FROM BARBACK TO BARTENDER! – Josh Nemerow Interviewed

Updated: November 1, 2005

From changing tires to changing dirty bevnaps… Mr. Josh Nemerow. He started out trying to learn the art of Flair with no help. With self motivation and lots of determination he took a chance and moved to Las Vegas where some friends took him under their wings and our story begins…

Age? Just turned 24 last week.

Where are you from? I’ve lived all over but most of my life I lived in San Antonio, Tx now In Las Vegas.

How long have you’ve been Bartending? I’ve been bartending for about 5 and a half years.

And Flair Bartending? I first started practicing Flair 2 years ago and Flair Bartending a year and a half.

Where do you work? Carnaval Court at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

What got you into Flair Bartending? When I was really young I saw the movie Cocktail and always thought that Flair was really cool and when I was a teenager I was working at a Discount Tire in Texas and my cousins in Chicago were Bartending and telling me how much money they were making so I went to Bartending school and luckily landed a job in a night club. There were a couple of guys that Flaired and I was like, I have to learn how to do that.

How did you start out learning to Flair? Well I asked the guys to help me but they said I had to learn how to Flair on my own like they did. I tried some stuff at home like the stall and other stuff I dreamed up but I really didn’t know what I was doing so I asked them for help again and they said I could practice with them, so I did.

When I went to practice with them I was Really Really nervous, they made funny comments to each other and laughed (they were making fun of me). I was really embarrassed and frustrated. I told another one of my friends the story and he told me to go onto FlairDevils.com and look at a guy named Christian Delpech. I was blown away when I saw the video! So when I turned 21 I went to Vegas and found him at the Carnaval Court. I asked him about training and said I would pay anything, but he told me that he was really busy at the time (it was one week before Legends 5) but gave me his contact information and told me to call him if I was in town again.

I went back and every time I saw those guys and saw them laugh at me, it motivated me harder and harder, and then I made the decision to move to Vegas to learn. So I moved to Vegas in the summer of 2003. I Got into town and didn’t know anyone except Christian, and I met Sean Oana and Boogie at Kahunaville. All of them were super cool and kept telling me to go to the Flamingo park but I was always afraid that I was going to be laughed at again. It took me about a month to get the balls to go and I went. After that I just watched at the Flair bars all night and went home and practiced to the next day.

Why do you Flair now? I love it, when I Flair at work, practice at home, and compete on a stage it’s like the ultimate high.

Describe to us your style of Flair? I’m not to sure how to answer this question but what I looked for when I first started was just trying to be really smooth and fluid. It’s not always how hard it is, it’s how good it looks.

What makes you stand out from other Flair Bartenders? I don’t really think I stand out from other Flair Bartenders, maybe that I’m still one of the new guys that’s practicing allot and trying to catch up with the superstars :).

Tell us about the Flair scene in Las Vegas? Well I think it’s awesome out here. A lot of people aren’t practicing like they used to, but there is a lot of new guys coming up that are practicing like crazy. Everyone should see them soon in the comps coming up. I wish there were some more Flair bars, but I’m sure that’s what everybody wishes.

What do you hope to get out of Flair? I get enjoyment out of Flair everyday, I just hope that Flair will grow and become huge so that other people can be exposed and experience the art/sport. I think a lot of people still look at it as a myth. I still meet new people at my bar everyday that can’t believe that there are really Flair bars, they thought it was all made up for movies.

What is your favorite Flair Bartending competition and why? That’s a tough one but I am going to have to go with King of the Ring. Because you can do pretty much whatever you want to do and it is a 100% freestyle event. When I practice I do a lot of stuff that is not practical at work or competitions with deductions. King Of the Ring I can do all of those things and show off the stuff that I can’t do anywhere else. I also went to Quest this year and that was a blast! I also haven’t competed a lot so I’m looking forward to doing most of the comps in Vegas and a few others this year.

Who do you look up to in this Sport? HHmm….. I look up to a lot of people in this sport, not just one or even 10 people. I look up to most of the people I work with because everything they did for me and all the other Flair bartenders in Vegas that helped me out.

I really think that’s what makes the beauty of Flair in Las Vegas, is that everyone is willing to help you out. I know it’s not like that everywhere, there are a lot of people in other cities that think they are “The Man” and don’t want to help anyone because of their fear of not being on the top. To those people, “You Suck” and to the ones that are being put down don’t give up and use it as motivation to become better, that’s what I did.

