TANDEM TEAM TALK

Steve Pacheco and Tim “Flippy” Morris have recently exploded onto the world of Tandem Flair. Their credits include the Cayman Island World Tandem Champions and the Battle of the Flair Gods 2. Last month they took first place honors (beating stiff competition from the Legendary Delpech brothers) on home turf at the King of the Ring, Harrah’s Carnaval Court in Las Vegas.

Their style is unique, blending high energy and originality with some very physical acrobatics.

We asked them to share some of their insight into their world of Tandem Flair…

Why do you do Tandem?

STEVE: It’s challenging to me. Two Bartenders with the same goal in mind. It’s fun to do and even more fun to watch.

How do you practice together? How is your training session structured?

STEVE: We try to take our two styles and make them one. Our tandem routines have a little bit of Flippy and a little bit of me and a lot of us! If that makes sense.

What do you find easy about Tandem?

STEVE: I feel a lot of pressure taken off me when I see Flippy on stage next to me. It helps a lot with my nerves.

FLIPPY: Working with the guy who taught me makes it easy for us to come up with similar ideas. And it’s easy to talk to Steve, we’re really good friends.

What do you find hardest about Tandem?

STEVE: I think the hardest thing about Tandem is that there is not a whole lot of room for mistakes. In Individual you can cover up mistakes but in Tandem if you make a mistake everyone knows, one mistake not only effects you but your partner too, who probably won’t be too happy about it.

FLIPPY: Scheduling is the hardest part for me. When ever I’m free Steve is busy and when ever I’m busy Steve is free.

How did you two choose each other for Tandem?

FLIPPY: Steve introduced me to Flair so we have been practicing together for a long time. Then for fun we started doing stuff together. Then for fun we started competing as a team.

STEVE: He begged me! Ha-Ha! Actually we work together so it’s very convenient, same beliefs, same goals. The same work schedule helps too.

Do you think Tandem is growing or declining, and why?

STEVE: I think it’s declining unfortunately. Not enough teams compete. Hopefully Tandem will start getting bigger. That’s kinda why we are so passionate about it. If people see us having a lot of fun, they’ll think about doing it too.

What do you think the next level of Tandem is?

STEVE: Full blown shows. Tandem has so much potential and hopefully we will take it to the next level.

What direction would you like to see the sport go in?

STEVE: I just want to see it get bigger. I think we’re [the Flair Devils] are on the right track.

Other than put up prize money for competitions, what else do you think liquor companies can do to help the sport?

FLIPPY: They don’t have to offer us money, we do it for fun. We love traveling so I guess having comps all over the world would help it grow.

What makes you two stand out from other Tandem teams?

FLIPPY: We are very physical. We are always making sure we are entertaining the crowd, that’s the most important thing.

STEVE: When we compete we promise each other our main purpose is to go out there and have fun! So far so good.