Knock on a stranger's door on nearly any given evening, with a pillowcase in hand, and demand that free stuff or candy come forthwith and you'll probably be met by a firm slap to the face, a slamming door and possible jail time (if your neighbor's the 9-1-1 dialing type).

Show up to a Medieval Times party in jeans and a Patriot's jersey and you might find yourself denied the customary goblet of wine and instead lead to the pillory to be ridiculed as Ye Olde Buzz Kill.

Let's face it, costumes get you things. Plain clothes are fine for those day-to-day activities.

But if you want free stuff (and who doesn't want a little free stuff now and then) you need to dress yourself up a bit.

I should note, this is not a steadfast rule. Costumes DO ensure an increased likelihood of freebies in many social situations, but showing up to work or a court hearing in full Pope Benedict XV regalia will NOT win you a year-end bonus or a lesser sentence.

Something you can get with a bit of costuming? Free Motley Crue tickets.

MaineToday.com got their hands on some tickets for the upcoming March 18 show at the Cumberland County Civic Center. And with a little hairspray and some snake skin rocker's pants, you could win them.

That is, of course, if you don your best Motley Crue attire AND run with the Portland Hash House Harriers. The Portland Hashers are giving away a pair of tickets to the show during the March 14 Motley Crue Hash.

[The Hash House Harriers are the "drinking group with a running problem" I wrote about in January.]

Don't be afraid if your athletic ability is sub-par. The only qualifications for this hash run are 1) the ability to move yourself through downtown Portland by walking, jogging or running, and 2) a Motley Crue-inspired get-up that could frighten passersby. If you don't mind beer-drinking, even better.

The hash starts at 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 14 from Matthew's on Free Street (that'd be "The Oldest Bar in Portland," or so I've been told). The "run" is typically 3-5 miles, though there's plenty of stopping along the way. Run ends...somewhere. That's the fun of hashing. You don't know where you're going and you don't know where you'll end up. And in this case, you'll also look a fool running through the streets of Portland.

But isn't looking a wee foolish worth rocking live to Dr. Feelgood and reliving your 80s awesomeness?

March 14 Motley Crue Hash
March 18 Motley Crue show
POR-ME Hashers on Facebook
Questions? Email portlandhashers@gmail.com