Gaining access to a tent on the first Saturday - Munich

I have a group of 10 friends coming from London with reservations for the first Saturday at 17.00 in the Hofbrau Tent. My Husband and I would like to join them but as they have reserved and have wrist bands, beer vouchers etc ... they are sure of getting in at 17.00 for their table. What is the best way for us to join them? (We did not originally book with them - when they booked - as we were not sure if we were still going to be living in Munich). I have been at tents at 09.00am on the first Saturday and not being able to get a table but as we are not looking for a whole table for ourselves what would be the chances of getting into that tent tent around 16.00 and waiting/joining another table until they arrive? Any advice would be very much appreciated

Try camping out at the tent the night before...

Explain your predicament to the security guard if you can get near him. Have a friend with a wristband come to the door and confirm your identity as this is an oft-used ruse by people who don't really have friends waiting inside. Wait for two people to leave, possibly the guard will let you in.

Most importantly: Wear a Dirndl with lots of cleavage and brush against the guard a few times while speaking to him.

Yes, you have two chances - be at the tent before 6am and queue/fight to get in, which has a relatively high chance of working but you'll probably be roasted by 5pm when they turn up, or chance your luck during the day which for Hofbrau has a chance only slightly above zero. Chances at 4pm are low, although it's changeover time so there's a glimmer of hope. You may get in some time after 8pm as closing time approaches... As sarabyrd says dirndls help if used improperly

HellesAngel is right on the times and the combination of being fesch/frech in a Drindl plus *speaking German* (novelty value for that tent) will help.

You won't be able to sit with them anyway, since there's only room for 10 at a table. The chance of getting two seats at a neighbouring table is very slim.

More to the point, how on earth did they manage to get Saturday evening reservations in the first place?

Ok. Dirndle with Cleveage not a problem - wonderbra will do the trick hubby speaks fluent german - mine is better after a few drinks ... think the guys got the tickets for a 17.00 sitting by applying about 8 months in advance + hubby helping them translate the german + a big fat bit of luck (also, being the most tourist, english, american and australian tent - not many foreigners would know about applying in advance and being able to actually book out a whole table !!!)

Small Town Boy - at that time of the evening 17.00 in my experience many people are standing in the aisle or really squeezing onto a table .... so long as you are seated at the time of ordering a drink you will get served (esp. in that tent)

a bra with a dirndl? wtf...

If the weather is nice and hot and sunny, you'll have a much bigger chance of getting in later. Last year, the opening day was perfect weather and I managed to walk into the Hofbrau at around 16:00. I no doubt got lucky, but if the weather is nice, there is still a chance.

Dirndl bras.

A bra with a dirndl is just wrong, and doesn't make sense...

Anyways, I still find it fascinating that they got a table for that time/day in the first place, without killing anyone.

NOFXmike, let me explain a little about breasts.
Apart from in a certain genre of films, breasts move.

Jumping up and down in a dirndl signing beer songs could therefore be a serious risk to health (e.g. black eyes) and safety (public).
Especially if your dirndl isn't a crew neck one.
Or doesn't have super-dooper nipple-flattening fabric (you could take someone's eye out).
Throw a cracking pair of bangers into the equation and frankly that's a potential death trap.

Table for Sat in the Hofbrau? Death unlikely.
Dirndl without a bra? Hmmmm.

Do explain.

So what did I do wrong?

Speak German - check
Apply in January/February - check
Know about reservations - check
ah, no luck!

Maybe next year ...