New Yorkers used e-mail to coordinate a huge, instant gathering of people around a particular rug. Participants were instructed to tell questioning salesmen that they all lived together in a warehouse in Queens, and they were considering purchasing the item for use as a "Love Rug" back at the house. After precisely ten minutes the crowd dissipated.
UPDATE: This week's edition of National Public Radio's All Things Considered included a segment about the flash mob. (Thanks to Mike from Satan's Laundromat for yet another tip.)
UPDATE: Here's a look back at the event from Wired News. (Thanks for the tip, Mike.)
UPDATE: Here's another money shot of the salesman, from ephemeroi.com.
Do you have photos from the event? How about video or audio? Please link to your coverage in the comments below.
(For background information, see the first flash mob post.)
Posted by sean at June 17, 2003 11:11 PM | TrackBack (0)
I'm looking at this in London, listening to the radio piece and looking at the pictures at the same time.
It is just great! I don't know what it is about it, but fuck me, it's funny and moving.
Well done!
d
Posted by: Daniel on June 18, 2003 02:12 AMLOL this is classic! If I'm able to, I'll be in for the next one. Yup, I live in NYC (Brooklyn).
Posted by: demonsurfer on June 18, 2003 02:14 AMIt would've been sweet to do this everywhere as a protest against the war. Duly noted for my oh-so-20th century activitst pals.
Posted by: bootsy on June 18, 2003 05:54 AMThis is a wonderful social experiment. The city may have to rethink its crowd control methods as ten minute protests with proper media coverage could be even more effective than hours of sign waving. I hope it doesn't become commercial and burn out too quickly. Kudos for making us think differently.
Posted by: wells on June 18, 2003 07:28 AM*m*u*s*t*e*m*a*i*l*e*v*e*r*y*o*n*e*i*k*n*o*w
found the link via Metafilter http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/26469
London c'mon fellas I've just left but I know you can do it.......
Posted by: Paul on June 18, 2003 07:41 AMALL HAIL ERIS
This is not political.
ALL HAIL DISCORDIA
This does not have a point.
ALL HAIL HAIL
"This" is "not" a "social" "experiment".
HAIL YES!
Posted by: Bob Dobbs on June 18, 2003 08:18 AMmove to the country....and visit the website.
Posted by: karl marx on June 18, 2003 09:11 AMLooks like we may try and organize this in STL, MO. I was thinking these could be protests against protesters of the war.
Posted by: cybrpunk on June 18, 2003 11:17 AMI'm fucking inspired now!
Posted by: :: jozjozjoz :: on June 18, 2003 11:26 AM"Looks like we may try and organize this in STL, MO. I was thinking these could be protests against protesters of the war."
hahaha sweet fun fun
Posted by: blazzzz on June 18, 2003 11:48 AMLast night was my very first "mob" event. It was so much fun. I couldn't believe all the people that came out for it. I just received the email yesterday from a co-worker. Can't wait for the next one.
Posted by: dimples on June 18, 2003 11:57 AMRE: "Looks like we may try and organize this in STL, MO. I was thinking these could be protests against protesters of the war."
Why would the war profiteers bother with grassroots communication tactics when they already have the solid support and sponsorship of the biggest media monopolies?
Posted by: sean@cheesebikini.com on June 18, 2003 12:00 PM"this rug doesn't say LOVE to me"
Posted by: turd on June 18, 2003 12:08 PMBrilliant, and profound. Or, profound, and brilliant. I know it is one of those. -C
Posted by: Cullen on June 18, 2003 02:05 PM"This is a wonderful social experiment. The city may have to rethink its crowd control methods as ten minute protests with proper media coverage could be even more effective than hours of sign waving.."
err.. protest? experiment? damn, if there was any point to it at all I thought it would just be for the sake of giving people a sanity/humor check. Attach something like this to a cause and suddenly it loses its appeal. Live for the moment! Who needs a reason?
Posted by: demonsurfer on June 18, 2003 02:26 PMYessir demonsurfer, you got it.
Posted by: HJ on June 18, 2003 02:58 PMSounds like fun. The salesman picture is hilarious. Sign me up for the next one. or forward me the email.
