Have you ever been to a show where there is a mosh pit, and you’re left on the outskirts pushing someone’s back away so that they don’t crash into you?

As you touch their back with both hands, the intense sweat of their shirt covers your hands; the guy slinging his hair back and forth results in droplets of sweat that land on you. To make matters worse, the entire room smells of body odor, and it lingers in the air around you because of the unventilated room.

If you’re thrashing your body around and crashing into people, you will likely be sweating. If you know you will be sweating, please wear deodorant at the minimum. At the maximum, a shower and self-awareness can go a long way.

The lack of attention to hygiene and bodily fluids disrupts the atmosphere of a concert when the unmistakable stench of body odor fills your nose, and it’s even worse when the sweat of someone else drips onto you.

I am sympathetic because I understand how hot and cramped it can get in a smaller venue. But a little goes a long way, and it would not hurt to take the time to prepare oneself for
situations in close quarters, like trying to dress appropriately and wear some form of deodorant.

Bringing an extra change of clothes also wouldn’t be a bad idea. Still, the key takeaway is that you should keep up with personal hygiene, especially by wearing deodorant — not only for others but for yourself, especially when you get sweaty and rowdy.

We are all here to have fun, and not being aware of others around you is not fun. Being in the
splash zone and in close contact with somebody else’s sweat severely dampers the
experience of enjoying live music. So please, I am begging you to wear deodorant when you know you will be moshing.

Sophie St. James is a sophomore English major from Central, South Carolina. Sophie can be reached at [email protected].