A Guide to Mosh Etiquette: How to Hold Your Own in the Pit
A comprehensive guide detailing tips, tricks, and the unsung rules of pit survival for all moshers, experienced or novice.
Written by Mar Carmona
Illustrated by Thuy-Nhu Phung
With the reopening of music venues, rescheduling of tours, and the return of live music as we depart from the peak of the pandemic, concert-goers and moshers alike are making their return to the pit. As we make a leap back into concerts and festivals, and due to recent safety incidents like those at Astroworld last year, conversations surrounding mosh pit and concert etiquette are emerging now more than ever as a means of maximizing fun, but more importantly, prioritizing safety. Though mosh pits are known as “rule-free” zones, this guide serves as a source to provide tips and general patterns of etiquette from observations, concert experience, and lessons learned in the pit.
#1: Hold Your Own When Things Gets Shaky, Balance is Everything
The more intense the pit, the more pushing, shoving, crowdkilling, and crowd surfing there will be, and the easier it can be to get knocked over. Getting knocked over in the pit can be seriously dangerous because there is no guarantee that any of your fellow pit people will help you up, especially within a large crowd. As long as you move your way through the pit with a comfortable stance (i.e. always a good idea to keep your feet shoulder length apart)to keep you from getting completely jolted by a belligerent dude in a band tee, you’re good as gold.
Wardrobe can definitely affect your comfort levels and performance in the pit. Oftentimes items such as shattered beer bottles, spilled drinks, and hazardous miscellaneous junk (a moment of silence for all of the jewelry that’s ever been lost in the pit) scatter the floor and become obstacles to avoid. Making sure you’re wearing stable shoes that have traction and comfort will save you from slip-ups that can lead you to falling and getting trampled. For the long-haired folks that wish to avoid the hair pulling, tangling, and breakage that can ensue in this circle of chaos, tying it up is highly recommended (hair down for headbanging, hair up for pit fighting perhaps). Though your wardrobe may help your comfort, deodorant is essential armor for the pits and makes all of the close contact with smelly and sweaty individuals easier to conquer.
#2: Not Every Crowd is the Same: Navigate Your Pit People
Shows will differ in terms of crowd: age, music genre, and location can make a big difference in the people you will find yourself in the pit with. These factors can also contribute greatly to how people may treat each other in their collective “scene” and therefore how they may treat you in the pit. Though it is common courtesy to look out for each other, especially when it comes to falling, there may be certain scenes where this courtesy is not as common as you may think. If you ever find yourself in what you expect to be a high-intensity mosh pit, look out for your fellow moshers, help them up when they’ve fallen, and stand up for others when they may be in danger.
Knowing your crowd will also help determine what you choose to do in the pit — you’re at a hardcore show and want to windmill your way through the pit and crowdkill? Mosh etiquette asks that you take what you dish, so the harder you start out, the more of a target you may become, and the more people at your intensity level will gravitate towards you in the pit. Most shows such as rap/trap or hard rock, will just be push pits (hence why balance is incredibly important to survival), but being aware of of shows that involve genres such as hardcore and other heavier metal subgenres in which pits can be significantly more intense and involve moves such as windmilling and crowdkilling.
Solidarity is essential in these situations, so having a designated pit buddy is a reliable way to feel a bit more confident when jumping in. If you find yourself among the minority at a show or are intimidated by the other pit people, make sure to make a few back-up pit friends to watch your back. For a less experienced mosher, it’s always a good idea to observe the dynamic of the pit before jumping in and knowing your limits. More experienced moshers, however, will have no problem stirring the pit and setting the tone for the night at the start of a show. Last, but not least, if someone is actively trying to leave the pit, don’t deliberately block their path or punch them on their way out. It’s lame, unnecessary, and ultimately malicious.
#3: Awareness, Knowing Your Limits, Having an Exit Plan
Awareness will be a key element to surviving a concert’s mosh pit, or even just a rowdy crowd. It isn’t rare for multiple pits to break out within audiences, and, if unprepared, you could quickly be swept up into the eye of the storm. Mosh pits traditionally open towards the center of the crowd, which is something to keep in mind when picking a spot. If you find yourself near the hot spot, be aware that all the activity from the mosh will inevitably ricochet onto you, putting you in the “splash zone.” The upside to this spot is having the easiest access to the pit, which you can jump into after setting your limits, developing an exit plan, and practicing courtesy with other moshers. Awareness of how you may be feeling, how others may be feeling, and the space around you is key to making sure things do not start going south. The closer the pit is to the stage, the harder and longer time it will take to make your way out, which is something to keep in mind when memorizing your exits and exit plans. If you’re with friends, try to set a designated spot to meet if anyone taps out of the pit, or gets lost in the crowd.
Knowing your limits, building awareness through observation, and using preparation are all ways in which you can begin to build your comfort in the mosh pit itself. The more you use these tips, get involved, and find out what works for you and what you find most helpful, the more the pits become more fun and easier to navigate. With the resurgence of live shows and newly released music after the 2020 quarantine, now more than ever music lovers are flocking to the floor of their favorite intimate venues or amphitheaters. Live music has made its return as the vehicle through which we are not only once again connecting with others but also the mechanism through which we all express our inner worlds. Moshing and utilizing mosh pit etiquette ensures that we are able to keep the magic of live music alive without endangering your own safety or that of others. Looking out for each other and yourself in the pit will allow all of these tips and tricks to come naturally the more you decide to participate in moshing and the more comfortable you get with the nature of your local scene.
Have fun, stay safe, and happy moshing.