Underground events have codes that aren't posted at the door. They're passed down through the community — person to person, event to event. If you're new to the underground, here's what the regulars already know.
The Dance Floor
The dance floor is communal space. Don't push to the front unless you arrived early and earned your spot. If the room is packed and someone's clearly been there all night holding their position, respect that. Don't film people without consent — many underground attendees are there specifically because it's a space away from social media documentation.
On Photography and Video
Many underground venues and events are no-phone or limited-phone spaces. This is a deliberate choice by the organizers to protect the experience. If there's no explicit rule, still exercise judgment. Nobody came to a dark warehouse to be in the background of your Instagram story. Ask before you point a camera at a stranger. If you see a security camera sticker over your phone camera at the door — that's a signal, not a suggestion.
Interacting With Artists
Local underground artists are regular people. They're often in the crowd before and after their set. Approach them like you'd approach anyone — not as a fan approaching a celebrity, but as one person approaching another. A genuine compliment about the music is always welcome. A request for a specific track during a set is almost never appropriate — let them do their job.
Buying Drinks, Supporting the Venue
Underground venues run on razor-thin margins. Buy drinks. Tip the bar staff. If there's a donation jar for the artist, put something in it. The venue staying open is what makes the next event possible. Promoters at this level are often losing money to build something they believe in — that deserves acknowledgment.
The Outside
Keep noise down outside the venue. Don't congregate on the sidewalk loudly after 1AM. The surrounding neighborhood's tolerance for the venue's existence is part of what keeps it open. One noise complaint can cost a venue its ability to operate. The scene takes care of the venues, and the venues take care of the scene.
New to the Scene?
Start with our guide to finding events and learning the sounds that define the OC & LA underground.