Tell us about the Carnaval Court and how it is working there? I love it, honestly when I first moved out here I never ever dreamed that it would be possible for me to ever work there. It’s kind of like one of those things that you would never imagine like winning the lottery.

What was it like barbacking for such a talented crew at Carnal Court, Second what is it like now Bartending next to them? I really did like barbacking there when I first started. I was really nervous because it was like barbacking for celebrities. So that made me bust my ass even harder. I didn’t want to let them down. I lost a lot of weight doing it too, 75 pounds off on the Carnaval Bar Diet. They also did anything they could to help me. They ALL were like big brothers (and sisters) to me, and the coolest thing is that they wanted to see me succeed.

Now that I made it after many level tests, I love it. I still think of myself as the new guy on the block but I love it. At first I was really nervous behind the bar all of the time, but I got over that.

What are your plans now? I plan on competing in all of the local competitions in Vegas and then get ready for Legends. I’ve never done Legends before and I am really looking forward to doing it. I also really want to make the finals in Roadhouse. I know that it is going to be very difficult but if I work hard enough nothing is impossible.

What are your thoughts on owning a particular move and someone stealing your move, Is it a compliment or a bad thing? I personally take it as a compliment when someone takes my move, because it shows in a way that they like what I do. Plus I am always willing to help anyone that asks me for help so it is to be expected that some of my moves will rub off onto them. Now if people take moves and complain that people are doing that particular move that is not theirs, I think that is wrong.

How often do you practice? I practice about 4-5 hours a day now everyday of the week. If I’m not working I practice up to 8 hours usually.

What is your advice to some of the new people wanting to get into Flair Bartending? Don’t give up. It’s very frustrating at first but everything is. Keep practicing, everyone in Vegas is always willing to help anyone that wants help, that is serious. If people don’t want to help you, use that anger and drive it towards practice and become better then them. And when you become good and people ask for your help, return that favor and don’t ever forget where you came from. We all started out not knowing anything.

Tell us about your first Flair Competition and your experiences there, What were you feeling, Did everything go as planned? My first competition was Flips for Tips 5. I was only Flairing for about 2 months a friend of mine told me that he wanted to compete in Flips. He had never competed before and he was really good. I told him that I thought he was ready and should definitely do it. He told me that he would only do it if I did it too. I was pumped and told him yes.

At that time I only knew basic working Flair and I had one month to step it up. I started practicing exhibition Flair and asked Adam Kotarski for help. He always told me when I was ready to compete he would help me out. So Adam helped me put together a show, helped me with music, and choreography. I was extremely nervous, after I got off the stage I was dizzy and felt drunk on adrenaline. It was AWESOME, after that I was hooked.

Describe to us what your ultimate Flair competition would consist of? Well that’s a tough one. A friend of mine has a good idea about a competition and we are probably going to go through with it next year so I can’t say. I don’t want to spoil the surprise But it will be a 100% freestyle competition.

What are your predictions for Quest next year? Quest next year, I’m not sure who will in Amateur, I have faith that Shaun Plummer (Amateur Champion 2005) will take the Advanced trophy next year. Pro I would have to say one of the Delpech’s.

You recently won the advanced division at Quest this year, Tell us about your experience there? It was AWESOME! Quest is definitely a lot of fun, still some pressure but really fun. I never did a competition with an ounce in the bottles and never did a competition with a speed round either so it was challenging. I was sponsored by CHRISTIANDELPECH.COM. Christian helped me out with the speed round, I thank him so much I couldn’t do it without him. Denny’s was awesome too lol.

If you couldn’t bartend anymore, what would your line of work be? I know it may sound dumb but I would want to be a storm chaser. I’m really fascinated with tornados.

What is your favorite drink? Right now I would have to say a Pineapple Mojito, made by Justin Keane at I-BAR.

I’m taking Francesco’s class at Southern Wine and Spirits and can’t believe how much I’m learning, it is so interesting. I am so happy because the knowledge is need to know stuff that I never knew before. EVERY bartender should know more about spirits and product knowledge. And Francesco is like a book of knowledge, I’ve never met anyone that knows so much about spirits and the history of spirits in my life. Were going to start the mixology next week, that I can’t wait for. After the completion of this class I am really looking forward to doing Flair competitions with mixology involved. I think with Flair and mixology can make the ultimate bartender (without the boobs).