Familiarize yourself with the location and find the red exit signs that are near your seat before the concert begins. Also note where exit signs are when you visit the concession stands or the bathroom. In the event of a fire or evacuation, people instinctively turn to the entrance they used to enter the building, thus crowding or blocking the exit. It's always good to know where more than one exit is located.
Stay sober. In a super-packed arena or a club that's pushing the capacity limit, what will keep you safe is common sense and a cool head. Being alert also makes you less of a mark for pickpockets and thieves who favor scenarios where they can press close and pass it off as accidentally bumping into you. Limit yourself to just a couple of alcoholic drinks.
Be courteous. It really can stave off a fight--which can turn into a riot if conditions are right. It's no coincidence that when people are hot and hemmed in that they become irritable and frustrated, and getting an $8 soda knocked out of their hands gives them a reason to start arguing. Excuse yourself if you bump someone, and likewise give that guy who stepped on your foot the benefit of the doubt when he apologizes.
Feel the vibe of the audience. Yes, tragedy can strike when the crowd is completely happy and enjoying themselves. However, look around. Are fights breaking out here and there? Are people being especially rude or unruly? Is security being rough when they don't need to be? Heed those signs when things keep going wrong. These tension-builders are the setup to a brawl or a stampede.
Let security do its job. If you see someone harassing another person, throwing things, creating a disturbance or threatening violence, hail a guard to handle it. If you step into the fray, you can get injured, and there' s no guarantee that the venue will compensate you for damages. You also can be ejected from the show, even if you were trying to help someone else.
Bring a friend and keep an eye out for each other when seeing a show in an unfamiliar venue or area. Designate a meeting place to meet after the concert is over if you get separated during the show. The era of the cell phone has killed this practice, but cell phones don't always have reception in buildings with a lot of stone or metal.
Maintain some elbow room. If the room or open field is so crowded that you can barely move, it's not safe. You shouldn't be rubbing against everyone you pass while making your way around. Immediately move to the back of the room, to a balcony or another area where it's easier to navigate. If the whole venue is packed this way, it's safest to leave. Complain to the promoter the next day and try for a refund through your credit card company. Your life is worth more than 50 bucks.
Keep away from the stage. The closer you get to the stage, the more likely you're going to get pushed and bumped or, if you're attending a metal concert, kicked or shoved around near the mosh pit or during body-carries to the stage. Accept that you're running the risk of being jostled or steer clear of the floor.
Avoid mosh pits. They're meant in good fun, but a crowd that's too thick and a guy that cracks his head on the concrete floor is not a good mix when security and the EMTs have to fight their way through to rescue him.
Never, ever yell "Fire!," "Bomb!," "Gun!" or other such instigators as a joke.
Stay calm in the event of emergency. Locate your friends if you can and make your way to the nearest exit. Refrain from joining the crowd mentality of panicking, fighting or running, and keep thinking for yourself.