But during Jamie Barrier's flair bartending show at Capt. Brien's Seafood & Raw Bar on Friday, he did just that. After tossing two flaming bottles topped with Bacardi 151 rum-dipped napkins, he took a shot of 151, knelt down and blew a huge fireball into the air.

"It's pretty scary every time you do it. It's pretty dangerous," Barrier said.

Barrier, from Las Vegas, has been bartending for 12 years and doing flair bartending for three years. He was intrigued when he saw some guys doing flair bartending in a contest and he got bored doing it the other way.

"It's like eating a potato chip. Once you start, you can't stop," Barrier said.

He was joined by Rodrigo Delpech to bartend Friday and Saturday at Capt. Brien's. The two are part of Chicosun Las Vegas Flair Bartending All-Stars.

Delpech, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and currently living in Tampa, is ranked No. 1 in the world for flair bartending. He became involved in flair bartending after he saw the movie Cocktail and has been doing it for six years. He taught himself and broke thousands of bottles in the process. He calls his favorite trick the "five-bottle flash." That's when he throws five bottles and catches them.

"It's so much fun. I love flair," Delpech said.

Throughout the night while the bartenders tossed bottles and poured multiple drinks at once, free shots also were given out.

Sara Cole, from Weatherford, Okla., thought it would be cool to see the flair bartending. After receiving her third free shot from the bar, she tipped Delpech.

"He's got my $10 bill on his forehead, so that's pretty cool," Cole said.

Barrier said he tries to be as safe as possible every time. He said there's a fire extinguisher nearby — just in case. He's burned all of the hair off the back of his hands, but he said he blows the flame up and away from himself. His skills were further tested because of the small area behind the bar while he was tossing bottles and glasses.

Victoria Norman used to run a cocktail bar in London and came to see the flair bartending.

"I love the flair," she said.

Scott Everhart of Naples bent his head back as Barrier poured a free shot of tequila in his mouth. Everhart had taken a trip to Las Vegas last summer.

"Once I heard about this I thought I'd come down and enjoy Vegas all over again — minus the gambling," he said.

Chico Garcia, the owner of Chicosun, brought what happens in Vegas to Marco.

"People go out to be serviced and entertained. If you get both, then you're ahead of the game," Garcia said.

He said flair bartending is something out of the norm and there's no right or wrong way to do flair.

During the show, Berrier had dry ice in glasses for a background effect while he stacked glasses and poured seven drinks simultaneously.

"The tricks were pretty impressive. He didn't hurt himself with the fire and he poured those drinks at one time. That takes talent," said Brittney Sanek from Chicago.

Owner Brien Spina wanted to try out the flair bartending because he plans to have it all season.

"I'm always looking for new, innovative things on the island and this is something no one has ever done," Spina said.

Sam Henderson of Marco said he would definitely recommend seeing the flair bartending.

"It's exciting, different and fun for a little island like this," he said.

©Marco Eagle 2006