Posted by: neeraj on June 18, 2003 03:08 PMSo that's what people with nothing better to do look like.
Posted by: tokohol on June 18, 2003 08:15 PMI would say this is a terrific example of performance art as it is a staged one act play (see script above) with perhaps a little improv thrown in.
Can not wait to see photos of a couple who say "Oh yeah, we met at a flash mob and it was love at first sight." They could have their wedding be a flash mob event.
It says a lot about our flexability, mobility and the sheer speed and volume of our mass communication technology to mobilize groups of people for inane pranks but what about when it comes to making a political or moral statement? Will people have the same enthusisatic spirit about turning up?
Posted by: SzaffireBlue on June 18, 2003 08:34 PMBrilliant! Shades of the Discordians...
Posted by: Lazarus on June 18, 2003 10:06 PMManchester UK needs something like this.
Posted by: MeHere on June 19, 2003 06:18 AMmy pics from the event : which are terrible, but i have a good shot of the bewildered salesmen
Posted by: turd on June 19, 2003 09:08 AMfo' sure fun times...
can't wait for the next mob event.
Posted by: vivan tang on June 19, 2003 09:14 AMWired News article: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,59297,00.html
They used my photos (without permission).
Posted by: Mike on June 19, 2003 11:44 AMabsolutely brilliant, guys. one of the coolest things i've read about in a while.
thinking about starting the cologne, germany chapter of this.
mob on!
Posted by: Chris on June 19, 2003 12:35 PMthis looks amazing. i'd love to be included in the next mob. how do i get on the list?
Posted by: jason on June 19, 2003 07:18 PM¿Why people need to lose their individuality and feel part of a herd so imperiously? Maybe a escape from freedom.
Posted by: Tshe on June 19, 2003 11:53 PMWhat appeals to me about the flash mob is the lack of manuverability for failure. Santargeddon was a bust here in Toronto last year. Flash mobs are not limited to season. Well done.
Posted by: Brad Choma on June 20, 2003 03:54 AMBrilliant... but far too many mesh-backed trucker hats in attendance.
Posted by: B.P. on June 20, 2003 09:04 AMThere will likely be a mob story on NPR's All Things Considered tonight (Friday). Stay tuned.
Posted by: Mike on June 20, 2003 11:24 AMThe Mob hits Italy's largest newspaper: link
The author quotes Zeronumber's comment on the original mob post on Cheesebikini?.
Posted by: Mike on June 23, 2003 07:43 AMthere is an article on flash mobs in a dutch newspaper, you can find the onlineversion of it on
www.volkskrant.nl
but it's in dutch so i gues you have a problem reading it
OK OK OK you have me hooked already!! I have been waiting for this!! Finally something that I can get into and start! I want to start this in Sydney, Australia..... can someone please send me a copy of the email??? I want it started here.... so damn funny!!! Surly someone can help!
Mob on people!!
Posted by: Nigel on June 28, 2003 09:37 PMHey guys and girls!
Nice idea, zhis "meetings"! This could going to be a big thing. its worldwide and people JUST LOVE IT! like me! i´m from vienna, and i hope to see sonn a fm here in my city. that`ll be great!!
KEEP GOIN`!
GREETINGFROM EUROPE-AUSTRIA-VIEEEEENNA!!!!!!
Posted by: Markus on July 23, 2003 02:08 PMI wish we could do this in Columbus, Ohio!!!
Posted by: ruthie on July 24, 2003 06:52 AMI wish we could do this in Columbus, Ohio!!! This place tends to be so .... picayune.
Posted by: ruthie on July 24, 2003 06:54 AM;) Warsaw is ready:)
Posted by: on July 25, 2003 01:03 AMGreat, this is great stuff indeed, i already have an idea for a flash mob in the UK just to see if something like this can get started aside from what they are doing in London.
If anybody wants to email me to get something organised, we only need a few emails. Looking for people in the lancashire county.
my email is crackedbutter2000atyahoo.co.uk
Posted by: Johnathan on July 25, 2003 04:01 AMA Columbus, Ohio mob would be SWEET!
Posted by: Jordan on August 22, 2003 05:19 PM