Zen and the Art of Extreme Bartending
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Author: Matthew Hundley
Source: CV Entertainment Authority
On training day Coconut’s staff members were working on their moves – flipping bottles and shakers and various other bar paraphenelia. We managed to snag a few minutes with trainer Scott Young and with Coconut’s manager Kyle Dehmlow. First, it’s pretty awesome for Barmuda to bring in a trainer of the caliber of Scott Young. He’s been in and around the bartending business for more than 15 years. Ten of those he’s spent actively training people all over the world in the art of flair and extreme bartending. In this time he’s developed a highly successful Web site, www.ExtremeBartending.com, and produced more than 25 training videos. Although they primarily focus on independent nightclubs they were recently invited to perform at the Playboy mansion. ”www.extremebartending.comoffers the most well-known training program out there,” Scott told the CVEA. ”For the smaller club that wants to be bigger, they are looking for an edge to compete.” For those of you reading, the technique that ExtrememBartending.com trainers employ is called “flair bartending” or “extreme bartending.” Probably the biggest player out there using this technique would be TGI Fridays. (They were not trained by Scott and his team , but they are probably the best know chain that uses this style.) The training sessions are very long and very intense, ”The trainees will learn more than 80 moves along with insights into the business of bartending,” Young says, “It’s about performance. It’s also an exceptional customer service tool.” While performance may entertain you, the bartenders still need to be good at the craft of creating the mixed drinks themselves – something that falls outside the realm of this training. ”An exceptional bartender doesn’t need to throw things, but it certainly helps to create more visibility,” tells Young. “It’s also a great way to get to know your customers using things like bar bets, jokes, games, tricks.” The whole Extreme Bartending technique is base on delivering exceptional customer service. With “flair bartending” the focus is on making drinks in a stylish and interesting way. This could be through juggling, stylish moves or anything that’s over the top yet does not slow down the rate of service. ”Flair is about performance,” Scott Young tells us, “but extreme bartending takes things to the next level. Extreme bartending is about creating an interesting experience where the goal is to be stylish and interesting without slowing down service.” In order for this customer service philosophy to work you must have the owners and management of a club behind it. Barmuda management wants to be nice to their customer and give them extra value for patronizing their club. Scott set’s up the perfect segway to Coconut’s manager Kyle Dehmlow when he says, ”Exceptional service starts with the ownership…and the management.” One of the key members of the Coconut's management team is Kyle Dehmlow. He’s been with Barmuda since 1999 and has managed both the Shagnasty’s in both Kyle tells the CVEA. “We’re working on creating the unique experience. We’re really looking to make memories for people and leave them with stories to tell. It’s especially important to develop unique interactions with our staff. We want them to want to come back.” Coconuts offers a unique themed setting with palm trees, an in ground pool and staff that will take on various beach personalities – lifeguards, beach bums, surfers – it will be a real laid back environment. ”The extreme bartending is one of the things we’ll offer that goes over the top, “ Dehmlow says. “This is truly a unique experience. This is new, it’s exciting and it will be something fresh in the area.” I'll let Kyle close out this story, ”We’re targeting a different audience with the new club. This crowd is looking to be entertained and have a good time. We’re going to do just that.”
Date: June 13th, 2005
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