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Going to my first metal concert. How do I survive the pit?

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ACE 1991

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On sunday I'm seeing In flames along with a couple other bands. However, I've never been to a metal concert before, and I've heard the many horror stories about mosh pits. I'm 17 years old about 5'8'' and around 135 lbs, so I'm clearly not the biggest of guys. Should I just steer clear of the inevitable pit, or am I just being a pansy?
 
Um, just don't get into the pit unless you feel comfortable with it. It's not like the whole concert turns into a giant moshpit.
 
Count about 3 meters from the stage, rigth in the middle. That is the location of the pit from my experiences. Get closer to the stage or further to it.
 
ACE 1991 said:
On sunday I'm seeing In flames along with a couple other bands. However, I've never been to a metal concert before, and I've heard the many horror stories about mosh pits. I'm 17 years old about 5'8'' and around 135 lbs, so I'm clearly not the biggest of guys. Should I just steer clear of the inevitable pit, or am I just being a pansy?
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I steer clear of the pits because I want to hear the music, not inadvertently get my head bashed. Then again a lot of the concerts I go to aren't suited for pits.
 
another reason to hate metal

lets go to a concert and trash around like an idiot as opposed to actually listen and appreciate the music
 
I wouldn't worry about it, people in the pit are mostly cool. If you fall down, someone will pick you up. Just use common sense, chances are you don't wanna fuck with Aryans/Skinheads, around here they are the ones that usually cause problems. The hardest thing to do is to just get in your first time, then you will wonder why the hell you hadn't been doing this before.

I can't go to a show without going in the pit, extremely fun and a great outlet for your built up aggression. Dunno who else is playing at your show, but if you see mallcore kids hardcore dancing, just push the shit out of them for me as they deserve to eat dirt.
 
corpserot said:
Dunno who else is playing at your show, but if you see crabcore kids crabcore dancing, just push the shit out of them for me as they deserve to eat dirt.
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The only reason to go to an Attack Attack show.
 
ALaz502 said:
Um, just don't get into the pit unless you feel comfortable with it. It's not like the whole concert turns into a giant moshpit.
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The concert I went to like 7 years ago disagrees with you.

The moment The Drowning Pool started playing Let the Bodies Hit the Floor...shit went bananas. You just weren't safe regardless of where you were :lol

So awesome.
 
not in flames...dear god....:lol

they used to be so good too...i hate bands that do constant member rotation.
They don't have what you would really call a "pit"...mostly kids your size running around into each other.

RubxQub said:
The concert I went to like 7 years ago disagrees with you.

The moment The Drowning Pool started playing Let the Bodies Hit the Floor...shit went bananas. You just weren't safe regardless of where you were :lol

So awesome.
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I like you...you admitted to going to a drowning pool show.
 
Kastro said:
another reason to hate metal

lets go to a concert and trash around like an idiot as opposed to actually listen and appreciate the music
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Yeah, because mosh pits have anything to do with the music. :lol
 
Keep your mouth shut... and I mean that literally. If you get hit in the jaw while your mouth is open it'll probably snap shut. Back in the day when I thought that was cool I was always one of the bigger guys.... so good luck to 'ya.
 
Kastro said:
another reason to hate metal

lets go to a concert and trash around like an idiot as opposed to actually listen and appreciate the music
Click to expand...

Hahaha you've never been to any metal shows have you? Granted, metal is mostly bunch of longhaired dudes with long black shorts and some obscure metal shirt that headbang the whole time.. but still. Listening to the music is all fine and good until someone knocks you out. You should expect to be hit if you're remotely close to the pit.
 
Just realized that I too will be going to a show with a crazy pit Sunday. Strike Anywhere, Crime In Stereo, Polar Bear Club and Ruiner...at a church nonetheless.
 
wenis said:
I like you...you admitted to going to a drowning pool show.
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It was a combo performance thing. It had some tour name that's escaping me, but it was:

Systematic
Adema
The Drowning Pool
Disturbed

Pretty cool show and the venue was nice and tight so you had a good spot regardless of where you were.
 
The only metal band I might even want to see would be Metallica.

I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to go and mosh.
 
Kastro said:
another reason to hate metal

lets go to a concert and trash around like an idiot as opposed to actually listen and appreciate the music
Click to expand...
Oh sweet. Glad you managed to troll metal in two threads simultaneously.
 
gdt5016 said:
The only metal band I might even want to see would be Metallica.

I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to go and mosh.
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It's something you don't understand until you do it. My first pit was a Cannibal Corpse show, and up until then I didn't really "get" going into the pit, but afterwards I was pretty much addicted to it.

The only bad part is the morning after, most times I just smoke some weed and lay in bed all day. :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTuk0hBPu9o :D
 
get as close to the barrier as you can, and be prepared to be squished

my first pit was back in '99 seeing Marilyn Manson on Easter Sunday.

and for the record i'm 5'6'' and was probably 120lbs or so at the time.
 
