Dubai Desert Classic 2008

Have you ever been to an event, whether it be a conference, sporting game or concert and you spot some guys your age right up there at the front. And not at the front where others are, but at the front where only people in expensive suits or people with large cameras get to roam around? You think to yourself, 'who are they and what do they do?'. Over the weekend my partner Bas and I, we were those guys.

Scoring VIP Press Passes for the Dubai Desert Classic, we roamed around freely watching Tiger, Ernie and Sergio rip up the course. When we were hungry we went in the pressroom and ate buffet meals. After the rounds we were their watching in the interview rooms as the players had their little Q and A time with the 'real' press. We were on the fringe when Tiger sunk his winning put on the 18th, standing beside the tournament Director and Tiger's own commissioned photographer. And we were on the green right beside Tiger and Dubai's Crown Prince when he was presented the trophy and his paycheck of a cool halve a million (he got paid $7 million just to show up).

I mention how we were around 'real' press; as I am not really in press at all. But I can fake it. You can too. This is how:

All major tournaments, on their websites will have a Press Accreditation Page. Click on it. Fill it out. Viola, surprisingly it was that easy.

Spend some time on fake business cards, and/or laminate a Fake Press Card from some made up company; 'UK Media' will do. It may seem like some effort - but hey, free VIP Passes into huge events are a great time.

If there is no registration link, e-mail/phone the sponsor, tell them who you are, and that you are looking to cover the event for 'UK Media'. Have a story on who you are and what you are doing in that city in the first place - it all makes it more credible. Your passes will be waiting for you on site. Golf/Tennis Tournaments, Concerts, Important/Interesting Conferences, you name it - we are doing it.

It's a cool little trick - trust me.

See who knew that reading these stupid little stories can bring you some good, hey?