Excuses to Give Security and Others

[edtraveller]

Have you ever been caught or busted outright? I've been minor caught, close to being busted once or twice. Please relate and let us know how you sleazed out of it...

My experiences:

I. Security patrols - try to avoid. When encountered, I am ultra friendly and chatty. Produces the "leave me alone and let me get back to work" reaction. Then running into them again I greet as an old friend.

If questioned -

* Just trying to walk off some nerves- can't sleep and don't feel like going outside

* Love old building like this - just giving myself a walking tour - how old is the structure anyway?

* Signal in my room is F-d up - trying to message my wife (SMS doesnt use Wifi so heads off the obvious question)

II. Excuse for someone curious about your Audacity work (waitress asked me recently) or maybe if someone comes up to you with one of your USB mics and asks - this worked on the waitress:

* Oh, I travel a lot for work, so a buddy of mine who works special effects asked me to get him some background hotel corridor sounds. I am just going through and eliminating loud sounds - fights, kids screaming, etc.

III. Busted!
In my favorite place, the tub rooms are off on their own hall, so unless you hear something loud already going on, very risky. A year ago, I was at one of these trying to figure out if there was anyone in the room when the door opened and a couple looking at me - and not too friendly either. When I heard the door knob I just pretended to be drunk off my ass. Turned around facing away from the door and looked at the walls and the end of the corridor until I heard the stern "YES - What do you need?" AT that point I turned around, opened my eyes super wide and made a clownish, shocked, over-apologetic facial expression - "Oohhhh sorry - didn't meant to scare you guys; thought elevator was here."and staggered off. (Heard snickers behind me - a good signal I was off the hook and they weren't going to call the front desk - but still didn't touch that floor again for a couple of hours)

Last weekend, recording Couple A, a door two rooms down from the couple's opened up. Fast as I was when I was bent over grabbing the recorder, two guys already came out looking at me. I had twisted my hand to hide the recorder and just remained that way for a second. Then slowly unbent and said "God, fuckin' back spasm got me!" They actually sympathized and asked if I was ok. Told them thanks but felt like it was finally passing.

[stev4181]

Good thinking Thanks for the tips. I have often used the drinken stagger, can't find my way home routine when someone appears on their doorstep and I'm hanging around in the street. The overly chatty one also works, as does asking random stupid questions, people think you're drunk, high or mad all of which get you out of a tight situation. My most common is talking to a fake person on the phone pretending that the directions they deriving me are rubbish

[thomas]

thanks for the helpful tips... for my situations where people came across unexpectedly, I mostly played around on my smart phone, until the people were gone ane the situation was solved for me...

[reggind]

The drunkish thing seems to work good for a lot of people. You could go as far as to swish a bit of booze around in your mouth or splash a bit on your clothing to enhance the effect. One other thing to consider would be to get a cane or crutches. People generally don't like talking to people with disabilities and if anybody does ask you have a great excuse in that your doctor told you to try and keep moving on your legs as much as you can so you were taking a walk inside.

[Auralist]

this an old topic but useful, acting drunk is a go to for most situations and being friendly is the best thing to do. I might write up my own post about how to get out of some sticky (zero puns are intended here) situations myself!

[AdamMK0147]

If you're planning on staying at a five star Resort and there's Security camera's in the hallway near the rooms and you happen to hear a couple having sex and Security Just happens to be passing thru just act normal and don't act suspicious as you don't want to draw attention to yourself especially in a Casino/Hotel

[Broggie]

I was just walking along the corridor when I heard somebody having sex.....I was so shocked that I tripped and the recorder I keep for conferences fell out of my pocket and landed at the bottom of their door.....I mean what are the chances of that, mate.... think I'll be off to buy a lottery ticket....laters.....

[Jaysonrebel]

I typically keep my phone up in a texting position like I'm distracted when on the prowl. I might also pace the hallway. That way I'm mid action should anybody walk up, rather than starting an action. Look up, half smile, back to texting.

[futtock]

Last weekend, recording Couple A, a door two rooms down from the couple's opened up.

In those cases it's worth remembering that nearly every hotel room door opens inwards so anyone coming out has to open the door nearly fully before they can get out. That gives you a precious few seconds on hearing the door start to open before they can see down the corridor, in which to retrieve your device and start walking normally - or to act drunk, pull out your phone, pretend to be hunting through your pockets for the room key, etc...

[sndprv]

The last thing you need when doing captures in hotels is to draw attention to yourself. So I can't
understand why some members seem to think that pretending to be drunk is a good idea, because
that would just make you look more suspicious in the eyes of hotel staff, making them even more
watchful (especially if you're a very bad actor). Reason? Because drunks frequently cause problems
in hotels and can be a nuisance to the staff. A few examples:

* some drunks start fights with staff and other guests
* drunks are more likely to smoke in non-smoking areas of the hotel
* drunks might keep pestering the staff
* if a drunk collapses and has an injury, the staff will have to call for paramedics
* drunks might cause damage to the hotel premises that would affect other guests, e.g. a drunk
person could get stuck inside an elevator after causing the elevator's system to crash (I've seen this happen)

IMO, the best sort of behaviour is to be the 'grey man' - the boring 'nobody at a bus stop' that no one
gives a shit about. This has always worked for me, and not difficult to be in my case . Also, I'm a
rubbish actor, anyway.

[AdamMK0147]

I would'nt even act drunk because that won't always work on Hotel staff as they could simply radio in to the manager and they
would end up calling the police which would be even worse so the Drunk Act should be a No Go for Situations like this but people should just act normal just walk around with your phone in your hand and act like your texting someone or playing a game on an app and someone comes down the Hall Just nod and smile. using that tactic would draw away attention and hotel staff would just think it's normal for someone to come walking down the hallway on your phone but the one thing I don't suggest is looking for sex sounds while hotel maids are doing their clean up rounds in the morning I would wait until all the maids have left for the day as there may be one or two on Duty during the evening but usually after 12am maids have gone home for the Evening and don't come back until a couple of more hours later to do their shift at 8am.