Being backstage at a fashion show is an unforgettable experience–there are an awful lot of people trying to make something spectacular happen in a really short period of time, usually in a cramped space. It can be overwhelming, but it definitely pays to keep your eyes and ears open. In between nosing around in the pigments and trying to figure out how Karlie Kloss looks that good in real life, I’ve picked up a few secrets and tips: Hanging around with models and makeup artists for hours at a time is not without its learning opportunities.

From the best job to get if you want to bag a male model to the finer points of braids, click through to learn five cool things I picked up loitering around backstage this season.