Your Greatest Blag....Ever!

[whitelion]

Over the years I've blagged my way into some pretty good places where I had no right to be. On Saturday night I was watching the England game in a pub in Hove when it all kicked off and the atmosphere after was not conducive to watching the second half. I walked to the next decent 'watering hole' and found it to be used for a private function - a wedding. Now I have to say this was infinately better than watching over your shoulder for a glass or knife but I felt that I 'didn't belong'.

This prompted me to think of the 'Greatest ever Blag'. Over the years I've managed to get into conferences, free hospitality bars etc. Several that spring to mind were bars reserved for 'home' fans at Watford and Notts County. It's a kinda' feeling of achievement to be standing where you're not supposed to be having a drink with the friendly natives.

However my best one to date has to be in 1989 in Key West Florida. I was in the middle of 'sociable' couple of weeks in the Sunshine State when I bumped into some guys from the Blue Ridge Mountains area of Kentucky. We proceeded to have drinking games as you do when you meet strangers and out to 'ave a larf'. It ended up with a challenge. By now we were not far from the port area and there are usually several cruise ships that ply the Caribbean tied up in port. The challenge was 'Who could get onboard the nearest cruise ship' to the bar from where we were setting the challenge. Didn't need asking twice. Their guy got stopped almost immediately trying to get through the security system. Using my 'best asset' my English accent, got me through three levels of security, blagging my way through and saying that I had left my passes on board the ship. This worked until I was about to board and I was stopped. I was still considered to have done the best but did not actually fulfil the task as I had not stepped on board.

 

[Gwylan]

Best blag was getting into the post-gig party after the Clash's appearance at Sussex Uni. Spent ages talking to Mick Jones and Joey Ramone.

Also blagged my way into the VIP tent at Galway races. Chatted with Albert Reynolds, who gave a tip for the next race, and Bertie Ahern.

 

[whitelion]

Best blag was getting into the post-gig party after the Clash's appearance at Sussex Uni. Spent ages talking to Mick Jones and Joey Ramone.

Nice one Gwylan, both bands I enjoyed in the 70's. Reminds me of a blag in Houston. Been to a gig at the Summit July 1982....... Asia/Cheap Trick/Axe/Animals. I'd missed the band I went to see - Axe. So went to the Spindletop on top of the Hyatt Regency where I got into a party being held for Ann Margret. Moved off from there and went to a nightclub called Remmingtons in West Houston. Got there to find the place closed. However a black limo pulled up alongside and asked if I wanted to go with them to their hotel for a few beers. Who the f*** were they? 'We're Axe' was the reply. Could not believe my luck. I didn't go.....

 

[John Dorian]

seriously ? or are you pulling our legs white lion

 

[patchamsmostwanted]

"On Saturday night I was watching the England game in a pub in Hove when it all kicked off and the atmosphere after was not conducive to watching the second half"

That wasn't the Sussex, was it?

 

[Marc]

I wanted to go to ECTS (Computer show for developers/pros only no "public"), so i applied for tickets saying I was a game designer...tickets turned up no probs and I got to see loads of stuff, all very GEEKY but worth it!

other than that no major blags come to mind

 

[whitelion]

seriously ? or are you pulling our legs white lion

No I am being serious.

 

[whitelion]

"On Saturday night I was watching the England game in a pub in Hove when it all kicked off and the atmosphere after was not conducive to watching the second half"

That wasn't the Sussex, was it?

Sadly it was. I left at half-time went along to the Bali Brasserie and then the Brunswick for the end of the match. BTW the Freemasons in Western Road had WalterWall women that night.

 

[On the Left Wing]

Best was probably, with a colleague, blagging our way into the high temple of the Scottish Freemasons in Edinburgh. We pretended to be freemasons and managed to get to the second floor, where we passed the handshake and nod and persuaded the guy to let us buy a copy of their internal yearbook for 1996! He even signed the receipt to Brother Johnston (my pseudonym) and my false Lodge number.
Incredible place to visit, but some VERY dodgy and powerful people!

 

[Ding Dong !]

1983 FA CUP Final.

I was 16 at the time and me and a mate travelled up to Wembley with only 1 ticket. A bloke could see we were trying to get an extra ticket so appraoched us saying he had tickets and if we gave him £10 he would get us in. Anyway he took my mates ticket and us up to the turnstiles took us through then legged it.

