Does anyone not like moshpits?

[Amandistan]

I am aware that a moshpit is part of NMA gigs since the beggining but I don't like them. I accept that and am happy that others enjoy it. For me it seems frightening. I don't get the appeal of pushing people in a very claustrophobic space. While most people are respectful, others are just violent and don't care that they have hurt a smaller person or child. I prefer just watching and listening in the barrier in front of pit or side.  Anyone else avoid moshpits or don't get the appeal?

[Pim]

Most of the times I like em, but there are always some people who think it's fun to just run through it or throw people around not giving a **** about anybody else. My girlfriend was standing on the side in Heerlen and got a nice concussion ços some nitwit thought it was good fun pushing people in the pit to the side as hard as he could.
A pit is always a bit rough but sometimes they're more violent then normal. And it's always the same people, the testosteron boys.

[Pol]

I like to find to my own space as near the front as possible and do my own thing. I feel that i can watch and listen to the band much better. Yes sometimes the edge of the pit spills over into where im standing or quite often depending on how well I've picked my place or how crazy it gets. I generally find the pits are respectful of others though of course you sometimes get the odd arsehole. A gig should be a good night out for everyone.

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Hiya,

I saw what you wrote about Beverungen (hope u ok and if my Cromwell ever gets his teeth into the knob he'll understand what a real animal is  ) and I can see why you asked this.

The pit is an odd place, it is highly charged and "lively"  and in some ways aggressive - but not against each other, more against the world  unfortunately there always is at least 1 dickhead who thinks it's all about being "hard " and hurting people. In general in the UK gigs I go to there is a certain amount of self-policing and if an amoeba gets too much they somehow seem to get "encouraged" to depart - respect and thanks to any of the large gentlemen out there who I've seen do this  . Long may the whole pit thing continue tho' it'll be quite funny when we're in zimmers  .

Nowadays I'm found on the front fringes of the pit on Marshall's side. If I get particularly over-excited I may have a few very brief forays into the maelstrom and will find myself banged, pushed, pulled into the pit when I didn't want to on any number of occasions. Being the skinny waif like thing I am I get pinged around like I'm on a pinball table and it's pretty much guaranteed that at some point I'll end up on my arse on the floor. Nine times out of 10 there are anonymous arms pulling/pushing me back onto my feet before I realise I'm down  . If I'm not prepared to deal with that then I should probably stand somewhere else.

It is quite a Testosterone fuelled place and why not? It's an exciting, brilliant and powerful thing - and I'd much rather see Masculinity expressed this way than what passes for it in your average Wetherspoons on a Friday night. I love seeing the way people come alive in the pit.

 

[Master Ray]

I used to be Mr Moshpit.  Bloody loved them.  If I didn't come out battered, bruised and sweaty, it wasn't a good gig!

But nowadays I have to stay out of them.  Can't handle them anymore thanks to certain health problems.  I prefer to stay just out of the furiousness of things and watch it all go off (even better if there's a balcony)...

Watching the towers go up is such an amazing sight, one that makes me go 'aw, I used to be one of them...' 

[Shush]

Personally, I am very much half and half. Last year I spent an entire gig in the pit, in others not at all. This year, a couple of  visits.



If you want to mosh, go  mosh.

If you don't want to , don't



If you do mosh, consider people around who are not involved, don't push people out of the pit who may then collide with people nearby. Push into the pit.



If you are near the pit and not moshing, try to make a little room if you can. Those crazy cats in the pit are just trying to have a good time.



We have all looked forward to that NMA gig for a long time, and we are all there for a good time. Whatever's comfortable. 

[Zenboy]

I used to venture into the pit all the time but got my nose broken in there a little while back at an NMA gig in Leeds when the back of someone's head connected with it!!  Accidents happen I suppose.  Tend to be a bit more wary now though & stand a little to one side.


Zen

[Pol]

I used to be into the meteors in my teenage days Now that was crazy experience one for the foolish or the crazies. Think a few people got seriously injured back in the day.

[Simon73]

When >I am happy and healthy <I go crazy for moshing with other people. I come from a punk background so pretty normal for me., I never had problems at any punk gigs people having fun when excuted enough to pogo then welcome. But I prefer the smaller spaces more familiar. Moshing in a pub in Dublin or at the last gig in Jena is not the same than doing it in Kolln.

[muninn]

Certainly not my thing, and never will be - crowd anxiety and painful health problem sees to that. But each to their own - I'm quite happy to stand near the back, or on the balcony and watch. Manchester last year was good as we were up on the side balcony - good view of the band, and was able to observe the pit - the idea of being in there would scare the Hell out of me, but lovely to watch the interaction, the helpful hands pulling up the fallen, and the sweaty hugs and handshakes when it all finished

[Stephanie]

I don't have a problem with them at all and find that, at some gigs, especially NMA, the people in the pit mostly know what they are doing and taking good care of each other and those around them. But yes, there is usually one or 2 who have no idea what they are doing, just stumbling around, hitting and kicking - and at some gigs you get loads of those.

[andydrbeard]

Not for me - my massive bulk of 10 stone isn't built for it  . I do like a view of the pit when watching the band  though, it all adds to the experience.   Like Pol I used to go and see the Meteors and that was genuinely scary - big pissed blokes bashing hell our of each other - all a bit alpha for me! NMA gigs do seem all well controlled so if it's your thing go for it - if not find a place to watch where it doesn't bother you but don't complain about it if you're standing 2 feet away.

[Rusco]

Yep. Always been into it. Well sometimes just for the convenience of dancing, but quite often enter into a frenzy of slam dance. I have the forementioned punk background too, so/and I think everyone should bear in mind taking care of each other, help and certainly not hurt anyone. Luckily there are not many who don't seem to understand or care about the "rule".

But there are risks as we know it. Once, a friend of mine who is a singer of a band called Valse Triste got injured very seriously. He became paralyzed for a long period. He had to learn to walk again and even today there are some signs of the damage in his carriage and way of walking. Luckily, he could continue with touring and singing.

When you know the band and its culture well, you're able to know what are the common manners there; how people behave and what kind of grades in life there are in general.

[Master Ray]

I'm sure I've said this before on one thread or another, but an NMA gig is the only gig I've ever seen is where watching the crowd is almost as entertaining as watching the band...   

[Rusco]

Should we try some of the early pogo styles of early scene in States? I saw a documentary based on Black Flag, SxE scene, Germs, Darby Crash and such alike and there was a demonstration about them: they were named like "gorilla" (dance like gorilla would dance) and "pizza maker" (wave your hands around fast like you're bringing a pizza which is almost going to drop from your hands).