How do you neatly and evenly coat the sides of a cake with sprinkles or mini chips? Is there some kind of special trick to it??

I was wondering the same thing...do you need a tilting cake stand?

I have seen them put the cake on a tilting turntable and apply the sprinkles scooping them with a piece of wax paper just make sure the buttercream is still moist and not crusted over or they wont stick

You can just hold the cake on ur hand, or use ur regular turn table.
Gets easier with practice! Be generous with whatever you are using!
xx

There's not really a way to do this without making a bit of a mess! Just do it over waxed paper or a baking sheet so you can reclaim whatever doesn't stick!

The trick is to do it over a large bowl and to make sure you have plenty of what you're applying so that you can scoop up enough in one hand, and "spread/wipe" it on without the icing touching your hand. Keep scooping up enough in your hand, twist the cake while applying, and repeat.