Ive heard some people mention a hi-vis vest, clipboard, and ladder are great items for getting into places... I'm wondering what other items people like to use?

I've personally had a lot of success with an acoustic guitar for music events, and events that have music like banquets. I bought a used guitar for $30 at a thrift shop and use it to get into banquets, and such. Ive experimented with walking through the front and back entrances. Ive yet to be stopped but get questioned sometimes going through the front, so back is better. If there is the ability to enter through a kitchen, Ive found that kitchen staff never question you and the kitchen is almost always connected to the banquet rooms. Once I'm in, I usually throw the guitar in a corner or near the stage to retrieve later.