Longtime lurker, first-time poster.

A couple days ago I had a stressful day at work, and got a text from a girl I hadn't spoken to in a while about a concert that we talked about a while back. She asked if I was going, and wanting to get some energy/stress out, I eventually decided on it.

I got to the venue and met up with my friend and her boyfriend. After chatting up a bit, I didn't want to give the impression that I was going to follow/stick with them the whole night (nor did I want to, I was here for some fucking metal, particularly a band whose album cover I have tattooed on my arm), so I went and bought earplugs.

I entered the "pit" area (floor area). In between band sets I loosened up by shooting shit about music with random people. I also noticed that there were a LARGE amount of attractive women around (something not exactly common for metal). This put me more into a sociable mood.

I moshed heavily for the one opening band I was there mainly for. For those who don't know about moshing, its more of an aggressive, physical "dance" which can involve colliding with others, but in ways that usually do not harm. Having done this for years, I tend to have my own style as I've been told. This established social proof for me greatly as guys would come up and shake my hand after a band or a song often. Around this time my shirt got soaked with beer so I took it off and stuffed it in my pocket. It's not uncommon to see shirtless dudes at a concert.

I meet up with my friend who's here for the main headliner. I had been poking fun at her for staying so far back away from the stage when she could be closer via text beforehand. Her boyfriend asks if I could bring her into the pit and watch over her (apparently he didn't want to get close or didn't like metal?). I agreed, but then they kept having second thoughts, so I acted like I was about to leave. Sure enough, she came shortly after.

She expressed fear of being smashed/hit by the crowd in the pit, so she did not want to go far (understandable, being her first indoor concert). Being so far back myself, I wasn't too happy, but I knew I could work this situation into an outcome that I wanted. I saw another girl and (presumably, but not confirmed) her boyfriend, and quickly asked this new girl how safe it is and how my friend will not be smashed. Ironically, she said "I'm afraid of that too!" but this got me in as a perfect opener to converse with this group. I made a few jokes/out there comments, such as telling this new girl to step away from me because her hair was rubbing my nipples whenever she had her back towards me. I conversed well with the guy about metal, and various other things. I hung with this group for the rest of the night.

When the headliner started, things got really enjoyable. I was able to affirm my confidence that these ladies would not get hurt by getting up closer, and was able to lead the group (via handholding my friend, which was interesting) closer, and closer. We got into a nice spot, and I started moshing again.

Social proof came through like a water fall again. I was smiling the entire time while doing this, even while getting my ass handed to me by bigger dudes, which I think had an effect. Many hand shakes, "bro-hugs" (whatever it is where its half -handshake/half hug), were given to me/other people. I had another random girl come up, and whisper in my ear, "You are a badass" and then she ran back into her group.

Oddly enough, my friend's boyfriend came down into the crowd (which had to require some work considering how far we were) for the last few songs. The concert soon ended, and my phone was dead, unfortunately. I was able to give my phone number to the nipple girl's guy, and we shot some shit about cool bars around my city even though he was from the outskirts. I'm hoping to get in contact with them again, as they were both cool. This was just as good as getting the girl's phone number, in my opinion.

Soon I felt a hostile aura from my friend's boyfriend. During our conversation after the concert, he tried to one-up me by saying that this concert "wasn't his first rodeo" and that he "has been in a band for four years and has been touring for two". I just stated I didn't want to compare concert penises and redirected the conversation with a joke. Strangely enough, while I was getting a picture with my friend, random "pit" girl came up with hugged me then ran away. Shit was getting creepy. After this I said my goodbyes, and left.

TL;DR/ My Main Points of this Experience:

  1. Have fun. It's good for you.

  2. Be an "attendable event" yourself. I felt my image was greatly enhanced by myself going where I wanted during the concert.

  3. If your like me, and you suck at dancing at clubs (partially because I often don't enjoy club music), then find some other place to partake in some sort of dancing. Not only does it radiate confidence, but in my case it makes you friends with BOTH sexes. There's little to gain trying to do something that you are not passionate about, hobby wise.

  4. If someone wants to use you for an advantage, you are free to use them for an advantage as well (Using my friend as an opener/social proof in exchange for protection/"pit" smarts).

I know this was long, so any tips on writing these better would be appreciated.