Leon removes his tight-fitting tank top to reveal a muscular frame while skimpily clad young women surround the U-shaped bar screaming as he whirls the shirt above his head and gyrates to the sounds of pop music.
To flickering colorful lights and thumping beats, a DJ announces Leon's name; you'd be excused for mistaking the place as a strip joint.
But Leo has just been crowned "Fire Cup" champion, in what is described as Taipei's first fire-wielding bartending competition held by Club 9%, a bar located close to the National Taiwan Normal University. The four judges decided that Leon's performance, crowd reaction and cocktail were hot enough to garner him NT$3,000 in prize money and a belt signifying he is the "world's" bar champion.
"I finally won," said the 27-year, referring to the many private competitions he has lost in the past.
Leon was one of eight contestants, ranging in age from 18 to 27, who were competing for the top prize — and undoubtedly a few phone numbers.
The judges, all former or current bartenders at popular nightspots or restaurants throughout Taipei, chose Leon mainly because of his acrobatic skill of tossing — and not dropping — lit liquor bottles around the bar without injuring himself or burning the club down, as well as the crowd's reaction to his antics .
His performance included lighting his hands on fire and, like all the other contestants, using Bacardi 151-proof rum to spew flames from his mouth.
Mixing it up
Club 9% and other bars like it are cashing in on bartenders providing more than mixed drinks.
"These bartenders all have their fans who will come out and see them perform," said Sylvia Hu (胡又文) of Full-More Business Management, the company that operates Club 9%. She added that performances usually take place on the weekends.
Inspired by such movies as Cocktail and Coyote Ugly bars are luring patrons with performances by bartenders.
"These bartenders all have their own fans," Hu said.
Hu says this is the first competition of its kind held at a bar in Taipei, though private organizations have held them before.
Ironically, in a bar whose admission provides limitless beverages, patrons didn't seem too interested in cocktails, preferring Coors Light or mixed drinks that don't require much talent to make.
And though the bartenders are adept at fixing drinks, they too tend to avoid the potions.
"I don't like cocktails," said Sam, a 22-year old bartender at Club VS. "I drink whiskey and coke," he added.
Orie, a 191cm giant who is 26 and has been tending bar for three years agrees.
"I like light beer," he said.
So much for the whiskey sipping bartender who can keep up with the day's events and lend a shoulder to cry on. But let the show go on.
WARNING: Excessive consumption of alcohol can damage your health.
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