alcohol and cover
I do try to make a big deal about looking as a boozer around the pit crew. Max Rubin has a few good ideas. Collect up free drink tickets from the pit crew (pit will give you these if you ask) to be redeemed at the bar. Ask for an O'douls or Sharps beer at the bar, have them pour it into a beer glass, tip em a half dollar. Then walk over and buy in with beer in hand, ask the pit for the waitress, and make a big deal about a shot of whiskey or tequilla. After you receive the small shot, wait for the pit to have an eye on you when the dealer busts, whoop and hollar, and then throw back the shot with authority and slam the non-alcoholic beer. Unless you are totally weak, the smaller shot should not affect you.
Wong out on a neg count, go get another Sharps and just camp out with it until you color up.
I've done this a few times, and it seems to work, BUT my first backoff happened when I was playing well, but had been drinking. The pit crew had seen me drinking for hours, but I got the heat because of stupidity: overplaying the same club and playing with another counter. We were both winning as well. I have a pretty high tolerance for booze as I used to hit it hard, but now I keep in line alot more.
I saw a post on Green Chip about a guy who keeps dark glass beer bottles like the darker Bud products and fills them with water.....but you better not spill it on the felt!!!!!!