October 3, 2007 12:05 PM PDT
This red pocket square is a VIP badge. If you have this, you get to go anywhere. Want to get onto the show floor before the conference opens? No problem, sir. Entrance to the carpeted and quiet room to the side of the show floor? Right this way. It's the trade show equivalent of having an FBI badge.
The best part is is that you don't even need a name tag if you've got this. In fact, they take away your name tag after they give you the pocket square. It's presumably on the theory that you're really too big to be IDed.
How did I get one? A vendor gave me a ride and I got dropped in the VIP parking area (it's where the vendor's car normally parks). The attendants accidentally mistook me for a honcho.
Photo by Michael Kanellos/CNET News.com