Cajun's survival guide:

1. Keep your arms up at chest height, elbows out.
2. Shoes on tight. Double knot your laces.
3. Don't have your cell phone/camera on you. Keep wallet and keys in a zipped pocket
4. Be sure to stretch! Especially your neck.
5. Play safe!
 
Keep your jaw firmly shut, you don't want to look for your tongue on the floor.
If someone elbows you, hit them back. In the face. Hard.
If you fall, don't worry. Someone will pick you up.
Don't underestimate girls.
Circle pits are the best tough :D, went to one during a divine heresy concert and i didn't know wtf was happening :lol
 
You're not required to be in the pit, of course.

However, the point about elbows stands, should you go in. I fucking hate when people throw 'bos. Hit them back, and hit them hard. Otherwise, just have fun.
 
i'm 5'6'' and barely over 100 lbs and i used to go see bane / american nightmare / etc back in the day... get a couple bruises or bloody noses but it's no big deal.

there was one time at a boy sets fire show where the breakdown to.... (will insert song here when i remember) came on and all mayhem broke loose around me. first and only time i was scared for my well being at a show.

just don't wear your glasses and watch to the show and remember to have fun!
 
Get there early enough to get up front(this is what I try to do for any concert. With a metal concert... you'll just get pushed against the rail and have people fly over your head). Or stay on the sides or back.

Don't get into the middle unless you like to get hit and mosh... I see people punching at shit. Fuck that noise.
 
DeathNote said:
Get there early enough to get up front.
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This will cause torture for your sensitive ribs and stomach as they get crushed against the stage or a barrier.

Be ready for this or get ready to mosh!

Can't remember what it was called because I haven't been to shows in years... the last time it was done, it was at a Municipal Waste show. The band commands the crowd to divide in half and stand in a straight line, with each line face the other... At the singer's command, each person rushes the person across from them and bangs into them and attacks them, then a giant mosh ensues. Like, the whole crowd, save for the women and children that chose to retreat. That is fun, but you fill it the next day. If you ever experience this, I recommend standing across from a close friend and thinking about every time you've wanted to punch them but did not. Now's your chance.
 
DeathNote said:
Don't get into the middle unless you like to get hit and mosh... I see people punching at shit. Fuck that noise.
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i went to see steve aoki (a dj) and people were actually doing this during his set. it's a dance show. that's not what you do aghhhh so frustrating.
 
TheRagnCajun said:
Cajun's survival guide:
2. Shoes on tight. Double knot your laces.
Click to expand...


very true, i lost one of my shoes at an andrew wk show at the metro in like 2003 :lol

prolly the best advice in the thread
 
btkadams said:
i went to see steve aoki (a dj) and people were actually doing this during his set. it's a dance show. that's not what you do aghhhh so frustrating.
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Yeah I hate when this happens. It's like moshing at a ska show. You're supposed to skank like a damned retard! Not mosh!
 
Just to elaborate a bit..

I've only been to metal concerts at indoor venues where there's only general admission and there's like a 1,000 or so capacity.

The center is usually the most mosh active with people punching, the back and sides are tame, and the first four rows of people in the front get pushed forward and deal with people coming over head. Everywhere in between... the closer you are to the center the more you have to spend the whole concert not falling on your ass.

I've lost a converse.. so tie shoes on right. My glasses fell.. so beware.


Edit: As mentioned below people will help if you fall.
 
As other people said, It's not as bad as it looks. There will be douche bags but for everyone of them there'll be 3 that will help you up if you fall etc. Expect random elbows/fists to the back/face every once in awhile.
 
Alucrid said:
No man, fucking spin kick the shit out of everyone.
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fuck yeah and fucking leg sweeps man, bring those fuckers DOWN! down plus kick some bitches. they shouldn't be in the pit.
 
Darkness said:
i go to metal shows all the time. i never jump in the pit. you don't have to.
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Right. I'm going with like 10 people I know, so if I stick with them and decide to go in the pit, I should be fine.
 
ACE 1991 said:
On sunday I'm seeing In flames along with a couple other bands. However, I've never been to a metal concert before, and I've heard the many horror stories about mosh pits. I'm 17 years old about 5'8'' and around 135 lbs, so I'm clearly not the biggest of guys. Should I just steer clear of the inevitable pit, or am I just being a pansy?
Click to expand...

Most regular metal fans aren't going berserk in the mosh pit, that's for the hardcore crowd. If you don't want to join the pit, there's nothing to worry about. It's not like one moment you're in the middle of a festive crowd enjoying the show and suddenly you're in the middle of a mosh pit fighting for your life.
 
will52 said:
Meh, it'll be pretty mellow. Not like its some hardXcore band or somethin.

When in doubt, break out the hardcore dance.
not really!
Mosh Pits & Hardcore Dancing


Avoid the circle pit also, if there is one.
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God I hate this.

Maybe because I´ve been beaten up once for no reason, but if anybody behaved like that around me I´d pound him into a coma. There´s a reason I´m lifting weights and being able to punch assholes is one of them.

At least at larger festivals there´s enough room to stay away, probably the only way I´ll ever be able to enjoy a metal concert.
 
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