Mosh Pit Etiquette

A number of live musical genres feature a raucous, wild, and sometimes violent style of dancing called ‘moshing’. This dancing is typically contained in one section of the audience area, known as a ‘pit’ or ‘mosh pit’. Particularly large music venues may have multiple, simultaneous mosh pits. Mosh pits can be found at rock, punk, ska, emo, metal, rockabilly and any other concert featuring a driving beat and frantic melodies which inspire their fans. Mosh dancing can be done independently in the pit or in a group. Independent moshing may include swinging one’s elbows, kicking, headbanging, pushing others, slamdancing, running into groups of people, skanking (particular to ska,) and absorbing the impacts of others. Groups of friends (sometimes made in the mosh pit with a handshake or other signal of solidarity) can link arms and skank together, clothes-line others, plow each other through the crowd, collectively ram the audience members on the stage side of the pit, hold hands and spin until one member falls or flies to the ground or into other audience members, punch each other (consentually), and run around in circles. Those who practice mosh dancing outside of the pit area are either given space as to avoid collision, or pushed away from their selected area.

On account of the unpredictable, crowded, and violent nature of mosh pits, moshers put themselves and others at risk for a number of serious injuries. It is common for moshers to fall or be knocked to the ground. Moshers are often hit with others’ body parts, particularly feet, elbows, heads, and fists. Conversely, moshers may also injure themselves by hitting their own body parts against some else’s harder body parts, i.e. jaw to skull. Many moshers are fond of decorating their clothes with spikes of varying potency, causing bruising or bleeding. Feet are stepped on, hair is pulled, and often the only thing supporting a mosher’s upright position is the cage of other bodies surrounding them. Dehydration is both a risk and a factor in poor judgment. Additionally, moshers may enter the pit intoxicated or with malicious intent. Bruises and stiff muscles—particularly the neck, for headbangers—are common. Broken and dislocated bones, concussions, bloody noses and mouths, and dehydration and fainting are all potential consequences of moshing.

Despite the dangers associated with moshing, mosh pits are not vacuums of anarchy. A distinct and respected system of behavior exists across venues and genres. Moshers regularly defend each other against overly-aggressive members, protect those tying their shoes or catching their breath, hold up lost articles of clothing for the owner to see, catch those who have been pushed or thrown, pick each other up, help the wounded with utmost compassion, and become friends or partners after an initial handshake, smile, or cool dance move—something that would not happen in a normal civilian situation.

Many of the behaviors listed above are not merely phenomena but rules. When someone is on the floor, you must pick them up. If someone near you is tying their shoes, it is obligatory to stand around them with arms out, both signaling a vulnerable mosher and protecting them against any incoming assaults. Traditionally, a good mosher will bring back water for others to share if he leaves the pit. It is common curtsey to tie long hair. A mosher who is overly violent is met with increased violence and fewer marks of solidarity from the others. One is considered overly violent if he has caused avoidable injury to someone, has hurt someone much weaker than himself (perhaps a female or younger mosher), or is generally reckless. Moshers who are irresponsible or show disregard for the safety of others are not supported. On the other hand, a mosher with good behavior—one who is not too violent and who defends, supports, and befriends others—is respected.

Good moshing is a balance between being in and out of control. It is inevitable that people will be injured in a crowded space of flailing fans. One can expect to be squished, hot, stepped on, pushed, and generally abused in a mosh pit. However, a mosh pit is an exercise in trust, in which each member exposes himself to others’ violent dancing. A good mosh pit will feature members who are fans of the music, have nothing to prove, and are ready to deal with anyone who loses control—either through injury or aggression. Strong communities are built around mosh pits, as the moshers’ trust and companionship grow with each song spent running into each other but not too hard, hydrating and caring for each other, and sharing the experience. Additional bonds are formed through drugs, romance, or combinations of the two. While injury is more than likely, and one may be subjected to being coated in the sweat of many people, a mosh pit can become a home, and more than that-- a happy home.