A beginners guide to having a fun time at a small show (some of this also applies to bigger shows)
If you've never been to a show before or you've only been to big shows going to a small or diy show can be confusing. The rules and etiquette of attending a small show are different from what you may have experienced or heard about at a bigger show. I'm here to try to give you some tips and pointers on how to have the best night and help everybody else around you have a great night as well.
Small shows are community based, if you only take one thing away from this post let It be that. The environment is that of friends and acquaintances, this includes the bands that play. The members of these bands are just people who are part of their local scene and enjoy playing music. They should be treated like any other member of the audience, you can be friendly and start up a conversation or compliment the set, but remember they're just a stranger who enjoys the same music you do.
Your first show in a new city or venue? The environment and social expectations of a scene can vary from city to city and venue to venue. If it's your first time being somewhere it's always better to follow the social cues of others rather than looking like an ass. If you don't know what's going on try asking somebody:) Many people in the scene are very happy to welcome newcomers and explain the ins and outs of their individual local seen.
Queuing (if you want "barricade"), for 1500 to 700 person capacity venues, depending on whether or not the show is sold out and the artists popularity, I would suggest showing up 2-4 hours before doors. This would be for places like House of Blues, that are arguably not a small venue, but I'm including them anyway. Anything under 600 I would show up 2 hours to half an hour before doors. Anything under the 300 mark doesn't usually have "barricade" per se, the crowd moves around a bunch and showing up early will not help you get a better vantage point. Note: I never show up anywhere more than an hour before doors and I can usually get pretty close to the stage.
Respect the venue and the people working there, if you're attending a small show, especially a basement show, it's really important to be extra aware of where you put your trash and how you're acting. Oftentimes these locations are rented halls or somebody's actual house. This means there wont be any staff that are being paid to clean up after you, not that you should be messy at larger venues. But at these venues especially try to stick around and help out if you can. If the venue is left trashed they may no longer be willing to host shows in the future.
Braving the pit, there are only three rules I would suggest for the pit, and they all boil down to respect. First, if somebody falls, drops something, or seems like they're having a hard time _always_ stop what you're doing and help them out. Second, don't try to be tough, if the pit is too aggressive for you you can either jump around on the side of it or dance somewhere else. Third, unless you're actively pushing somebody always try to keep your elbows tucked, especially if you're tall. It can be really stressful being a short person in a pit that's just a sea of elbows.
Say hi! not just to the band, to the people around you at the show as well. I know this one can be hard, if you went with folks it's very easy to become insular, and if you went alone it can be scary to talk to people by yourself. Something that I've found really helpful is hanging out outside, either between sets, or after the show (you don't need to smoke I often just cool down with a water bottle). Many people will be excited to see a new face and if you seem open to it they might start up a conversation. If they don't and you don't know what to talk about, try complimenting something somebody's wearing, it can often lead to a story that then can lead to a conversation.
Always show up for the openers, even if you don't care about barricade, you should try to show up for the openers both by physically being there and by paying attention and giving them your energy. I've discovered a lot of really wonderful bands by checking out the openers before a show, learning a couple of their songs, and then really getting into it once they're playing.
Take care of yourself, make sure you come having eaten and drunk enough water, I even suggest bringing a water bottle. Most venues will at least have access to water but it's always good to be self-reliant just in case they run out or something happens. Depending on the style of venue they may require this to be empty, If they do require that, you can usually fill it up once you get inside.
Dress appropriately, especially if you're planning on being up at the front at a punk or hardcore show. You will probably end the night covered in other people's sweat and beer, this is amazing revel in it. But, it's maybe not the time to pull out your favorite shirt, unless you want that for your favorite shirt (in which case I love you)
And last but by no means least, always always always thoroughly check the flyer or event posting to make sure you know if the show is a sober / straight-edge show or not.
(edit) A couple of additional tips that have been suggested in the tags, as well as a few new ones from yours truly
Always bring earplugs, some venues will have them for sale but they're not great quality and they can run out. If you plan on going to a lot of hc/punk shows, or honestly a lot of shows at all, I suggest investing in a $15-25 pair, it'll save your hearing in the long run.
Keep your toes safe! Even if you don't plan on going into the pit it's a good idea to wear closed-toed shoes. You'll be in close quarters with people wearing boots who probably won't be able to tell if they are accidentally stepping on your flip flop shod feet. Shows also involve standing for a number of hours so you may want to think about comfort. I suggest wearing at minimum a converse style shoe with a little bit of structure around the toe. I personally always wear boots with a pair of insoles, but that's just me and my rickety ankles.
do you want to wear a bag all night? If so, that's fine, but you're probably not going to be able to enjoy the pit or dance that much. Some smaller shows will have coat checks, but a lot under 300 capacity won't. I generally suggest against just hiding your bag in the corner, I've seen a lot of people get their stuff stolen. So, pare down, I don't even bring my whole wallet, just a credit card, ID, subway pass, phone, keys, and some cash in case the venue only accepts cash or if something happens and I need to get a taxi home. If you end up keeping stuff in your pockets make sure it's secure. If I know my pant pockets are particularly bad at holding things I'll put my cards and cash in a sandwich bag and pin it to the inside of my pocket. This way it's still accessible but won't fall out.
Picking up merch? Do it after the show, merch rarely sells out at smaller shows. So, pick up anything you want after the show, carrying it around all night can be annoying and you might lose it.
Jewelry? If you plan on going in the pit I wouldn't wear dangly earrings or necklaces, they can get caught on things and ripped out or off, which is not fun at all!
I hope you found this helpful<3 if you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to dm me or leave me an ask and I'll try to get to it
