At first glance, mosh pits may look like a violent, flailing mass of malcontents with no regard for the safety of themselves or others. But upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that there also seems to be fewer injuries than you’d expect in mosh pits. Wait, what? How is that possible? It may surprise you to know that mosh pit etiquette is a thing, and it’s meant to keep participants reasonably unharmed while letting off steam, burning off some gross feelings (like anger, anxiety, etc.), and celebrating the music. You’ll find mosh pits at various shows, from small, intimate punk shows at your local dive bars all the way to massive outdoor festivals like Wacken Open Air, now the world’s biggest metal festival.
Now that we’ve established the awesomeness that are mosh pits…
With great expressive power comes the great responsibility of self-awareness. If you’ve got self-awareness, many of these pointers are going to be no-brainers, but if you’re like me and wanna know exactly what I need to do before you gather the courage to get into your first pit, I’ve found a few guidelines to keep everybody happy and not seriously harmed. When I get the guts to go into one…
1) If someone falls, PICK THEM UP!
This is a rule that should be on every single list of tips for surviving in a mosh pit, however, some list-makers miss it. Nobody wants to be trampled no matter how brutal the music is.
2) Expect Some Bruises
Right off the top, I did mention flailing in a mosh pit. That, and there’s jumping, running, kicking. Someone’s gonna get shoved around a bit, or someone’s accidentally giving the person next to them a black eye. Where it is generally good practice to keep an eye out for those around you in the pit to minimize the probability of that happening, it’s still a wildly chaotic environment. I’ll be honest, this is why I haven’t gotten into one—I’m not ready to get hit yet.
3) Don’t Force Anyone Into the Pit Who Doesn’t Want to Be There
Consent is cool; enthusiastic consent is way cooler. If someone wants into the pit, they’ll probably find a way in, and you’ll likely be able to tell who looks excited for vs. terrified of the pit. Otherwise, leave the people who do not seem interested in joining alone. Even yourself. Don’t go into one if you don’t want to.
4) Respect the Venue Staff
Security, bouncers, and other venue staff (thank someone on the custodial team today) are there to keep everyone safe. Don’t start fights with them, don’t get so drunk, you say or do something you’ll regret the next day, and don’t hesitate to tip those concession staff if you’re feeling generous!
5) Finish Your (Responsible) Amount of Liquor BEFORE Entering The Pit
It’s generally frowned upon to spill your beer on someone, and it is no different in the pit. At best, someone’s got beer on them and now you’ve got less beer. At worst, could the place you’re moshing potentially get a little slippery? Also, excessive inebriation puts both yourself and others at risk, whether it was you or the guy next to you that had a few too many.
6) Avoid Throwing Things
If you find something lost (like a shoe), resist whatever urge may grab you to throw it. Though it might be fairly common, heavier objects can hit people fairly hard and they might seriously hurt someone. Nobody’s supposed to get maimed in a mosh pit. That would be terrible PR.
The rules of mosh pits aim to make the frantic celebration of the music as safe as possible. As long as you’ve got some tolerance for pain and can be a generally self-aware human being, it doesn’t seem like there’s too much to worry about in a mosh pit. Make sure you stay alert and stay hydrated out there!
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