You don't have to earn a rock star's sick salary to party like one. Just ask Camper English, San Francisco's resident nightlife guru. In 2003, when he pulled in a paltry $17,000, he hit the town with style five nights a week. So if anyone knows how to navigate the party scene with an almost empty wallet, it's English. In his first book, Party Like a Rock Star Even When You're Poor as Dirt, English dispenses handy advice on everything from how to crash concerts to how to swill hooch on the cheap. What follows are some of his tastiest tips.

"The better you look naked, the better you'll look in any old ratty T-shirt," English advises. That means, get your ass to the gym if you're short on cash, because who's going to care if your T-shirt's ripped if you've got great abs? But seriously, English says, "You only really need one outfit; it's all about accessorizing. Consider adopting a signature style, like Bono's sunglasses or Ashton Kutcher's trucker hat. No one will notice that you're wearing the same shirt five days a week if your accessories stand out."

"Get your drinks on the rocks because mixed drinks are usually weak," English says. Going to happy hours at bars is also an efficient way to get trashed without spending all your cash. "Do an online search for 'happy hour' in your city to find out which places host them. There are usually snacks involved, too, so you can eat for free," he adds. English also suggests looking out for sponsored events. "Liquor companies spend millions of dollars a year to sponsor everything from happy hours at upscale bars to club nights to art shows to sporting competitions to corporate networking events, which usually means discounted, or free, drinks."

Everyone knows that the longer the line at a club, the better you need to look to skip it. So dress appropriately when going to high-end clubs with velvet ropes. "You should respect dress codes -- at most venues you can never wear sneakers or jeans unless they're made of gold," English says. Negotiating the lines can be half the battle. "Act like you're supposed to be on the list, but there must have been some oversight," he advises. "Club people do frequently forget to put names on lists, so this is not unusual." It also doesn't hurt to be tall, good-looking and armed with a few beautiful ladies. An English rule of thumb: "The bouncer is not going to let a group of six guys in the club together, even if you're stepping out of a limo."

"Avoid ordering alcoholic drinks or dessert at restaurants," English offers. "They're at least as expensive as the rest of your meal." Instead, he advises going to a bar before dinner and stopping by a coffee shop afterward. "The more locations you hit on your night out, the bigger the night out feels." And whenever possible, bring your own wine. Corkage fees are always cheaper than a house bottle of vino.

You can sometimes get inside a club by pretending you're part of a celeb's entourage. "Blend in with their party," English says. And once you're inside, English says that, "The place to make more connections is in the club's smoking lounge. Ask for or offer a cigarette light."

There are lots of low-key ways to impress a date. "Take a class together where the first one is offered for free, like salsa dancing or martial arts classes," English suggests. Think outside of the box. "Take her to the arcade where it's loud and busy like a club but your expenses are only in quarters," he adds. She might not put out at the end of a night of Galaga, but you haven't put that much out either. "You can also get your Tarot cards read in an occult shop, which is very 'rock,'" English explains.

"Go to where the tourists and business travelers hang out, which are the hotel bars and bars closest to the convention centers," English offers. "That's because business travelers always have an expense account." Strike up conversations with the people who are dressed up and alone. "They're always looking for local company to be their 'tour guide,'" he adds.

Tune in early. "The easiest way to win tickets on the radio is to listen to college radio stations early in the morning because college students usually aren't up yet," English says. But he also suggests getting on band and promoter lists. "Smaller bands and local acts do most of their own promotion," he explains. "You'll find out when there are low-cover benefit concerts, small shows and private parties that aren't listed in the paper." If you don't get tickets for a show you want to see, show up early and start schmoozing. "Talk up band members or promoters so they'll remember you the next time you see them," English says. It doesn't hurt to make friends with local rockers who you can often find hanging out in music equipment stores, record stores and on service industry nights at bars (usually Mondays and Tuesdays).