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Luis Bermudez - Philadelphia Flair Instructor
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Derek Jones - Cincinnati Flair Instructor
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Professional Bartending Schools of America and its staff have been competing in local, state and national bartending flair contests since 1993. Those of us who started learning in 1992 had only the movie, Cocktail and the corny (but effective) training video, "Olympic Bartending" by John "JB" Bandy to learn from. Many of these original flair bartenders like Alan Mays and Ken Hall created the moves and forged the way for today's generation of flair bartenders.
Many of us old-school flair bartenders still believe that actual bartending always takes precedence over showmanship. What good is it to flip a botlle and not know how to make a drink? Flair bartending behind an actual bar with customers present is scary to many bar owners and managers. The potential for injury, breakage and spillage keeps many bar managers from allowing bartenders to practice their craft at work.
PBSA believes that working flair is not only practical, but that it draws in more customers and makes money for the bar and the bartender if done correctly. We strongly emphasize to any flair bartender that overpouring, spillage and glass breakage at work is simply unacceptable. We believe in practicing off-premise until we can perform a trick or move time and time again without mishap. Three and four bottle juggling is not appropriate behind a bar with customers and glassware just a few feet away. Working flair is much different from competition flari! A working bar is no place to practice that killer new move you dreamed up!
Many of our campuses offer flair training to our students and experienced barteners for a nominal fee. Some of our graduates and staff have gone on to become some of the top flair bartenders in the country. For those of you who know a little about "Legends", "Quest", "Bartenders in Paradise", "Battle of the Bottles", you will recognize three of our staff; Rob Turek of Cleveland, Derek Jones of Cincinnati, Randy Ruiz of Cincinnati who are all PBSA graduates. Danni Rossi and Levi Donalson have spent some time at the Cincinnati campus using the facility to practice for Legends. Loyd Resor of Cincinnati has spent countless hours practicing and training with Derek Jones. Loyd is currently recognized as the top flair bartender in Cincinnati.
Danni Rossi, Rob Turek, Derek Jones and Roger Oldham have all been filmed performing working, basic, intermediate and expert level flair for an upcoming flair trianing program on 3 DVD's. This program will also be offered in an online flair school version coming in the second half of 2006.
Anyone interested in flair should check out the Flair Bartenders Assocation (FBA). Most of us who compete and all pictured on this page are members. A quick plug for the PBSA Bartending Store, if you are in need of flair instructional DVD's or flair bottles, speed openers or supplies, we have all of the latest items at discounted prices! |
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| Roger Oldham shown on stage at Mannequins Nightclub at Disney's Pleasure Island in Orlando, Florida. This is the final round for the "Quest for the Best Bartender in North America Contest" in 1994. Roger finished 5th overall. Alan Mays wowed the crowd with his two-handed flair and 8-bottle (750ml) pour. Allan finished first. |
Daniel Rossi of Argentina (one of the top flair jugglers in the world) trains at the Professional Bartending School of Cincinnati for the 2004 "legends of Bartending" held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. Channel 5 filmed Daniel and Cincinnati graduate Randy Ruiz flipping bottles to prepare for the contest. |
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Orlando, Florida Graduates Tandem Working Flair
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Randy Bullen - Cincinnati Instructor
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| Rob Turek, Flair Instructor of the Cleveland, Ohio campuses was featured on channel 3 NBC television. Rob has twice finished in the top 25 in the Las Vegas Legends of Bartending contest. |
Rob Turek (center) serves as a judge at the 2004 Vegas Legends of Bartending contest. The contest was aired in a one-hour segment on the Food Network. |
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| Danni Rossi, PBSA Flair Instructor at the 2004 "Legends of Bartending" in Las Vegas. Daniel has been ranked as one of the top bartending jugglers in the world. You have to see him to believe it. Daniel juggles four bottles at a time and seldom drops anything. We will post a short video clip of Daniel shortly. |
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| Roger Oldham was shown on Columus, Ohio NBC television as the winner of the 1998 "Best Bartender in Ohio" Contest. The contest was sponsored by the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association and the Ohio Restaurant Association. |
Derek Jones, Flair Instructor for the Cincinnati campus places third in the 2001 "Bartenders in Paradise" held at the Holiday Isles Resort on Islamorada in the Florica Keys. Derek has twice finished runner up in the Best in Oho contest and won the Best Bartender in Tennesse contest. Derek has twice finished in the top 25 in the world in Las Vegas Legends of Bartending. |
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| Rob Turek of Cleveland, performs his "fire show" live for Channel 3 NBC. Rob has competed in and won numberous awards for his flair ability. Rob is a two time winner of the Best Bartender in Oho contest. |
Rob Turek of Cleveland in a Startenders performane in Cleveland, Ohio. Rob has a tremendous fire show that has to be seen to be believed. It needs to be said; "DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME! Blowing fireballs can lead to injury and death. Leave it to the professionals! |
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| Roger Oldham shown winning the 1994 Best Bartender in Ohio contest held at America Live! at Forrest Park Mall. Roger won $1,000.00 in cash and an all expense paid trip for two to the National Finals at Disney Resorts in Orlando, Florida. Limo service and a luxury condo were included along with VIP functions and treatment. The winner of each state qualified to compete in Orlando. |
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Rob Turek has competed and judged at Quest and Legends over the last ten years. Rob recently started " Startenders", a flair training and promotion company based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Rob also had a nice article posted at www.flairbar.com on his success and his new company. Startenders staff consists of PBSA graduates. Check them out below! |
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Craig Mills
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Nick Houck
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Joshua Goldurs
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The Startenders Team
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