I like to stand at the back with my arms folded and only giving the slightest nod of appreciation when I am remotely entertained by them.

I like to live my show behaviour to whiplash by metallica, so always in the pit thrashing all around for me

For me it depends on the venue. If it's a small place like a bar, where the stage is basically one step up, I try to get to the front for headbanging and maybe a bit of photography. If it is a bigger venue with the barricades and stuff, then I'd probably be further back. But occasionally I'll go to the mosh. Depends on the band too.

The shows in Taiwan rarely have more than 100 or so people. Only times that ever happens is when foreign bands show up - Behemoth and Arch Enemy have drawn large crowds - or we have local favorites like ChthoniC. Because of that, I can fortunately manage to squeeze my way up to the front. Being the skinny guy I am, it's a constant fight to keep from getting slammed silly, so I try to keep to the railing, right in front of stage. Gives me a good position to headbang and enjoy the show. I love diving (not literally) into the pit to mosh, though I do that rather infrequently. When the crowd starts going crazy, I'm in the pit but after I get smacked up a bit, then I'll return to my position in front of the stage. And once a pit breaks out, I'll be back in again.

Try metallica shows, yeah, I know they suck cock... but at least there is not moshing at all ( but I wouldn't go, too many posers)

Nowadays at club shows, I try to be center stage behind the pit, or if the area behind the pit is elevated, I situate myself there. There are a few reasons for this and it's mostly comfort related. Compared to up front, it's a better view with better sound. I wear heavy prescription glasses (I'm basically unable to focus my eyes and I get headaches without them), and if I'm not up front, then I don't have to worry about losing or breaking them. I don't mosh and I don't like tightly packed crowds. I like to watch analytically. I prefer to take in the music and performance, so for me, back of house is ideal.

However, in my younger years (circa '97-'01), every show for the whole show, I'd leave my glasses in the car and would always be up front headbanging like crazy for the bands I like and flipping off the bands I didn't like with my back turned towards them. Good times.

That's ironic considering your user name

If it is purely a metal show I will be right in front. If it includes any -core bands, I try to get somewhere where I can avoid having to worry about karate kids. I want to watch the band, not have to keep my eye on the pit to avoid a stray fist to the head.

It kinda depends for me. If I really like the band, I like to be in front sometimes. But its also dumb in the front cause you can't see as well. The back is nice for watching and listening ok bands or bands I don't really know that well. And occasionally I'll go in the pit.

Eh, I like to be away from the pit so that I can just listen to the music. At the last show I was at, I was sitting alongside the wall with my girlfriend, who doesn't care much for metal at all.

in the pit

i love just being at the front, to get that communication feel from the band. every concert i been to, people headbang in sort of an individual way, kind of for your own good and your own expression, and from experiences, people that try to mosh, just start pushing people around, they usually get their asses kicked by other people in the crowd, cos theyr just fuckin annoying. I dont have a big problem with moshing but lots of people seem to get carried away with it.

I like to be up at the front or somewhere in the middle. I'm very picky about what I like to mosh to, so sometimes moshing. It sort of depends though... if it's a local show or a smaller venue I'll be at the front instantly if it's a band I like. If it's a bigger touring act and thus more crowded then I'll probably be more in the middle.

I'm surprised to be the first to say this.. but I like to stand near the soundboard. I figure they place it where they can hear the best, so why shouldn't I be there too?

Depends. Usually I'm on the rim of the pit. I decide to stand on the rim so if I actually want to mosh I have easy access to the pit, and don't have to fight my way thru a sweaty crowd.

Beginning of show: bar
Mid-show: pit
After show: hospital

Hahaha...

for me it usually varies between either the railing if it's a band I _really_ like so I get there very early (or the girlfriend will be like uhh im little can you move please thanks, which works surprisingly well), or near the merchandise stands/bar to watch other bands. Occasionally I get in the pit but with high blood pressure I tend to get extremely violent, nearly got myself kicked out at a show once cause of it. Long story short I elbowed a guy into the crowd and kicked him in the chest for trying to crowd surf near me.

already posted this in the MDF topic but this is my exact location at pretty much every band/show I'm trying to see. I'm the only retard with a longsleeve on in 80 degree weather...This particular moment was probably the awesome intro to Brutal Truth - Birth of Ignorance..as you can see, I love that fucking opening haha...

Haha, nice. ^

As for me, I usually either:

A) stay by the serving area and sip beer as bands play, especially during opener acts.

B) stay somewhere near the mixing booth, being able to hear the sounds well and enjoy the gig to the fullest, in a way.

C) in the pit. That's right, I usually end up in the pit sooner or later into the show and then pit to the very end of the show.

Come to think of it, it's options A-C combined rather often, but yeah.

I do the exact same thing. Suffocation played some deathcore festival in April and I stood front row for about 9 hours straight. However, all the scenesters cleared out before they came on after Born of Osiris and I could have walked up front. Oh well.

I did the same thing the first two days of Maryland Deathfest, with Saturday being particularly hard on my legs. But I wasn't going to miss a chance to see Bolt Thrower with that perfect spot.

Sometimes I just wander around, other times I'm at the front. I don't do moshing because I'm small and weak and a wuss.

usually try to get right to the front and headbang, much more intense and personal experience. if I'm not in the mood for being shoved by hairy sweaty people though I might stand further back, still quite a good view in smaller venues. I tend not to go in the pit much cos I don't weigh as much as most of the people there so tend to take more damage than I dish out lol

Depends on the band, mostly. At the front headbanging if I like the band (or in the pit, if there are no skinheads there), in the back with a beer if I'm not into the band that much. Sometimes it also depends on my mood.

I just stay at the front. You can usually hear the music better their. I've only been in a mosh pit once. It was pretty fun but I would rather listen peacefully rather than being shoved around. If I'm not at the front I try to be near the side.

generally at thrash concerts the whole moshpit pushes extremely to the front, so its not like theres an option. i saw tankard and the whole bloody pit was practically on the stage

It depends on the music, but usually i stay at the edge of the pit and sometimes get into it. If the music is more suitable for moshing (thrash, grind, slam..etc) and i really like it, then i'm in the pit for the biggest part of the concert.

I've been front row every concert I've been at. It's pretty good as normally there's no moshing, just lots of headbanging/zoning out (depending on the type of music). Sound's best, atmosphere's best etc.

Front and centre. Centre being more important to me than it seems for a lot of people.

yeah, centre definitely has some advantages. If you're on the front but to the left etc. then you normally get blasted with just one guitarist/the bass/etc. totally screws the sound up.

I am always in the very front row, center, holding to the crowd barrier or the stage. I try to keep as much space for my self as possible. Here the very front row bangs the heads throughout the gig, while the moshpit is somewhere in the center of the crowd.

I wore my Repulsion long sleeve on the third day. GREAT IDEA!