You want to check out a metal concert, but are afraid of what might happen if you don’t take the proper precautions. Many think that heavy metal concerts are havens for Satanic rituals and that if you are caught as an outsider you’ll be sacrificed to the brutal dark lords of chaos. That rarely actually happens. But if you don’t want to be mutilated at the concert, all you need to remember is the following:
1. Be yourself. Don’t act like you have been involved with the scene since the dawn of time. It is easy to spot a fake, and you will be dealt with accordingly.
2. If you are honest and say this is your first time, the majority of the crowd will show you acts of kindness and explain what is going on.
3. Make sure you wear boots, or some kind of footwear that protects your feet. Many of the metal fans wear combat boots; your feet will be stomped on.
4. Don’t wear your favorite mainstream band’s t-shirt. At the venue you’ll see 99.99 percent of the people wearing black shirts, and you shall do the same.
5. Never wear the shirt of a band you are going to see. The bands know you are there to see them, so wearing one of their t-shirts is just weird.
6. If you really want to please the band you are going to see, just stay in the mosh pits during their sets or play air guitar/air drums and sing along. Anyone can wear merchandise for a group, but the fans know and love the music.
7. Finally, the most important rule: Being polite will spark others to be polite as well. If you act like a hard-ass, you will probably never go to a concert again.
If you’re really interested in checking out a reasonably priced metal concert for all ages, 1979 Productions and Trading Pieces are holding a concert in Oakland this Thursday, Jan. 25. The venue is at 2650 Magnolia Street in Oakland. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door.
