Fred Hoysted was first to chime in with a report and a photo from the Fifth New York Flash Mob. SatansLaundromat.com was quick on Fred's heels with a report and a nice group of photos, including a larger version of the cropped shot to the right.
They seem to have carried out a fantastic, bizarre idea: make a bunch of increasingly surreal "nature sounds" in Central Park.
UPDATE: Our Chief Manhattan Correspondent David Danzig posted an audio recording of the event (MP3 format, 750K, 3 minutes long).
Posted by sean at July 24, 2003 05:12 PM | TrackBack (0)
My first Flash Mob! Was that press i saw meandering around right bfore it started? NY1 was late.
Posted by: meredith on July 24, 2003 05:56 PMI've got pics and a rundown too.
http://www.fancyrobot.com
Posted by: Dave on July 24, 2003 06:20 PMThis one was lame!
Posted by: Ahmed Akbar on July 24, 2003 06:41 PMApparently Fred lives much, much closer to the Upper West Side than I do. :)
Posted by: Mike on July 24, 2003 07:30 PMThis one was weak and poorly thought out. It was a tough spot to quickly MOB and disperse. Maybe 5 people walked by. Keep it downtown too.
Posted by: pete on July 24, 2003 08:06 PMMike - I think the only reason I was home first was that everyone else had something better to go on to for the rest of the evening!
By the way, I'd recommend glowlab - some great pictures.
Also, have a look at Slashdot. They picked up on the story and there's some very lively discussion over there.
Posted by: Fred on July 25, 2003 06:12 AMLet's utilize the power of flash mobs to make history remember genX as one that stratigically changed the city forever. We could make a homeless person rich in a couple of minutes. Our numbers could fuel the cause of a political rally. We could revolutionize the idea of what a "volunteer" is--mobbing some struggling charity with thousands of random helpers. What will we do with our power?
Posted by: Joe B on July 25, 2003 06:30 AMmobs away has some flash mob apparel and even a flash mob lunch box. Hmm. What do we think about all turning up wearing the same t-shirt? Would it spoil or enhance the effect?
Posted by: Fred on July 25, 2003 06:35 AMFred, honestly, are you serious? Mob tee-shirts, Jesus. Cheap hucksters getting in on the act. It's called "recuperation" in the jargon of the Spectacle and Situationism. In fact this whole thing is going down the pan already. It's the concept of a flash mob that's strong, the actual execution of it is at present faltering badly. It was to be expected. It needs taking over by some more serious minds.
Posted by: Biroco on July 26, 2003 07:04 AMBiroco,
I wasn't really being serious at all. I do think it's interesting that someone has decided that there may be a 'market' here for this kind of stuff though. Not because I think there *should* be a market for it - just that the existence of commercial opportunity is a barometer of the appeal of an idea.
I certainly think it would be appalling for mobbers all to turn up in a 'uniform' - we're not, as far as I'm aware, trying to by any kind of a movement.
Posted by: Fred on July 27, 2003 12:20 PMI don't know how I feel about all of this. Isn't the whole point that no one knows about it? Once people know about it, the whole thing is kinda lame in my opinion.
But then, I'm probably over estamating the number of people who know about it...
Posted by: breckenridge on July 27, 2003 11:33 PMwell, it's already a movement, like it or not. every time we show up we make a statement. and we'll find out how big of a movement it is when the powers that be try to shut us down.
Posted by: zogbee on July 29, 2003 06:29 AMhonestly. is it too late to start going to these things if you haven't been to one before? it's on the news now. which means that there will be people from magazines and news organizations in the next few blending in. and other sorts.
Posted by: ralphjunior on July 29, 2003 09:15 AMCoverage on Yahoo via Reuters
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030725/170/4slu0.html&e=12&ncid=1756
Enjoy,
Chris
Mob-er from SF
Where can I find out about the next one? You guys are insane, and so am I, I should be there too! Lemme know..
Posted by: Suzette on July 29, 2003 11:06 AMMy sister and I want to participate in a flash mob! How do we get on the list?
Posted by: Adrianne Weremchuk on July 30, 2003 10:08 AMYeah, I wanna flash mob. How do I get on the list?
Posted by: Josh on July 30, 2003 08:30 PMI would like to become a part of the list. I've got a loyal group of people who have been observing the events and we're really intrigued with what we've heard. Thanks.
Posted by: Chris on July 30, 2003 09:07 PMI want in.
Posted by: Jeremy on August 4, 2003 04:48 AMYou may want to read this. He makes some good points.
http://incestuousamplification.blog-city.com/read/172377.htm
Posted by: Blue Balls on August 7, 2003 09:37 PMHi, my name is Eloisa and I would like to became a part of the list.... letīs organize this here in Brazil....
Posted by: eloisa on August 11, 2003 08:51 AMi have a few dozen people under my power.. and we all want to be Mob-ers!
email please. ny/nj area.
Posted by: ty pham on August 13, 2003 07:33 AMwho has really good photos of recent flash mobs? we are writing an article and would need good photo material. please contact me.
Posted by: belinda on September 1, 2003 12:08 AMYeah, I would like to see more photos of this. Any good links out there besides what is already here? Thanks!
Posted by: breckenridge colorado on September 13, 2003 05:43 PM