Any given night in Miami, hundreds of bottles of overpriced champagne and vodka are marched out to a perpetually revolving cast of douchebags, rich folks, once-a-year-spenders, depraved attention-starved nightlifers, sparkler fans, and the women who love to be seen with them.
But Off The Hookah Miami takes the cake for presentation with its "flair bartenders" who juggle, breathe, and generally cavort with real live fire. Do they get workman's comp if they set their hands ablaze? Is creating an unforgettable night for a tourist from Milwaukee worth the possibility of a third-degree face burn?
See the cut for some videos and Crossfade's interview with fire-juggling drink slinger Jeff "Flip" Fralich.
What do they call this?
Jeff "Flip" Fralich: Bottle-flipping, flair bartending, entertainment bartending.
How'd you get started?
I started back in Minneapolis, Minnesotta with the Showtenders concept and then kind of taught myself.
How long have you been doing this for?
Well, I started when I was 20. And I'm 30 now. So ten years.
Have you ever seen anybody get lit on fire?
No, I never have, but I get burnt all the time. I literally get cuts and burns on a regular basis.
Is this sort of activity common in the club scene?
No it's really more like an Off The Hookah concept. A lot of bars don't let you do flair shows.
Are you involved in competitions?
Yeah, this year I'm on the Flair Bartender Association's Advanced Tour.
When's the best time to see the show in person?
Thursday night is ladies night, Friday is packed, Saturday is good, and Sunday we have, like, a house music vibe. So weekend nights, basically.
Off The Hookah Miami, 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Open 11 a.m. till 5 a.m. Monday through Sunday. Call 305-373-5724 or visit facebook.com/OffTheHookahMia.
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