n00b w/ a problem! =)

[danniekool]

Hi everyone, erm yea I'm Dannie and have been working in a UK bar for about 5 months. both my supervisors have been able to flair since before I started but we recently got taken over by Gatecrasher and our GM wants us all to learn as we're starting to do cocktails in the next couple of months.
I'm now going out with one of my supervisors and the other supervisor is his best friend so I'm constantly surrounded by flair talk, even when I'm not at work and I really want to learn.

I had no bar experience before this and am literally just starting to get interested in flairing so know nothing! I can just about do bottle hand stalls, bottle thumb rolls and palm spins.

My problem is I don't have the confidence to do it infront of my boyfriend! He wants to teach me and he's the best person to, I'd b ahead of the rest of the staff but I get so embarassed in front of him! The customers are not a problem, I'd look like a tit all day in front of them and not care! And the staff dont bother me either. I just feel uncomfortable in front of my boyfriend!

I dont get a lot of time to practice either as bartending isn't my only job so I practice in whatever spare time I have away from my boyfriend, which is pretty pathetic!

Anyone have this problem before? Or just any general advice to get over the confidence thing? And any other flair advice would be great!

Thanks for hearing me out!
Dannie x

[freelivin91]

First thing to do when learning to flair - learn to handle it when you screw up, because it's absolutely going to happen. When I drop something or knock something over while I'm flairing, I'll just kinda turn my head away and whistle like it never happened, or I'll point to a guest and say "Why did you do that? Now I have to go pick that up!"

Get over your issues with screwing up in front of people - it's part of the game. If you're boyfriend has experience flairing, he'll understand when you botch in front of him. Ask him for help and just accept that you're going to drop in the beginning... a lot.

[Side Show Bob (ex PornStar)]

I never used to be able to perform at work and used to get the piss taken when I dropped or made a mistake. I used this to motivate to get better faster. I practiced at work on our second floor to get used to both the environment and the noise. I used to be comfortable performing in front of my girl friend but a lot of my mates used to take the piss.

As Freelivin said if your guy is a flair bartender, he had to start somewhere too. Your best bet is to practise in private with camera or mirror until you get more confident and then wow him with something he's never seen before. Either that or practice with your back to them (out of sight, out of mind). I began to introduce this to my warm up routine so that i didn't notice people watching and feel oblidged to start putting on a show.

Also if you work together you'll have to start performing in front of him one day. Bite the bullet and get the nerves dealt with soon, so you can progress and push forward.


Cheers,
Rob.L

[danniekool]

Thanks guys, I know you're right! Just gotta build up that confidence, I think I prefer the whole practice and wow him approach! But I guess biting the bullet would be better sooner rather than later.

Thanks again x

[danniekool]

Jus wanted to say I finally bit the bullet this week, whilst drunk and actually tried to flair in front of my boyfriend at home and at work. Makes it all a whole lot easier and more fun lol!

[Gidwick]

yeah confront your fears, i can flair very well on my own, but in front of a crowd im prob at 50% of my level.

So i flair all the time at work, to get used to performing in front of a crowd, also helps when you drop as well and get the jeers from the crowd, it gets you uused to it.

Russ

[msmixer]

just laugh ur way through the nerves i sing also and it took me years to be able to perform in front of ppl well. Now I still have the same nerves still get the butterflies but once i get started i'm fine With flairing i'm a show off even though i'm still learning. But thats just me everyone has reservationsabout certain things it shows we care