I wanted to share a tale of careful planning, music, and most of all hope. It’s not heart warming or particularly interesting, there’s no gun chases or broken hearts or anything- but, well- you might learn something from it.

So as you know my love for the band Phish has never waned- not true. I use to see them a lot then stopped then they stopped- they started again then I started again then they stopped again- now they are back- and with the recent playing of this past tour- I am back. That and I had never seen them play on Halloween where they play 3 sets the middle being a musical costume (a cover of another bands album.) So I decided this had to be the year to catch a show on Halloween as it was pretty close (Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall) and Phish has been playing great lately. However, tickets sold out-fast. Josh and I decided we needed to be there so we looked on stubhub and tickets were already $300 each. We had a room reserved at the Tropicana and we just felt we needed to be there.

I jokingly told Josh we needed to get “Event Staff” yellow polos and just sneak in. His response to me- “Yes”

I found the polos online (http://www.uniformswarehouse.com/prostores/servlet/-strse-1527/Event-Staff-Polo-Shirt/Detail) and after some back and forth we ordered them. Our friend Sid works at a print shop and made us these awesome backstage passes based on an image we thought would be used:

Backstage Passes- http://public.fotki.com/dalima1/how-to-sneak-into-phish/1-passes.html

 We decided we would show up an hour and a half before doors open and try to see if we could just walk right in. We gathered some more props- a clipboard, makeshift ear piece, carabeeners, mini flashlights and a walkie talkie along with black slacks and on Sunday drove down to Atlantic City. It was a beautiful day- a beautiful drive and when we got to AC the sun was shining and beautiful. Both Josh and I were nervous yet confident.

Now at this point I must add most of the feedback we had gotten was pretty positive with the caveat that we might get arrested. Everyone thought it was worth a shot- no one however thought it would work.

So Josh and I knew doors would open at 6 so we got dressed and ready to leave at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. I looked in the mirror and thought “holy shit this looks real- this is going to work”

Ready to go- http://public.fotki.com/dalima1/how-to-sneak-into-phish/2-event-staff.html#media

We entered the packed elevators full of Phish fans getting ready for the show. At this point a girl on the elevator saw our badges and started asking us all about the show- for inside details. She looked over the paper on my clipboard (random lighting rigs and such) and was really aggressive about how she could get in. Then on the walk over to the venue people were asking us about parking and what time doors open and I knew then this is REALLY going to work. We entered into an underground parking garage. There was an old security guard at the door who just nodded as we walked by. First checkpoint: PASS then we find an entrance into the arena and walk in. There was another guard but she was engaged in conversation and just peered over our way (CHECK). We started up the ramp to the upper part of the arena when we heard from behind us “Hey guys” we spin around and it is some people working the event too and we say “hello” and keep moving. Finally we reached the upper part of the arena and it was swarming with people working. I froze for a second. This was it. We walked hurriedly to a restroom entered a stall, dropped trou, and waited. We made it IN! Now if we were caught we were trespassing- this was the long wait but we were so happy. We didn’t talk much but we sent our friends

This pic- http://public.fotki.com/dalima1/how-to-sneak-into-phish/3-bathroom.html#media

So far so good but we had to wait another hour and fifteen minutes till we were free. So we waited and as door opening got closer the bathroom started filling up. Actual event staffers in and out cleaning etc.

Event Staffers- http://public.fotki.com/dalima1/how-to-sneak-into-phish/4-real-event-staff.html#media

At one point about 15 minutes until doors open there was a loud banging on my stall and someone yelled “You guys been in there a long time!” I just said real quietly “uhhh we ate Mexican food” and the guy started laughing and left.

Finally at 8:15 we started hearing excited fans entering the hall and more importantly the bathroom. I took off my yellow polo and walked out- that’s it I was in the plan worked! Josh followed shortly after.  WOOHOO! We met up with our friends with tickets and pretty soon the lights dimmed and:

PHISH!- http://public.fotki.com/dalima1/how-to-sneak-into-phish/5-phish.html#media

The following 5 and a half hours of music were amazing and the rest of the night in Atlantic City was epic!

The thing is i’m really glad that as old as I am (31) I am still down for doing stupid shit and I have a buddy who will do it with me! The reason it worked was because we are older and what people our age have the audacity to do such a dumb thing.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the night one to go in the record books.

Phish covered Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat which was awesome.

Little Feat- Time Loves a Hero http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK_hftXn4dk
Encore of the night was Julius with horns…perfect ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA5nGOKJvoI