This article is classified "Real"
Headbanging is a special form of dancing, performed mostly by people
listening to the music form called "Heavy Metal". They are themselves
called "Headbangers".
It is particularly popular with people who are not very good at more advanced
dancing, as the dance, which many would not call a dance but merely
stomping very hard at something, while nodding fiercely for no good reason
at all, is not all that hard to learn.
To find a Heavy Metal concert, all you have to do is look for many people
with long hair, wearing mostly black cloth. Why these long-haired
individuals all simultaneously choose to wear black is, by some, seen as a
sign of sorrow, as they might know they are going to be partly or
completely deaf after the concert.
If you wish to join in, then walk [1] into the middle of the crowd. Be
careful out not to get hair in your eyes, mouth, nose or any other places.
It could also be good idea to wear a wig with long hair, but you could be
bald instead, as this seems acceptable. Try to get as close as possible to
the stage, and maybe even right in front of one of the big loudspeakers.
If you are, at this point, not wearing ear plugs, hope you have not come to
one of the louder bands' shows!
When the music starts, be prepared for total chaos, and large quantities of
hair everywhere. When the people around you start to jump up and down, and
throw their heads in all directions simultaneously, begin to do the same
yourself. Be aware, particularly if you are close to the stage, that
there may be people falling down from above. This is also a part of
Headbanging, especially at smaller concerts, and you can try it yourself:
squeeze up to the stage; crawl up on it [2]; jump a little around up there;
and then leap as far out into the crowd as you can. Do not worry, because
someone will probably catch you.
After your first time Headbanging, you might want to leave early, because of
bruises; broken parts of the body; the initial stages of hearing damage;
or distaste of the music. This may or may not be possible, but one way is
to jump up upon some nearby people [3], and they will send you on to some
others, who will do the same until you fall down somewhere at the back, or
the side, of the crowd. Normally, if you are close to the stage, there are
also some of those big guys ready to help you out.
A notice to you if you are male, and looking for members of the opposite
sex: maybe because of the brutality of Heavy Metal, or some other
unexplained reason, the participants of a headbanging session are
almost exclusively male.
So get out there and shake your brain!
[1] Actually you must squeeze hard.
[2] Do not do this if you have not seen anyone else doing it, as some very
big guys might appear and give you a solid kick in the head, or at least
throw you out.
[3] There will probably always be some other people very near you.