WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE: Surviving Your First Mosh Pit

With Coachella exactly a month a way it means Festival Season is about to start and soon you may find yourself at an event where a mosh pit breaks out. Now, there’s nothing like thumping bass and a screaming lead singer, or being part of a mosh pit with a pack of other crazed fans. But for the uninitiated, it can be intimidating – and how are you supposed to know what to do? It’s not like you can stop to ask the other person next to you what’s going on. Moshing has traditionally been a learn-as-you-go sport, but no longer! Just take a look at the guide below and you’ll be a seasoned veteran in no time.

     0.  Don’t be a jerk. Most of the other rules go back to this one in some way or another.

1. Help your fellow mosher. Pits are not fight clubs. If someone goes down next to you, help them up before they get trampled.
2. Palms and forearms. It’s shoving, not punching. If you need to punch something, go to the gym. By the same token: hip-checking someone is considered fair play, but don’t knee or kick. ESPECIALLY do not kick someone who has fallen down (see rule 1). That’s a sure way to get yourself thrown out of the pit – if you’re lucky.
3. If a circle forms and someone wants out, let them out. Don’t force them into playing Metal Red Rover. Nobody wants that.
4. Are people crowdsurfing? Great! Support them, hold them up, etc. Do your best not to drop them, and don’t cop a feel.
5. Wear comfy, strong shoes. You don’t have to get in there with steel-toed boots necessarily, but if you brave the pit wearing flip flops, you’re gonna have a bad time. 
6. Listen to your body. It’s a hot, sweaty, gross environment but if you start feeling faint or overheated, leave the pit immediately. Passing out in a moshpit is a complete joykill.
7. Stay hydrated! Bringing drinks into the pit is a no-no even if you don’t get checked by security. That cup is going everywhere the instant somebody touches you, you’ll be mad, they’ll be mad, you’ll have wasted $6. For longer festivals and the like, we recommend frequent pitstops (pun completely intended) between sets to get some water before heading back into the madness. Normal-length shows should probably only require one or two water breaks.
8. Sure, spikes and chains hanging off your baggy pants look cool, but are they gonna look cool when someone trips in them and you get pantsed in the middle of a crowd? They are not. Just wear normal jeans and a t-shirt.
9. Don’t be afraid to shoulder your way in among the crowd! Accept you’re going to take a few bumps and people might bump back, but keep in mind that it’s all in good fun. Which brings us to our grand finale…
10. HAVE FUN!

Written by Ashton