The Comprehensive Guide to Concert-Going Part 2: Mosh Pits
Hi and welcome to my second post detailing my concert experiences. Check out the first part of this mini-series here if you want to learn about venue sizes and how to get the best tickets and spots in line and on the floor. This second post in the series is all about mosh pits. Mosh pits can be scary to people who have never gone to a concert before, and some people don't know what a mosh pit is or what it entails. When I was getting ready to go to my first concerts, I did not understand what I mosh pit was either and did my best to find out how to avoid them before I went. If you are like me and are confused about how to handle being in or around a pit, I hope this post helps you out and be sure to let me know if you have any other questions or concerns in the comments below! And of course, let me know if I posted something that isn't correct.
Mosh pits:
I (at this point in time) try to avoid being near the mosh pits, but that is because I am pretty wild as is at concerts and don't want someone ramming into me. The front and sides are the "safest" from the mosh pits if you are down in the pit. Otherwise, balconies are going to keep you away from the mosh pits too. I love to watch the people in the pits, but I don't want to be in one.
Because I have never been in a mosh pit, I probably can't give you all the information you need to know about one, but I can give you a few tips to be safe in the mosh pit, and on the floor.
There are three types of mosh pits you will end up running into the regular mosh pit, the circle pit, and something called the "wall of death." A regular mosh pit consists of a bunch of people half-dancing, half-throwing their bodies into other people. The circle pit consists of everyone running around in a big circle, usually around a person who thinks they are funny, or an object, like a merch tent. The wall of death is what it is called as the moshers are waiting for the breakdown in the song. A few people clear the big area of the floor, and then when the breakdown comes on, everyone runs into the clearing and begins to mosh regularly.
How to be safe around a pit:
If you are on the edge of the mosh pit, you either need to make sure you don't get pushed in, or you have to help maintain the pit. This means that you have to pull people out if it looks like they are trying to get out, and you have to push people back in so that they aren't ramming into people who don't want to be hit.
NOTE: There is a difference between pushing people back into the pit, and being rough with them. I know it can be irritating if you are on the edge of the pit and are just trying to watch the show, but don't use excessive force to push people away from you. Odds are, someone will call you out and then you will have a fight on your hands.
If you are on the floor and a mosh pit starts, you will be pushed. If you are on the floor anyway, odds are you will be pushed. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE FALL, PICK THEM UP. The front and sides are easiest to avoid being pushed, and if you are pushed, it is the best place to stabilize yourself. There are usually less people on the sides, and if you are right up front, usually the people on barricade have a good grip there.
NOTE: Even if you are on the barricade, if the crowd sucks and is mean, barricades can fall over. I haven't seen this happen, but I have heard about it happening once at one of the venues I regularly attend. Barricade is usually a safe place, but watch out for reckless crowds.
Crowdsurfing:
Crowd surfing is also something I have never done, but it looks like a ton of fun. If you want to crowd surf, all you have to do is get the attention of the people around you and get them to hoist you up. You have to have full faith in the people below you, though, as you may be dropped. Try to surf through the middle because there are the most people and you will least likely be dropped. If you are on the floor, watch for crowd surfers. You don't want to be kicked in the head. If you are on the barricade, you should help the security people if you can. This gets the crowd surfers off of you faster and easier. Regardless of where you are, if a crowd surfer goes over you, help them move forward. Don't let them stall because it is uncomfortable for everyone below them.
I hope this helped clear some things up for you if you are new to moshing and concerts. Knowing proper concert etiquette makes the show more enjoyable for everyone around you. Check in next week for another addition to my mini-series!
I (at this point in time) try to avoid being near the mosh pits, but that is because I am pretty wild as is at concerts and don't want someone ramming into me. The front and sides are the "safest" from the mosh pits if you are down in the pit. Otherwise, balconies are going to keep you away from the mosh pits too. I love to watch the people in the pits, but I don't want to be in one.
Because I have never been in a mosh pit, I probably can't give you all the information you need to know about one, but I can give you a few tips to be safe in the mosh pit, and on the floor.
There are three types of mosh pits you will end up running into the regular mosh pit, the circle pit, and something called the "wall of death." A regular mosh pit consists of a bunch of people half-dancing, half-throwing their bodies into other people. The circle pit consists of everyone running around in a big circle, usually around a person who thinks they are funny, or an object, like a merch tent. The wall of death is what it is called as the moshers are waiting for the breakdown in the song. A few people clear the big area of the floor, and then when the breakdown comes on, everyone runs into the clearing and begins to mosh regularly.
How to be safe around a pit:
If you are on the edge of the mosh pit, you either need to make sure you don't get pushed in, or you have to help maintain the pit. This means that you have to pull people out if it looks like they are trying to get out, and you have to push people back in so that they aren't ramming into people who don't want to be hit.
NOTE: There is a difference between pushing people back into the pit, and being rough with them. I know it can be irritating if you are on the edge of the pit and are just trying to watch the show, but don't use excessive force to push people away from you. Odds are, someone will call you out and then you will have a fight on your hands.
If you are on the floor and a mosh pit starts, you will be pushed. If you are on the floor anyway, odds are you will be pushed. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE FALL, PICK THEM UP. The front and sides are easiest to avoid being pushed, and if you are pushed, it is the best place to stabilize yourself. There are usually less people on the sides, and if you are right up front, usually the people on barricade have a good grip there.
NOTE: Even if you are on the barricade, if the crowd sucks and is mean, barricades can fall over. I haven't seen this happen, but I have heard about it happening once at one of the venues I regularly attend. Barricade is usually a safe place, but watch out for reckless crowds.
Crowdsurfing:
Crowd surfing is also something I have never done, but it looks like a ton of fun. If you want to crowd surf, all you have to do is get the attention of the people around you and get them to hoist you up. You have to have full faith in the people below you, though, as you may be dropped. Try to surf through the middle because there are the most people and you will least likely be dropped. If you are on the floor, watch for crowd surfers. You don't want to be kicked in the head. If you are on the barricade, you should help the security people if you can. This gets the crowd surfers off of you faster and easier. Regardless of where you are, if a crowd surfer goes over you, help them move forward. Don't let them stall because it is uncomfortable for everyone below them.
I hope this helped clear some things up for you if you are new to moshing and concerts. Knowing proper concert etiquette makes the show more enjoyable for everyone around you. Check in next week for another addition to my mini-series!
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