I used to be told my boots were not allowed in some venues. Well, rather one venue. The local House Of Blues establishment.
Anyhow, I went there back in February and March for Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys respectively and just wore my "Airport Boots" (Footwear I devised two years back, the day I realized I had to actually get on a plane) and had no problems. When I got inside though, I saw wallet chains and studded vests and the like and realized they must have changed their rules since my last visit (which was several years ago).
From my experience, moshpits can actually be very polite...you know...for what they are. An example would be an individual who decided to tear a girl's top down and shove her into the pit. The pit immediately stopped, picked her up, made sure she was alright and...well, then we had to ask who did it and those of us in the pit suddenly got violent...but it was for a good cause.
However, at Old Town in Kissimmee, where all of the 60+ people bring their classic cars, many of which bought in factory-fresh condition, rather than restoring them, as the elderly understandably do not want to climb around junkyards or under cars as much as we young folk...well, anyhow, they all go and the bands play tunes from the days of yore, the woman of the crowd get up and dance to them in traditional, 50's era dancing that is rather reminiscent of line-dancing. Anyhow, my group and I (the younger crew there, who just sort of all became friends and usually ditch the sow until the cruise starts, instead going to get food or whatnot) have recently learned, since one of us was genius enough to try: Slow-dancing and Moshpits...don't always mix. But she gave a noble effort.
I really need to get back there and start going regularly again, especially since I've met one o our forum members out there who goes to the Friday shows.