Blag it Backstage: Six summer festival tips

Kate Amarnani of Miss Win It shares her secrets on how to go access-all-areas at gigs, festivals, clubs and parties...

The best summer in memory for festivals is in well underway, with gorgeous weather, cute new bands at each event (The Drums anyone?), Pimms-a-plenty with pals and the high street all over camping friendly, no-shower required style. But, with weekly photos of the likes of Alexa Chung, Kate Moss and Emma Watson, partying away from us plebians in VIP areas, we feel like we're missing out - and we want in to this stylish, celeb-strewn other side!

So, we asked Kate Amarnani, Celeb Liason turned Music TV Producer and Co-Founder of Miss Win It, for the best advice on going access all areas at festivals, gigs, clubs and parties. MissWinIt.com is a new entertainment site, where you can win the chance to live like a celeb for the day - from VIP festival passes with luxury camping for your entire entourage, to mega shopping sprees with a celebrity stylist, or dance lessons with Cheryl Cole's choreographer - Kate's renowned for her skills in blagging it into the most exclusive events, from sold-out festivals to Vanity Fair's notorious post-Oscars party.

Head over the jump to read Kate's top tips on partying with the VIPs - for virtually nothing!

Click here for our summer 2010 festival style guide

Check out our New York special with a sidewalk style picture gallery

1. Work hard to play hard
"Find out which gigs or parties are linked to your festival of choice, go to their next night, and introduce yourself to the promoter," explains Kate. "Offer to run around for free, getting DJs into tents or help run a night for them in return for a VIP pass to their festival - that's the quickest way."

2. Get involved
"Lots of people are looking for street teams, or who want promotional girls, to hand out shots or flyers for one or two hours of the day; in return you'll get tickets and access to loads of people."

3. Share the love
"Another thing is to write to various smaller bands, lower down the bill, and see if you can get on their guestlist by saying what a massive fan you are," says Kate. "Spot the up and coming artists and contact their smaller management companies rather than the big majors - that's always quite good."

4. Blag it past bouncers
"Always walk up with confidence - don't hesitate when you walk up, thinking 'Should I? Shouldn't i?' Be very smiley, say you're with an artist or someone else involved, or, like I once did, get on your phone to a mate and get them to pretend to be management and speak to the security guard - he believed her and I got in!"

5. Schmooze the staff
"Barmen are always really good," says Kate. "Always start chatting to the barmen, leave them a tip, find out what and who's coming - and what's not. Again, ask to speak to the Manager, tell them how much you love their club, ask if they've any events coming up, that you'd like to bring a group, you've a nice looking bunch of friends who you'd like to bring to the next event etc. Then be cheeky and ask if you can get some free drinks and free entries. Always get their phone number so you can call them when you are outside so they can come and get you."

6. Leave a tip
"Always, if you buy a couple of drinks, tip a couple of quid too. You'll get served faster, the bar staff will talk to you longer, and eventually should introduce you to the promoter, manager or someone who runs the club. It's all about building relationships - long term."

Launched this month, Miss Win It is a brand new entertainment and competition site which offers 'money-can't-buy' prizes and experiences, to live like a celeb for the day. For more info and to win your own VIP festival passes - without the stress of trying to blag - log onto misswinit.com now.

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