I remember seeing someone like this on train. No clue if they were staff, but I would have complied if they asked me to do something.
True story.
I brought a bright orange rain jacket at a hardware store.
Whenever I rode the subway people would come up and ask me directions.
Did you get to use the classic line: “Don’t ask me, man. I don’t even work here.”
It’s been said - you can basically go anywhere if you walk fast and carry a clipboard.
Also if you wear high vis and carry a ladder. I’ve seen YouTube videos of the ladder shenanigans - (un)surprisingly effective.
The true magic key to open any door is a harness and backpack with networking tools and a lot of apologizing. I have talked my way backstage at a comical number of events and facilities by claiming to be the on-call networking tech here to fix the wifi. Admittedly that was almost always true - but nobody knew that because who the fuck in facilities actually knows how to communicate with the staff. Even when I was stopped just going “I’m super sorry, I need to get in there to waves tablet, can you please tell me who can let me in” literally has never not worked.
… I only ever abused this a couple of times to show off to people. Honestly barely worth it, being backstage is hands down the worst way you can experience a show and being front of house means you have to field endless questions from attendees and the staff will get sus if you’re not looking busy. But getting to wander around utility tunnels is always fun, and being up on the roof of some buildings can be wild.
getting to wander around utility tunnels is always fun,
I used to do this at my university. Once I saw a maintenance guy tell his friend “watch this” and walk up to me and ask if he could help me get somewhere under the clear assumption that I was lost. I was just like “no, I’m exploring” with that kinda childish stupidity that prevents people from yelling at you. He didn’t know how to respond and just said “Oh, okay” then walked back to his friend and muttered “I didn’t expect that”. Apparently I wasn’t anywhere that was technically off limits just someplace people didn’t generally go.
I live in a very high-trust society, which probably explains it to some degree, but I’ve yet to find a building I can’t get into by just spotting someone who works there and telling them I’m here to fix the plumbing. The best one was when a cleaner let me into the building I was coming to work guard duty at that evening. I was just a kid in civilian clothes and I got right in.
I’ve always told people that if you need a new TV, just put on a high-vis vest, grab a ladder, and unscrew the info display from a mall. Nobody’s going to ask what you’re doing.
Reminds me of this old sketch:
You should seriously consider a career in pen testing. Physical security needs to be tested too, and if you can just talk your way in, that company has some serious problems.
Or doing “maintenance” on flock cameras . Wear face coverings. Maybe a wig. Hat.
Don’t be stupid. It’s a camera.
This is why people used to wear uniforms.
For Example around 17 min, Saul Bass explains why AT&T/Bell linemen will be getting a new standardized look:
Thanks for the groovy film
The number of times I’ve been in a hardware store and approached by another costumer thinking I was staff because I was wearing hi viz is staggering.
I’d just assist them and not even mention that I don’t work there. I basically have to stop myself from offering help when I see someone standing overwhelmed in front of the plumbing parts shelve.
Like mam I’m just wearing suspenders. I have no idea where you can find that
When I first started my career I briefly worked IT at a hospital before getting into development, It always struck me how I was able to just walk out with machines. I’ve wondered if I could just put on a polo shirt walk into a random office and start walking out with their computers if anybody would stop me.
Look angry, and mutter under your breath about “tickets” and “uptime”. People will actively avoid making eye contact and will hold doors for you to get you out quicker.
