Message 1889 of 1991 in Flair Bartending

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> [gab warning]
> 
> Hi Mike.  
> 
> Fast track!  The job was posted on Friday.  I emailed the requested 
> stuff (cover letter, resume, a haiku and crayon self portrait) the 
> same day, last Friday.  Return email notification and invites to 
> interview was Monday.  Interview:  choice of either Wednesday 
> (tomorrow) or Friday!  Oy!
> 
> I've done a bunch of bar tricks, but some are silly and on the lame 
> side of a really bad joke, but they usually make my guest laugh and 
> smile.  Like Cheryl once said, it is a nice warm up and makes the 
> guest feel good to figure out after it is performed.  I need to psych 
> myself to be confident, calm and sparkle-in-my-eye charming to pull 
> these off, in an almost flirty fun sort of way...  However this is 
> the first interview "audition" and I'm a tad intimidated and nervous! 
>  lol  So I was hoping to do something a bit more polished for this 
> very hip attitude, high end lounge/bar.
> 
> I visited my local magic supply store and picked up a new Flash Paper 
> Pad since one Halloween they were too much fun to burn up... lol.
> 
> I think I'll re-review my Miss Charming library and work with what 
> I've got.  :)  Sound good?  Besides.  I've worked for this 
> restaurant/chef owner once before -- good rapport, good terms when 
> the employment relationship ended.    One advantage:  The interviews 
> are at "my old bar" and I know Chef/Owner Marlan doesn't have the 
> necessary glassware to do some of the showy/easy working flair things 
> like a pony glass line up of domino effect shots....
> 
> I don't want to disappoint!
> 
> THANKS for responding to this thread!
> 
> [/end gab mode]
> 
> 
> --------------------------
> "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them ...
> well, I have others."  -Groucho Marx

I was going to send down a copy of our Practical Bar Magic DVD, but there 
really isn't time to get there and have you learn any of the tricks.

That aside, here are two of my personal favourites.  It will depend on what 
sort of trick you want to do (interactive vs showcase), but I used both 
successfully for years behind the bar.

1.  Disappearing Cocktail (showcase)
Super easy trick that goes well with basic working flair.  Stuff some napkins 
in a shaker tin so that they won't come out.  Perform a couple of quick moves 
and then pour off into the tin.  Then make a show of pouring the contents of 
the tin into the glass, but obviously nothing comes out.  The right way to do 
this is with slush powder, but the napkins are a cheap alternative.

2.  Wet Coin (interactive)
Challenge your guess to pick up a coin out of a side plate filled with liquid 
without getting their fingers wet, using only a match, lemon wedge and a 
glass.  I usually used a couple of ounces of Coke or Cran in the side plate, 
just for colour.  They will likely try to use the glass to flick the coin out, 
which goes against them picking it up.  The solution is to put the match in 
the slice of the  lemon wedge, light it, put it on the plate and then put the 
glass on top.  While the match burns, it uses up the oxygen inside the glass, 
creates a vacuum and sucks the liquid up into the glass.  Then you can just 
pick up the coin without getting your fingers wet.

Hope it goes well!


Mike