Lying can be very useful as a street artist, if you are approached by ‘someone’ while out putting up work.

I have been on the brink of arrest too many times that I can count, mostly as a direct result of a perfect combination of alcohol and stupidity. However, even though I have been in the back of many police cruisers, I have never been arrested or charged for anything. * knocks on wood*

Always use your discretion with lying, but practice does make perfect.

The most important thing: believe the lie

If you believe it, your body movements and mannerisms will follow along, making YOU more believable. It will also alleviate the stress that will undoubtedly attempt to take over your body. However, just believing it will not be enough.

Second: calm yourself down

To calm yourself down, I suggest a scene straight from the movie ‘Blow’. The movie is talking about smuggling a suitcase of cocaine through an airport, but it works for any situation. When faced with a situation where you have to lie under pressure, imagine the most pleasurable sexual moment you have ever had. Visualize it in the most detail possible, and continuously run it in the background of your brain. You body will completely relax, and you will appear cool ‘as a cucumber’.

Third: pre-plan

Always pre-plan your lie. Before you even encounter a situation, plan answers to questions you will anticipate.

The best answers are ones that are interesting and unique enough to clog the mind, but not too extravagant to be completely unbelievable.

For instance: if you are caught putting up a wheat pasting, explain that you and your friends have created a task force against graffiti and you are actually removing ‘graffiti’ with a organic, eco-friendly compound that helps remove the ‘graffiti’ off the wall. Never call it ‘artwork’ because ‘the man’ doesn’t consider anything against the system as ‘art’, to them its graffiti.  And go from there, explain how it’s degrading your neighbourhood, you love clean walls, yadda, yadda you get the idea.

Final: be prepared for pressure

Police officers especially, will try to scare you in any situation where they do not have enough proof to bust you. Stick with your original statements, and don’t let them scare you into submission.

Also, knowing your rights and the laws surrounding what you are doing is a must.

If you ever do get arrested, depending on where you live, keeping your mouth shut is your top priority. They will try to intimidate you in any way they can, but it’s up to them to prove what they charged you with is valid. If they can’t, they have to release you eventually, (once again, depending on where you live) don’t say a word, just wait it out.