caterer is a great source for industry jobs and getting a feel for what potential employers are looking for.

When putting together your resume or CV for an industry position, take a look at our guide!