We now had not ticket and still needed to get through to the standing area. After much deliberation, we went up to a steward explaining what happened and he said give us a fiver each and I'll let you through..... We ended up with the Man Utd fans that were in the lower tier but managed to climb up into the section which held all the Brighton Fans...

Chances of that happening 20 years later are probably nil. I also wonder how much the steward took in bribes that day as well.

 

[Bluejuice]

After the first Fatboy Slim on the beach gig I went along to the afterparty which was at the Corn Exchange and drunk my own weight in alcohol. With my drunken confidence I casually slipped into the cordoned off area where Mr Slim was mashing it up and only got questioned by one security guard who I simply told "I'm with Skint". I then interrupted the Fatboy mid set to shake his hand (bit of a no no really but I was wrecked). Then after shaking hands with various people in the crowd, making out I was with Norman I wandered through to the next room where Adam Freeland was playing up high in a DJ booth specially constructed off the ground. Climbed on in and had a quick chat about what a sterling job he was doing with the breaks!

Reminds me of a time a few years back when I was at Fabric when Groove Armada were in Room 3. Again, somewhat under the influence I blagged my way into the DJ box and started chatting with the tall one about his record collection, then ended up sharing a few reefers with the boys themselves. Once they had finished however, I stayed in the booth for the next DJ who handed me another hand crafted cigarette. This time I passed out, on an amp!

To this day I've no idea what was in that thing I smoked but for me to have passed out on part of the incredible soundsystem in Fabric does make me wonder.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

Mine was at The Goldstone whenEngland played italy in an Under 23 game(I think?)

I was dying for a piss near to halftime and i didnt fancy queing up in the old Lego stand,so I headed to the West Stand where a steward was stood on the door and asked if I could nip in for a piss,he says "Are you with the rest of them?"
I reply "yes," havent got a clue what he is on about and go in for the piss.I gets thru the door and then I am shown into another room which turns out to be The Boardroom (I think )and it is full of Managers from all the top teams in England,as well as free Beer and food!!
So I have my fill and head out back to the game as the second half starts.
At the Final whistle I take the other 3 mates I am with and head back to the West Stand,sure enough,the same Steward is there and lets all four of us back into the Stand,so we all got caned and met every manager you could wish to meet,as well as a few of the Albion Players.

 

[The Wookiee]

Over the years I've blagged my way into some pretty good places where I had no right to be. On Saturday night I was watching the England game in a pub in Hove when it all kicked off and the atmosphere after was not conducive to watching the second half.

What was the aggro about?

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Got into a Jam gig at the Portsmouth Guildhall posing as a roadie.
Just saw the back door open and walked in and was never challenged

 

[Juan Albion]

The Jam's end of tour party in 1978 at Wembley Arena, along with loads of other stars. Not exactly a blag as a young lady and I just stood at the door until the band turned up and were then invited in by Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton, much to the annoyance of the guy on the door who had refused us entry. However, we had had to blag our way backstage in the first place.

 

[whitelion]

Re: Re: Your Greatest Blag....Ever!

What was the aggro about?

Girlfriend/ boyfriend thing I think. Def two women involved in the build up then the 'chaps' took over.

 

[zefarelly]

we did a gig at Leeds University once, after we'd played we went to see this other band playing (cen't remember who off hand) but we used our backstage passes to get into their dressing room and drank all of their rider

blagged a free day at Goodwood revival on test day and went up to Goodwood house for afternoon tea, cricket, the drivers brief, free champagne etc and met Barry sheene, Damon Hill, Stirling Moss, Gerry Marshall, Jack Brabham and a host of other famous racers

I jumped over the fence at the Shoreham vintage car show and saved myself £2 a few times as well

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The WORST ever blag I've witnessed was at the Boxing Day match at QPR a couple of seasons ago.

It was post-match, when Charlie Oatway - lifelong QPR fan and Albion captain on the day - failed to talk his way into the bar reserved for players, presumably on the grounds that he looked a bit dodgy.

He had to settle for the bar that was available to the rest of us (who had been drinking since about 10am and had been hatching all sorts of plans to blag our own way into the players' bar, for a bit of post-match socialising with the likes of ... er... Charlie Oatway).