Flair Bartenders,
 
I hope you all had an excellent Christmas.  With the new year approaching, so is the 2006 FBA Pro Tour.  The 2006 Tour kicks right off in less than two weeks with the BEST IN THE WEST BARTENDER SHOWDOWN.  Entering its 5th year, BITW is held in Las Vegas each year at the RoadRunner Cowboy Saloon.  With one year of the Tour under our belts, BITW 5 promises to be the best yet.  Once again we will be raising money for Las Vegas’ favorite charity the Opportunity Village.  Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people throughout the Las Vegas community with intellectual disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of their families.  In the past three years we have managed to raise over $8,000.  We will do our best again this year to add to that total.
 
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Competition will run every Monday in January, beginning on January 9th.  There will be 3 weeks of qualifiers (9th, 16th, 23rd) and the Grand Finals (30th).  Each week of qualifying 3 competitors Registration is now open.  Each week we will have a maximum of 12 competitors and take the top 3 to the finals on the 30th.  As we have done in the past we will also take three wild cards from the three qualifying weeks.  That will be the three next highest scores.  The three wild cards could actually come from the same week.  That way, it really doesn’t matter which week you go, because you are actually up against everyone.  If you go on one of the first two weeks and do not qualify, then you have the opportunity to return on a remaining week if there is a spot available.  Any open spots will be offered to the first non-qualifier according to score, then the next until any remaining spots are filled.  Traditionally we have not had very many open spots, so your best bet is to try to make it in on the first attempt.
 
PRIZES
We will be giving away over $4,600.00 in cash plus trophies or plaques to ALL finalists.  First place will receive $2,000 in cash plus the Grand Champion trophy.  We will be paying down 6 places.  An added bonus this year we will be giving a trophy to the top two competitors in the finals that display the best Finest Call Stalls as scored by the judges.
 
SPONSORS & RULES
The sponsors thus far are Skyy Vodka, Finest Call Premium Brand Mixes, Tuaca Liqueur, Bud Select, Barproducts.com & Flairco.  As with several events throughout the year, the FBA and High Spirits will be teaming up to bring you this exciting event.  All general rules are now posted on www.bartendershowdown.com. 
 
SIGNING UP
Spots are limited so if you are interested please contact me as soon as possible to reserve your spot, because once they are gone, they are gone.  When you respond, please specify which week you are interested in first, then give me your second choice, in case the week you choose first is filled up.  Entry fee this year will be $40, payable at the event.  Competitors must be active registered FBA members in order to compete.  With the Pro Tour in full force it is a requirement that all competitors in any tour event must be FBA members.  Each competitor will receive a BITW 5 t-shirt and commemorative BITW 5 Flair bottle and BITW 5 bottle popper.  Filming will be allowed throughout the qualifying rounds.  Finals will be filmed by High Spirits and put on DVD available for purchase.
 
THE PRO TOUR
Best in the West is a Level 3 Tour event for 2006.  You can accumulate Tour points in both qualifiers and finals.  Just for competing you automatically receive points.  
 
THE PARTY
If you have ever been to a Best in the West in the past, then you already know that this event is great fun and always goes off before a packed house at the Roadrunner.  The last couple years the finals have been so packed you couldn’t get from one end of the room to the other.  This year promises to be just as exciting.  Monday night in January the place to flair and party is the Roadrunner on Eastern & Pebble in Henderson.
 
Email or call me with the week you are interested and remember spots are limited.  With only a week and a half left until week 1 that may be the best week to go.  Let me know asap if you are interested in this week.
 
Keep flippin’
 
Ken Hall
President
High Spirits Enterprises
Office: (702) - 242 - 8468
Cell: (702) - 300 -3113
Fax: (702) - 242 - 6454
ken@legendsofbartending.com
www.legendsofbartending.com

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