Crowdsurfing 101
Welcome to Crowdsurfing 101!
I've been going to metal festivals for years- nearly 11 at this point, and one thing I have seen at every single one of them is crowdsurfing. However, even though I had been going to these festivals for years I had never taken the step to going out and actually doing it. This year that changed- and so here are all of the starter questions I had about crowdsurfing answered.
So... How does crowdsurfing work?
You're lifted up by people and due to the high density of the crowd, people distribute your weight and all lend a hand to push you forward up towards the stage. Generally, people go up on their back (I'm going to use the term 'go up' or 'put up' as the action of being lifted by others and sent off on the trek of crowdsurfing). However sometimes people go up on their stomachs, however I wouldn't suggest this as your back will provide a much better platform or space for people to support your body throughout the lift.
@pozerclub Crowd surfing at Nothing More during #aftershockfestival ♬ original sound Pozer Club
Here's a video I took of a random person crowd surfing during a Nothing More set during the Aftershock Festival. It provides a really good view of how people are moving someone forward as they crowdsurf. You're also able to see how many hands can be on a body at once, how fast you move, and that it isn't exactly that smooth ride that a lot of people expect. This isn't a millipede walking, this is gonna be you tromping on top of people. It'll be bumpy.
Crowd Density
This may be me nerding out a little bit, but something I hear a lot is people asking "Am I too heavy to crowdsurf?" however, I think the more proper question is- "Is the crowd dense enough?". Now, I don't mean dense as stupid, I quite literally mean density of people per square footage of the concert/festival grounds.
The way crowd surfing works is by distributing your weight amongst the people below you, so the more people under you the less the overall weight bore per person will be. Now, I've gone through and counted the average number of hands on a persons body, and it's around 17. Assuming most people don't use both hands to help out with a crowd surfer (besides the people directly beneath them) there's going to be around 6.5 people. Now, 17 hands spreading the load of 250lbs would be around 15 lbs per hand. Seeming as though (most) average American men can lift around 100 pounds even if they've never hit the gym- you'll be fine. Just as long as there is a consistent amount of hands all the way down to the barricade.
Now the statement of saying 'the average man' may stir some comments of "what about the women!". To that I say, the population of men at metal events will statistically always be higher by a large margin than those of women. And, they'll more than likely be taller than the average woman in the crowd and will therefore bear more weight.
This all boils down to you taking a little lookie and deciding mentally "Hey, does this look like a crowd that would lug my behind up to the barricade?".
Getting Up
So, how do you get up to start crowd surfing?
Just Ask!
If you're with a group of people, have your group help out. No one to help out? Do what I did. I literally walked up to two dudes, tapped them on the shoulder and asked "Can you help me up? I'd like to crowdsurf." You can probably say any iteration of this of "Put me up!" or "Help me crowdsurf!". Just remember that you aren't owed to crowdsurf. Always be nice, and say thanks to whoever helps out!
They're going to just, and I mean this in the most serious way possible, yeet you into the air. And then off you go- and that's it.
Avoid Crowdsurfing Near Moshpits
Moshpits can cause a higher density in a crowd- but they can also cause huge gaps. And gaps are no fun, leading to sudden drops. That's what you see sometimes when someone goes overhead, they go for a while, and suddenly the drop into the crowd and you can't see them. The majority of the time I've seen this is within 5-8 feet of a moshpit. This also goes for starting up- if a mosh pit is a occurring, people probably aren't going to be paying attention to overhead and avoiding the push and pull that moshpits cause with people forcing space and moving in and out of the pit.
So, Do An 'Inspection' Beforehand
I mean this seriously. Check the vibes, check the crowd, see if there are people near you that you think you could ask to put you up. And if you are really stressed about crowdsurfing to the point where this isn't fun? Don't do it. You don't need to crowdsurf to be a metalhead, and no one is going to think less of you for not doing it.
This Also Means Checking Yourself!
I mean this in the nicest way possible people, especially ladies. Don't crowdsurf if you're going to flash everyone in the crowd. There's very little dignity to how people keep you up in the air, and being covered up is preferable for a lot of people. I cringe getting a sweaty mans back overhead just as much as I'd cringe getting a sweaty ladies bear back. Doesn't mean I'd not help keep them up in the air- but understand not everyone in the crowd has good intentions. Lot of people are recording the concert on their phone, and that includes getting some very unflattering angles of you. Protect yourself, and before you crowdsurf check yourself and ask:
- With lots of hands off and on you, sometimes tugging- will your clothing come loose or off?
- Will anything drag or get caught behind you?
- Long hair having folks- that can get tugged on too (I learned this the hard way!) maybe keep an elastic on hand for it.
- Backpacks and blankets aren't gonna be fun to take up with you, and can get lost. If it's possible maybe have a friend hold it for you.
- If you are wearing a dress or skirt, chances are the fabric may get bunched up or flipped up- will you be good if that happens?
