#hardcore dancing

For those who are unaware and uninvolved in the heavy, alternative music scene, moshing means to dance in an aggressive manner, colliding with other dancers. If all of those involved are not on the same page and following a general etiquette, a good time can turn into serious injury. On a less severe level, this is also a guide on how not to embarrass yourself  in the pit.

Starting a Mosh Pit

If you have been to a few hardcore shows and have observed a mosh pit and are looking to start your own, take a good luck at your surrounding before you begin thrashing. “UNIFY  Gathering organizer Rhett Mclaren said the first thing you should do if you are new to moshing is stand back and watch” (Carol Raabus.)   Many people are uninterested in getting physical with a stranger and may not be physical strong enough to withstand it. (i.e. children, elderly, disabled,  frail, short people.)

Consider asking the people next to you if they are interested in forming one instead of taking a guess, but either is fine if you are feeling confident.

The best place for a mosh pit is in the center of the crowd, so that moshers from all throughout the crowd can make their way to it and there is plenty of space for those uninterested to spread out.

Do NOT Intentionally Harm Others

Moshing is an aggressive dance, and while some forms of hardcore dancing include throwing fists and feet; punching, kicking, and headbutting someone for the purpose of injuring them is generally frowned upon and will most definitely result in backlash from your fellow moshers.

One usually uses flat parts of the body to collide. (i.e your back, sides of your body, side of your arm, and the palms of the hands.)

I feel like this should go without saying, but this includes not involving people who are not interested in the mosh pit by force. If someone is trying to get out or get away from the rapidly growing whirlwind, be considerate and help them make their exit. Someone who is not in the mindset to mosh and is scared is even more susceptible to injury.  

This is not to say injuries will not happen accidentally,

 Subjects were patrons from mosh-pits seeking medical care at a single venue. The events reviewed were two national concert tours which visited this venue during their tour. The eight distinct events studied occurred between 2011 and 2014... Attendance for eight events ranged from 5,100 to 16,000. Total  hospital patient presentations ranged from 50 to 206 per event (Andrew M. Milsten, Joseph Tennyson, and Stacy Weisberg.)

Always Offer a Helping Hand

It is an unspoken pit commandment to, without fail, help someone up immediately after they fall. The danger of trampling is very real in this environment and everyone is usually more than aware and willing to help. If you fall, most likely you will  be back on your feet before you even have a chance to put your hand out.  

If you find a personal item on the ground, hold it above your head and bring attention to yourself. When you are thrashing, running, colliding, things go flying that you might want to have later on (i.e. I.D., keys, glasses, shoes, tickets.)

If you see someone being harassed (physically, sexually, verbally) and do not feel confident approaching the situation yourself, bring attention to it and others in the pit will likely handle it and get rid of the person causing the problem.

If you see a crowd surfer approaching the pit, about to be dropped on their back where the crowd stops and the pit starts, try to gather together and get them across the space. You can not always save everyone when they come one after another, but do your best.

Be VERY Aware of Your Surroundings.

If you are a small person, while mostly those in the pit will respect that and hold back a little when dealing with you, look at who is making up the pit before jumping straight in. It adds another element of danger if you are the only one under six feet and two hundred pounds. (Same goes for a large person in a group of smaller people.)

While most people know what they are doing, look out for those who are not following the guidelines mentioned above or who are overly intoxicated (please do not be this person, while spilling your beer on everyone.)

Some people seek out this high energy, aggressive atmosphere to cause trouble, while most of the time they are dealt with relatively quickly, do not let your guard down and keep an eye out for those who do not seem like they are on the same page.

Keep your personal belongings to a minimum and your bags secured, theft has never been more easy than in a turbulent crowd.  

Wall of Death

This is a warning, a wall of death is NOT a regular mosh pit.

More often than not, the vocalist of the band you are seeing will initiate this extreme version of moshing. Sometimes by asking for it by name, other times by just motioning with their arms for the crowd to split down the middle. 

As some scramble to safety, half the crowd prepares for battle. Itching for the cue from the stage-man to charge forward in to a head on collision. 

This is very dangerous and overwhelming for a beginner and should be saved for those who are really confident in their ability to keep their head above water.

The danger of trampling is more real than ever, you have to be confident and aggressive, there is not other way to take part.

I can not stress this enough, DO NOT  take part if you are feeling scared or intimidated regardless of what your friends are doing. It is likely that you will not be able to handle it and it will not be easy to escape once it begins.

(Image sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73d8pMnMbKg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxASv9qOtnE