SHOW YOUR LOVE. Start web site, a fan club, even a fanzine that you give out at shows. One girl started a fan site years ago. It caught the eye of the drummer's wife, who e-mailed her and offered her backstage passes to the show!

MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE OPENING BAND. They dont have thousands of people screaming their name. If you know their names then it helps alot. You can get invited onto their buses and still talk to them when they make it really big!

BUTTER 'EM UP. Strike up conversations with security guards and roadies. But dont say, "Hey, can you get me backstage?" and act like an obsessed stalker. Get (or at least act) interested in them. Say, "What kind of music do you like? How long have you been with the band?" Maybe you will get lucky and make friends with the guy who pulls crowd surfers onstage or they might tell you where the buses will be after the show!

OK, YOU DONT HAVE ALOT OF TIME TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION WHEN YOU FINALLY MEET YOUR IDOL. HOW DO YOU NOT TOTALLY BLOW IT?

1. Dont dress like your idol. Im sure it scares Gwen Stefani from the band NO DOUBT when she sees her twins running around at their concerts.
2. Stay away from stalker talk, like "I wanna have your love child'.
3. Dress comfortably. If you dress trashy, they dont have a lot of respect for you or treat you like a real person.

PLAY IT SAFE

MOSHING: King World Productions did a survey and found out that half of all girls who get into mosh pits get hurt. So guys, keep distance. Surprisingly, there is not one safety guideline or rule for concerts and festivals in the United States. Check out CrowdSafe.com for some horror stories-you will think twice about going into the pit at all.

THE CRUSH: If you find yourself getting crushed by a festival seating/general admission or a moshing crowd (inside or outside of the concert), dont panic. Find someone (preferably a tall guy) near you, and say that your uncomfortable. You need to stay standing, so grab onto his shirt or his hand (but dont link arms: you could go down with him if he falls). When you're ready to get out, take the path of least resistance-if the crowd is pushing forward, dont try to go straight back. Your best bet is to take sideways steps. Eventually you'll make your way out to the side.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: The reality is, 1 out of 3 girls say they've been molested or assaulted in mosh pits! If your groped at a concert, find a uniformed police officer (they usually hang out near the entrance), fire official, or first-aid worker. File a report.

DEHYDRATION: If the gig is outdoors or your gonna dance, mosh, or pogo, drink plenty of fluids (preferably water, juices, and other drinks without caffeine) all night long. You dont wanna risk passing out in a huge crowd.

HERE ARE SOME MOSHING TIPS:

If you find yourself in a croud surge try to move away from the crushing force. But dont resist the flow of the crowd. However, when a lull develops, move in the direction of least resistance (which is usually in the periphery of the stage).

Keep on your feet. Falling is a major cause of injury-and can easily trigger a chain reaction. If you fall and cant get up, protect your headand bring your legs close to your body.

Be aware of your surroundings: Watch out for crowd surfers above you. Remember to make a mental not of where the nearest security guard and exits are located.

Stay with a freind at all times so you can help each other. If you feel frightened or light-headed, hold their hand to keep your balance and reduce your anxiety.

If you're being harassed or groped, try to get away as fast as you can and dont be afraid to ask someone nearby for help. Then find a uniformed police officer or ther official and have a report written up.

If You've been hurt, go to the first aid station or find a security guard or concert official. Request that a written report be made. Do not be coerced into saying the injury was your fault. Depending on the seriousness of the incident, you may want to contact a lawyer.

Hot Tix Tips

• call the box office daily, They may release more tickets.
• see if the fan club reserves seats for members
• Pester radio stations. They might help you out if you persist
• Check sites like eBay - but realize you'll pay a premium
• Go to the arena: Roadies or fans may have extra tickets

What you nead to do to prepare for the big show...

• take a long shower listening to the performers CD. It relaxes you.`
• bring pain relievers in case of headaches from the loud music.
• pack extra snacks in the car
• layer your clothing if its cold
• leave sandals at home
• wear something comfortable
• if your a girl (or a crossdresser...whatever!) dont wear short skirts in the mosh pit
• Be enthusiastic...but not too enthusiastic
• no glasses!! they might get pushed off!
• make sure everythings secure (shoes, accesories...)
• freeze a bottle of water to take.
• go to the bathroom before you leave!!! the lines can be looong!
• outsmart snoopy guards, take 2 cameras:)
• listen to the bands CD on the way there. It gives you a rush.
• bring an extra set of clothes to change into after the concert
• consider bringing earplugs
• keep your excitement under control
• watch out for aggressive people
• bring friends, the more the merrier
• have an extraordinary time even if its ordinary!

How to get better seats.

• JOIN THE CLUB: fan clubs offer the best tickets before everyone else does. They also get preferential seating (a lot of times in rows 1 to 15!). The longer you been a member, the better seats you will get.
• OUTWIT TICKETMASTER: If you live in a big city, go to a smaller town to buy your tickets.
• TAKE SLOPPY SECONDS: If you go to the will-call window at the venue box office the day of the show, you could score choice tickets that were unclaimed or returned.