There’s nothing better than a good concert, especially if you’re in the pit. As long as you’re prepared, you’ll have the time of your life.

1. Hydrate:

There’s no way you’re going to be able to get through an entire concert without any water in your system. Make sure that before, during, and after your show that you’ve had enough water or Gatorade to drink. Without it, the heat and little space around you will get to you and you’ll never be able to survive the whole night.Know Your Limits: Don’t push yourself. If you’re feeling off from usual, like being light-headed, overheated, anxious or just generally out of it, the best decision you can make is to get out of the pit. Your health and safety is number one priority over anything else.

2. Make Friends:

Concert friends are forever friends. It’s a great feeling to make friends in the pit; you guys are all there for the same reason -- to have fun, let loose, and enjoy the music. Make sure to get their numbers and/or social media so you can keep in touch! The best part is, they most likely live near you if you were at the same concert, and so if you really wanted to, you could hang out outside of the concert. I personally have made some of my best friends through music and concerts, and I can’t imagine not knowing them.

3. Don’t make enemies:

Some people at concerts can get pretty aggressive and just generally aren’t sociable or nice at all. It can get really annoying to have someone negative around you when you’re just trying to enjoy yourself, but giving them attitude isn’t going to help the situation. Otherwise, they’re just going to be mean right back to you and you’ll be distracted throughout the whole show trying to get them off your back.

4. Keep yourself safe:

The main thing I do in the pit is to surround myself with some trustworthy, strong looking boys or girls, considering the fact that I’m a 5’4” girl who definitely isn’t strong enough to handle myself sometimes if the pit is really wild. It pays to have someone to hold onto or someone to hold onto you during crowd rushes, the occasional mosh pit that arises, or just general chaos.

5. Look out for others:

While looking out for yourself, it’s also really important to make sure that everyone around you is safe too. It’s not uncommon for people to pass out during a show in the pit, whether it be from being overheated, overcrowded, or just a rush of adrenaline. When this happens, the main priority is to get them up from the floor so they don’t get trampled and to get them out of the pit and to the medical tent. It’s also not uncommon for someone to have a panic/anxiety attack. Understandably, people can get really overwhelmed during a show in the pit. If this happens, again the main priority is to get them out of the pit and to get them water. Just be generally courteous and don’t be afraid to check up on anyone you see who isn’t looking too good. Safety for yourself and others is always the most important thing!

6. Be alert:

Like I said before, you have to be alert for people who are hurt or in danger around you. Not only this, but be alert for people crowd surfing. They’re having the time of their lives, but it can also be pretty dangerous if you aren’t paying attention. It’s happened a bunch of times when people aren’t paying attention and then all of a sudden a crowd surfer is above them and they can’t hold them and the crowd surfer falls on them. With crowd surfing, if you’re small like me, it’s most likely a better idea to move out of the way and let someone strong carry them instead of getting hurt trying or causing the surfer to get hurt.

7. Dress for the occasion:

Unless your concert is outdoors in the winter, it’s going to get hot. Really hot. Outdoor concerts during the summer are probably the worst to dress for, considering no matter what you do/wear, you’re going to sweat. Dress as light as possible -- comfort is key. If your show is during the winter, layer up. It’s the easiest way to ensure that you’ll be warm enough, but if you get too warm, it’s also easy to just take off a layer or two. When it comes to shoes, I wouldn’t recommend wearing anything other than sneakers or boots. Heels, sandals, or flip-flops are never a good option safety-wise (for me, at least) and they’re super uncomfortable to stand in all day/night.

8. Be prepared:

Know the rules of your venue, such as a limit on water bottles. Most venues I’ve been to only allow one sealed water bottle inside. If you’re going to stand in line for a while, make sure you have enough food and water to keep you going. Bring some cash with you just in case you need it inside. Portable chargers are a great idea, especially if you have a long wait in line. There’s nothing worse than not being able to contact people before/during/after a concert in case you get separated from your friends/family. And of course, don’t forget your tickets!

Have fun!

The pit is somewhere to really enjoy yourself and to feel the music and just let loose. Don’t be afraid of judgment -- there’s rarely any at concerts, and if there is, ignore it because those aren’t the kinds of people you want to be friends with anyway. Sing at the top of your lungs and take it all in. Each concert is a unique experience, so get out there and live in the moment.