Stuart Laws: How to flip beer mats and make new friends
Published: Saturday 25th January 2025
My name is Stuart Laws and my targets for 2025 are simple: release a special (February 17th), new tour show (starts in February) and attempt a world record in beer mat flipping (January 31st). Sounds to me like a classic mid-life crisis. "I would love to achieve any of those things Stuart!" a meek cry from the shadows comes. Well, let me explain how to beer mat flip and the rest you can chalk up to my natural charisma and humour and privilege.
To flip a beer mat you need three things:
A beer mat
A flat edged table
A passion for physics and theatricality
Do not believe the rumours that you need a Panama hat.
Then it's a simple case of following these steps...
1. Line up the beer mat overhanging the edge of the table, you want around 55-60% of the beer mat on the table, with the rest overhanging the void.
2. Place your outstretched, flat hand beneath the overhanging beer mat.
3. Move that hand in a forwards, slightly upwards trajectory, through the beer mat.
4. When you connect with the beer mat it should flip 180 degrees, following the same path as your hand.
5. As it completes the 180 degree flip your hand should have now slightly overtaken it's trajectory and crucially be above the beer mat now.
6. Extend your thumb beneath the beer mat and grip tight.
7. You should now have completed a beer mat flip.
8. Repeat, add more beer mats to the stack, try it blindfolded, try a two-handed double-stack flip, pop on a Panama hat to look cool while doing it.
Avoid these common mistakes
1. If you're going for height you're doing it wrong, the movement is mainly forwards not upwards.
2. The beer mat should only flip over once, if it does a full 360 degree flip, you're doing it wrong.
3. Don't have drinks and candles and accoutrements on the table in the flipping lane.
How does this make new friends?
1. If you do it right, in a drinking establishment, it will provoke copycats.
2. If you do it for three decades you can make it a key aspect of your stand-up comedy show Stuart Laws? Is That Guy Still Going? (To be released by 800 Pound Gorilla on February 17th)
3. You can also then run a one-off championship where you get comedians to compete against each other in a sporting competition to find the best beer mat flipper in town.
Stuart's current record is 50:
Comedians Beer Mat Flipping Championship is on at the Pleasance London at 19:30 on the 31st January. Stuart Laws will be attempting the world record for most beer mats flipped in 60 seconds as part of the half-time show. Tickets
Stuart Laws? Is That Guy Still Going? is released by 800 Pound Gorilla on 17th February.
Stuart Laws Has To Be Joking? starts its UK tour on 8th February at the Leicester Comedy Festival.
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