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Having been going to gigs for 4 years now I know what it’s like to be the smallest person in the pit. It’s an experience which conjures up a mixture of emotions; it’s at the same time both daunting and exciting. As the music pounds and the adrenaline kicks in and as bodies fly wildly around you, you are struck by the final and possibly most intense sensation; pain! Like the millions of comets that constantly orbit the Earth- all be it on a smaller scale- it is inevitable that one of those bodies will eventually collide with you…at great speed and at great force! While the resulting impact may not be enough to wipe out the dinosaurs, it can still be enough to ruin your evening!
By saying this I’m not criticising moshing- it is both an intrinsic and uplifting part of a gig experience. However, I would like to condemn the actions of so few people that ruin gigs for so many people. It’s those self-centered people that have no care for those around them. I don’t like being hit and I don’t go to a concert to be punched in the face! So what gives people the right to fling their arms around without thinking of the consequences?!? This also applies to crowd surfing. While I am very happy that the surfers themselves are having a good time, I want to watch the band, not have to worry about dropping some kid on the floor.
While I’m under no illusion that this article will have any lasting effect on people, I hope it makes whoever reads it think about their conduct at a gig. You have to look out for other people. Pick people up if you see someone fall down, don’t punch, don’t kick and don’t crowdsurf too much! I know that if people put in just a little bit of effort, others will leave gigs a lot happier…and without a black eye!