When Your Up
Here are my best suggestions for you:
- Try and stay as tight as possible, it's harder to hold up dead weight.
- Going on your back will be the best!
- Try and keep your limbs lifted up so you aren't kicking people in the head.
- Be LOUD! People won't know if you are overhead and can't prepare to keep you in the air if they don't know. Any combo of "Headed your way!" "Incoming!" "WOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I can assure you will be greatly appreciated from the crowd.
- Watch out for people on others shoulders. Learned this the hard way.
- If you can get your legs spread out, you'll have better weight distribution.
- I'd personally say avoid recording- loosing your phone will be easy. And chances of you getting it back are slim.
Getting Down
Not every crowdsurfing session is successful, so you won't always end up at the barricade so keep that in mind. Obviously it is the goal of crowdsurfing- but be prepared for the potential of not making it. The hope is always that you aren't dropped or harmed, sometimes you just kinda get slowly set down onto the ground. Sometimes the people around you will send you back up and on your merry way- or other times- congrats! You're way closer to the front. Enjoy the view!
Depending on the setup the security company is running, they can just grab you from under the armpits and pull you up and over to barricade and down onto the ground. Or, in my case there were three(ish?) guys that set up a system where I slid down one guys back while the other two helped pull me up and guide me to the ground. They're going to manhandle you, and it's with the intention of getting you up and out of the way. You're in the way- so understand that and get out of the way as quickly and as safely as possible.
My Personal Experience
So, as I had mentioned before- I decided that I was going to crowd surf. Now, this was done at the Aftershock Festival and I needed to decide (in my mind) what was going to be the best crowd to be able to lug my lanky ass up and too that barricade.
So, I chose Falling In Reverse.
Falling in Reverse is going to have a big crowd, not only that, the average listener of FIR is going to be a dude. Therefore that ticked both of my boxes- needing a good density, and dudes to surf on.
I ended up waiting a few songs, and as a big mistake on my part- waited til the tail end of a song to ask to be put up. So I was crowd surfing in silence- not the worst thing, but not the best thing. People weren't expecting someone to be crowdsurfing in a transitionary point in the set- so there were much less people actively looking up and for someone overhead.
As for how I got up, I looked around- found two big guys, and during the tail end of said song I tapped on their shoulders and while making 'uppies' hand motions asked "can you put me up? I want to crowdsurf.". The men were incredibly nice and respectful, clarified with me and asked "you want to go up?" I said yes, and up I went.
And I mean up I went. This took less than 7 seconds, and I was terrified at how quickly my body was no longer on the ground- and was then six, seven feet up in the air. I went up on my back, but ended up getting rotated in a way that my feed ended up in front of me rather than having them behind me and my head pointed towards the stage. I actively tried to avoid it, but I SERVERLY underestimated how little control you have of your body when you are up in the air.
The best way I can describe it is like sitting in a lounging couch- your torso is going to be pushed upwards and you'll be activating your core the entire time trying to keep from flopping back like a fish, or getting folded like a chair incredibly quickly. I had no idea what to do with my arms, and I did not vlog the experience like I see a lot of people doing now- I was pretty worried about loosing my phone or keys so I locked them in my crossbody bag. I'd HEAVILY suggest someone new to doing this to do the same. The shaky and meh quality video you'll get from selfie camming yourself crowdsurfing isn't gonna be worth loosing a phone. They aren't cheap.
At least for me, staying tense or 'tight' is going to be my best advice, the further you spread your legs out the more room and people you can reach. It gives a bigger load distribution, and gives people more opportunity's to get a good hold of you on. A hand can wrap around a calf, ankle, or thigh much more meaningfully than the 4-6 hands that can find space on your back and push you forward.
While I was up, I ran into an issue of almost plowing down children on their parents shoulders- so while I was up I was yelling "right! right!" while trying to make hand motions of SEND ME THE OTHER WAY! Because, as I was up and had a better vantage than everyone else- I could see I was heading directly to knocking some poor kid out. Which, I don't think I'd like to add crowdkilling to my 'done' list anytime soon. Let alone merking a kid midair.
Other than that, it was a pretty surreal experience. I'm sure if it was during a song, I would've had the best seat in the house. But, my bad, big goof, surfing in silence like the true pozer I am.
When it comes to getting down, security had this awesome system where you literally slide down one of the security dudes backs. This is where I'd say being turned feet first came in handy, because after sliding I just landed and went on my merry way.
I've seen other sets where they just lift the person and set them down, but I think they had a dedicated area to pull the crowdsurfers down because it was a bigger set, therefore more people.
Thanked the security guards, to with they gave me a dead inside "you people are nuts" head nod, and I followed down the section between the barricade and the stage where you'd normally see photographers and videographers working. They have a trail for you to follow that eventually spits you out back into the crowd, and then I was done!
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