Don't Be That Asshole: A Discussion on Crowd Culture and Safety at Shows
Being a female can be tough. See world history and goddess Emma Watson’s most recent speech at the UN for more information. But being a female and 5’2” can make life a little tougher, especially for those of us who enjoy frequenting shows to see our favorite bands but have to face harms way to do so.
Cali punk saviors Joyce Manor have *thankfully* shed some light on the situation during their most recent tour.
Seeing a lot of people online saying I'm a "pussy" and a "bitch" for calling out that grown man trying to crush a group of teenage girls.
— Joyce Manor (@JoyceManor)
September 23, 2014
So far on this tour I've seen a girl with a black eye, a girl with a concussion, and a girl with a dislocated knee.. .
— Joyce Manor (@JoyceManor)
September 23, 2014
..Great way to make young women feel safe at a show when the rest of the fucking world is hostile towards them already.
— Joyce Manor (@JoyceManor)
September 23, 2014
I love a crazy show as much as any1 else I just don't think any1 should have to go 2 the hospital cuz of sum idiot w a tank top & Moz hair
— Joyce Manor (@JoyceManor)
September 23, 2014
In my very humble opinion, being punk does not mean you have to get SO wiley at a show that you give another human being a black eye and/or a concussion. If you MUST MUST MUST get crazy and inflict harm to others and/or yourself, please attend the moshpit. It has been created and sustained throughout rock ‘n’ roll history for a reason.
In all seriousness (if you can seriously discuss the politics of a moshpit), I think the moshpit is a great place to let out all of your angsty, bottled up emotions. If you’re at a show and feel the need to throw your limbs around, go to the moshpit. It’s a “safe” place to express these things. SIDENOTE: if you are uncomfortable with getting hit, get the fuck out of the pit.
But outside of “The Pit,” DON’T BE THAT ASSHOLE. What does that really mean? It means: - don’t shove - don’t hit - give people some semblance of personal space - keep your hands to yourself unless you are pointing to the band as you belt out their lyrics - assist crowdsurfers - JUST DON’T BE AN ASSHOLE
As H.O.V.A. once stated, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a short female who loves to go to a shit ton of shows, especially those of the punk-leaning persuasion. My resumé of shows I’ve attended, let alone ones where I’ve been physical hurt, exceeds one page; so I guess it’s less of a resumé and more of a lengthy, boring list. I also host shows in my basement in Philly so I’d like to think I get the whole DIY/punk scene thing.
For those of you who are not small and/or female, let me describe to you what it feels like to attempt to get close to the band that you love (unless you are a lucky suit that gets backstage). First of all, unless we (“shorties”) are standing on some kind of stool, we can’t see shit at shows. That’s life. We’re short. We have overcome it by compensating with climbing skills, standing on our tippy toes, or just simply accepting that we can only listen to the music and observe the crowd around us rather than the band. (Some short gals like to hop on people’s shoulders to see the show, but I’m not counting them in this discussion because they are among the “asshole” category since they block everyone behind them from seeing the show.)
But sometimes we feel the overwhelming desire to actually SEE the band that we came to see. Therefore, we must get up close. Really close. And that usually means we have to accept the fact that our lives are out of our control as we get crushed by the crowd, hit in the head by crowdsurfers, or, worst case scenario, groped as we’re crowdsurfing or by shitty people around us in the crowd.
I’ve personally experienced a couple of uncomfortable incidents recently that sparked my desire to speak on the subject of crowd culture and safety. Most recently was actually at the Joyce Manor show in Philly. (Sick show. 9/10. Only reason it’s not a 10/10 was because of the stupid idiot who kicked me in the head.)
Throughout the entire show the lead singer Barry Johnson was telling everyone to stop being an asshole and to stop aggressively stagediving. I was pretty stoked on that and felt a safer than usual at a show, so I got up close. Next thing I know, I get kicked in the head by some asshole, feel my brain rattle in my head and boom, I got a concussion.
Rewind to a couple weeks earlier at Riot Fest, I was trying to enjoy my middle school sweethearts, Taking Back Sunday, up close 'n personal. During the second song, some random dude passing through the crowd aggressively shoved my head for literally no reason whatsoever other than to show off that he was bigger than me and had a penis. Since I’m not a confrontational person I did nothing about it. The girl next to me in the crowd (also a stranger), however, did not mind confrontation. She screamed at the random dude who shoved me, “Don’t you ever fucking touch another girl that way!” Male or female, that dude should not have unnecessarily shoved another human being the way he shoved me.
It was at that point that I realized I’m done with putting up with fucking assholes in crowds. I’ve been letting people literally shove me around for years and I’m sick of it. There’s a time and place for that. I’ve been in the pit. I’ve partaken in a Wall of Death or two – but when I’m not participating in these events I should not feel like my safety is at risk.
Let’s stick up for ourselves rather than allow the assholes of the crowd run the show. Who put them in charge? Shouldn’t we all feel comfortable? Let’s at least start a discussion about crowd culture and safety.