Every Tuesday we'd go to underground hip-hop clubs/events in a shit part of Long Beach. The music was great, but every single time we left there was some shit going on that had cops literally fighting people or pulling black chicks to the ground by their hair to arrest them. I saw some pretty interesting stuff.
The photography led to her doing several photoshoots for album covers for the performers. I distinctly remember doing one in Compton on a Sunday in front of the courthouse. If you've never been to Compton, people just loiter everywhere. There were 3 different groups at the courthouse alone and a few others nearby. How was a single white guy like me going to protect this little Asian girl taking pictures? Simple. I sparked a cigarette and handed out the rest of the pack to the 10+ people who asked to bum one. One guy came back for thirds, one guy riding his bike stopped and asked for one. That $5 pack kept everyone happy. It was weird but effective for what I was supposed to do.
I've used that cigarette trick to make friends at festivals before. Obviously not as dangerous, but wildly effective. Just walk around with one behind the ear, and when someone asks to bum one tell them you'll trade them a few for a bottle of water. You'll almost always end up back at their camp for a few minutes and you'll meet even more people. I had many adventures start with a dollar in tobacco.