crowdsurfing etiquette
Crowdsurfing Ettiquette
I see a lot of discussion about crowdsurfing and whether or not it should be done. The reality is, it's going to happen whether or not it is enforced. I also see a lot of discussion about how people want to drop crowdsurfers or ignore them.
For context, this is my 4th rockville, and I am a very small, 4'10 90 lbs woman, and I've only crowdsurfed once 3 years ago. Never again because it absolutely terrified me, literally got thrown midair with airtime. It was definitely something I'd experience once and never again LOL.
Anyways, heres my crowdsurfing ettiquette:
If you're crowd surfing:
1: please do not start from too far back!
I saw this a lot at sleeping with sirens this year, when people would be sent up in nearly empty areas, leaving 2 or 3 people to lift them.
70% of the time they ended up dropping and hurting themselves or someone else.
2: proper crowdsurfing form
cross your legs, and stiffen your body. this is so you dont start flailing and hit people in the face with a loose appendage
additionally, if you have a backpack or bag with you, please hold it securely or wear your backpack on your chest. You dont want to lose your belongings or smack someone in the face with your bag.
3: know when to crowd surf
if an artist is calling for crowd surfers or the songs are super energetic and hype, go for it! However, especially earlier in the day when the crowds are thinner and smaller, it isn't ideal.
You should also keep in mind of how many crowdsurfers are already up before you go up, if you see theres already like 5 crowdsurfers ahead of you, i recommend you wait a little bit.
this is because there will be holes in the crowd you can easily fall into, and getting tangled up in other crowdsurfers makes it even more difficult for people to lift you up.
4: know if you're fit to crowdsurf
i feel bad saying this, but people above a certain weight need to be very careful about crowdsurfing or avoid it all together. it's more likely for you to get dropped or to hurt someone.
additionally, since it is a festival, please avoid crowdsurfing if you're super drunk. the amount of absolutely plastered individuals i see going up and flopping around like a fish out of water is very funny, but its also very likely you'll be dropped or hurt someone.
If you're sending crowd surfers up:
this is similar for crowd surfers
1: always make sure you're sending them up in right place
again, you dont want to send up crowdsurfers where the crowd is thin, you're literally sending them and others to their doom
2: make sure to remind them about proper form!
this goes without saying
3: always scream 'going up' and 'heads up'
this is especially important so people around you know someones going up. theres nothing worse than the crowd being absolutely silent, and then getting a crowdsurfer thrown onto you out of nowhere
If you're in the crowd:
1: always scream 'heads up' or 'incoming', and point in the direction of the crowdsurfer if it's in your section
this is to warn everyone else that someone is coming through, and you should still do it even if you're not in arms reach of the surfer
2: please do not throw/launch crowdsurfers
I see some people throwing crowdsurfers up or forwards out of frustration, instead of holding or pushing them up.
this is super dangerous for everyone.
the crowdsurfer will fall with more impact, and the other people in the crowd can really can their arms, wrists, head, or neck if someone is thrown on top of them with force.
3: if you dont want to help surfers, get out of the way
if you don't want to help hold up a crowd surfer coming through, step aside so other people are able to help them out.
i see people who dont want to help surfers just standing there, or they let them drop. sometimes you just don't have a choice but to help.
at the mcr set last night, a crowdsurfer ended up next to me, and no one wanted to help out. I ended up getting a shoe to the stomach, and the guy hit his head hard on the floor.
and even then, no one else was helping him up! I had to get this guy double my body weight up all by myself.
if you're not helping, you're bound to hurt someone else
4: if you want to avoid crowdsurfers
there are many options if you want to avoid crowdsurfers.
standing in the back of the crowd is your safest bet, but for many people who want to to closer to the artist, its not ideal
for stages with middle barricades like apex and octane, standing near the barricade in the middle is a good option, since people will send surfers forward to where staff is.
another option, and my personal favorite, is being at or by the pit. not everyone likes mosh pits, and thats okay! but crowdsurfers are usually sent around the pit, so they don't fall into it. I personally love participating in pits and also acting as pit walls, so this is my favorite option.
overall, i understand why people get frustrated with crowdsurfing, as im sure everyone has gotten a stray from a crowdsurfer or hurt themselves trying to keep one up, but at the end of the day, rockville is a rock festival, and theres really no work around to it. by following proper etiquette, you can prevent everyone from getting seriously hurt or injured.
if you or your section is struggling with crowdsurfers, you don't have to drop them on their head or over exert yourself, you can always just get them down on their feet.
anyways, on that note, i hope everyone had a great time this year, and i cant wait to rock out with yall next year as well!