Chris The Bartender

Chris The Bartender FAQ: (15 entries)

• Where can I find the bottles and tins that you use in your videos?
  Everything I use in my videos and at work can be found and purchased in my bar supply store . I even put together flair packages, from beginning to whoop ass, ...
• What should I buy if I’m just starting out?
  Checkout the flair packages I’ve put together for people just starting to learn flair bartending at the top of the left hand column. At a minimum, you’ll want one bottle and ...
• What’s the difference between a 750 mL bottle or a 1 Liter bottle? What should I get?
  Most bartenders, myself included, start out with a 1 Liter bottle since it’s most like the bottles you probably use at work. However, getting a 750 mL will open you up ...
• What size tin should I buy? 8 oz.? 18 oz.? 28 oz?
  The 28 oz. tin is the standard size for both mixing drinks and flair bartending. The 16 oz. and the 18 oz. tins are used for “capping” the end of the ...
• What about weighted vs. unweighted tins?
  Most flair bartenders I know, myself included, prefer weighted tins as they claim the weight helps them flip a little better. It’s really personal preference. While I generally recommend weighted tins, ...
• What about powder-coated tins or vinyl tins?
  Powder-coated tins function just like stainless steel tins but look a lot flashier to the guest. However, they generally cost about twice as much. For starters, I recommend just getting the ...
• When are you going to put more videos on your website or on YouTube?
  I try to put a new flair video up every Monday and a new cocktail video every Friday. If it's an especially busy week, I might miss a video or two, ...
• Do you have to be of legal drinking age to be a bartender?
  Depends on the state or country in which you live. Ask your local bartender.
• Do you recommend going to bartending school?
  Having graduated from a bartending school myself, I appreciate the work they do. Bartending schools are effective at teaching things like basic mixology, liquor knowledge, service basics, and mechanics such as ...
• I want to be a bartender, but I’m having trouble finding a job. Every bar I apply to is only hiring bartenders with experience or cute girls in low-cut shirts. Do you have any advice on getting a job?
  If bartending is something you really want to do, be willing to start at the bottom. That means a few different things. At busy establishments, be willing to work as a ...
• I’m currently working as a barback/bar support. How do I get my boss to realize that I’d make a great bartender?
  Simple. Be the best barback your boss has ever seen. I’ve worked with way too many barbacks who talked my ear off about how great they would be as bartenders. Meanwhile, ...
• Will flair bartending help me find a job?
  Maybe. But probably not. I very strongly recommend learning everything else about bartending first. From drink recipes to giving good service to gaining experience. These things will benefit you much more ...
• Will being a flair bartender make me more attractive to the opposite sex?
  Of course.
• How much money do bartenders make?
  Depends on a number of factors, including where in the world you live, what type of bar or club you work in, what kind of experience you have, and how good ...
• I flair just fine with practice bottles. However, when I use real bottles, I keep spilling. What am I doing wrong?
  Good question, one almost everyone has when they’re starting out. It comes down to the difference between working flair and exhibition flair. Working flair is any manipulation of bottles, tins, or ...