Party like a rock star...on the cheap.

October 2, 2005 1:27 PM

Party like a rock star...on the cheap. For only $12,95, a book by freelance writer Camper English reveals low-budget secrets like: * pick up money from the floor on clubs * don't pay for drinks, use a flask * take your girlfriend out to "first one free" (link may be NSFW) salsa classes * get a student ID for discounts, even if you're not a student. (Via Lifehacker)
posted by iviken (26 comments total)

Yay Camper!

I haven't read the book, but I met Camper once many years ago in Boston when we were both little raver kids. Good People. Always had a unique and interesting take on things.
posted by clubfoote at 2:28 PM on October 2, 2005

This would make a nice companion to my Cheap Bastard's Guide to NYC...
that 'free' link to playboy.com isn't exactly SFW (maybe the banner ads change)
posted by Busithoth at 2:44 PM on October 2, 2005

You're right, Busithoth, the playboy.com link is NSFW. I should have mentioned it, or found a different link. Sorry.
posted by iviken at 2:55 PM on October 2, 2005

hey, if you go to the dumpster behind the donut shop in the morning, they throw away the day-olds and they're as good as fresh, and totally free!

also, you can get free cheese from the government!

oh, and you can play all the "sonic the hedgehog" you want for free at target or wal-mart! lifehacking is AWESOME!
posted by Hat Maui at 3:08 PM on October 2, 2005

"Lifehacking".... that's kind of like "living", right?
posted by lodurr at 3:42 PM on October 2, 2005

Here is a great one I've used to get into any arena concert/event for free: You simply hang out around an exit and wait until you spot somebody leaving and ask them for their ticket stubs. When tens of thousands of people are in one room, people always leave early. Either they are sick, tired, headachey, bored, forgot to take their medication....etc. Works every time. You may miss a couple of songs or the opening act, but you can save $100.00 easy. Of course this method is not for the shy or overly proud.
posted by devetron at 3:43 PM on October 2, 2005

lodurr : "'Lifehacking'.... that's kind of like 'living', right?"

Hey, if you have an inquiryhack, ask it in AskMe.
posted by Bugbread at 3:47 PM on October 2, 2005

Devetron, that reminds me of when we used to 'second act' Rent shows. Hang out in front of the theatre at intermission, when all the conservative old people who had been sold their tickets as part of some package and hadn't been warned about the content would walk out in disgust. If you asked nicely, they'd often give up their tickets.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:02 PM on October 2, 2005

What about the mooch-hack? Make friends with the rich guys and party for free. That kinda things pisses me off but I see it all the time and it works.
posted by snsranch at 4:18 PM on October 2, 2005

devetron: You simply hang out around an exit and wait until you spot somebody leaving and ask them for their ticket stubs.

I've just begun to notice this. It seems to work! I wind up going to a lot of shows for free, so I'm usually only interested in checking out a few songs. Seems like lately, whenever I leave, there's always a few people ouside who ask for my ticket stub. I think it's great, because I always feel semi-guilty about taking off early, and it's good to know that they'll go to someone who might actually want to be there.
posted by Kloryne at 4:23 PM on October 2, 2005

"inquiryhack" -- hee hee!
posted by Kloryne at 4:25 PM on October 2, 2005

Here's one: on a winter night, go to the upscale event wearing tuxedo shirt, tie, cummerbund, etc. and no jacket or coat.

The assumption is you just ducked out for a cigarette.

Ticket/invite? Its in the tux, inside.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:29 PM on October 2, 2005

What about the Britney-hack? Date rich girls and party for free. That kinda things pisses me off but I see it all the time and it works.

About the book, the reviewers on Amazon seems to like it, but it's only #201,766 on the Amazon sales rank.
posted by iviken at 4:45 PM on October 2, 2005

About the book, the reviewers on Amazon seems to like it, but it's only #201,766 on the Amazon sales rank.

Well, duh. I mean, obviously they're going to buy this thing used, if not download the e-book illegally.
posted by Busithoth at 5:11 PM on October 2, 2005

StickyCarpet: I've done that.

Being from the north I was hardier than my fellow freshmen at university (or maybe just too proud) so I'd often be going out in a t-shirt when everyone else was wearing jackets. Every once and awhile I could just walk past the bouncers as if I was just coming back in.
posted by ODiV at 5:44 PM on October 2, 2005

The flask idea has saved me tons of money over the past year. You do need to be sneaky about it, however, because you can obviously get thrown out in some places.
posted by Zosia Blue at 6:01 PM on October 2, 2005

My favorite musical advice from Pete Townsend: "...walk in backwards like you're walking out..."
posted by twsf at 6:30 PM on October 2, 2005

So, seriously, how do I get this free?
posted by phrontist at 7:15 PM on October 2, 2005

God dangit, it's hard enough finding money on the ground after a show without everybody knowing about it.
posted by wigu at 7:48 PM on October 2, 2005

There's a whole passel of these sorts of things that floated around the BBS world, archived at Textfiles -- in particular the series called "freebage" [1, 2, 3, 4], aka "hoarking"; in part 3, they scam their way into the Superbowl, or at least claim to have.
posted by dhartung at 10:06 PM on October 2, 2005

Did Camper's book release party actually turn into that Cocktail Clique vs. Dive-bar throwdown, aka the Mooch-a-Thon?

CC and D-b are both mailing lists/drinking clubs in SF, with a friendly competition for "cheapest drunks on the planet".
posted by cali at 10:57 PM on October 2, 2005

What kind of deranged imbecile would name their son Camper?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:04 AM on October 3, 2005

What kind of deranged imbecile would name their son Camper?

Mr. and Mrs. Van Beethoven?
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:49 AM on October 3, 2005

I haven't read this, but I knew Camper back in the day too. He's hilarious and I bet this is at least worth reading standing around the book display in Urban Outfitters.
posted by nev at 7:14 AM on October 3, 2005

Camper also writes for various SF publications for travel, culture and nightlife and has his own site.

I've attended his Cocktail Clique group which competed with my friends' Dive Bar Happy Hour social.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 2:22 PM on October 3, 2005

classic. must research further.
posted by yousoundhollow at 4:12 AM on October 4, 2005