Its been a long time since our last website update but we have been doing stuff inbetween. I’ve been busy (Uni, work, other stuff) and lazy… mostly lazy. Anyway, this post should bring you up to date on everything we’ve been doing in the last couple of months. We’ve had three flash mob events, the latest one just last night (Friday Oct 17th), and quite a lot of success with numbers, weather and ideas. Heres a run down of the last three mobs.
Flash Mob #8: ‘It’s not raining!’
When: 5:30pm 05 September 2008
Where: Rundle Mall
Bus Stop Plague: In dribs and drabs head towards the bus stop outside of Harris Scarfs on Grenfell Street. Once we have assembled a crowd at the bus stop Nick will collapse. Try (with out injuring yourself) to collapse as realistically as possible i.e. you should look like you have fainted. We lay dead for a minute and then disperse as if nothing had happened.
Line up: Alex will stand on the side of the wall about four meters away from the entrance of Dymocks. Someone will then start a line like those to get into clubs. In dribs and drabs join on this line. Alex will ask people at the front of the line for there ID anyone without Id or who is under 18 will be turned away. Otherwise you will head into Dymocks.
Crime scene: In groups of three walk towards the intersection of Gawler place and rundle mall. When Nick drops to the floor the selected member of your group should also drop to the floor. The two remaining people should quickly chalk their outline then disperse.
Umbrella Legion
: Form up outside the Myer centre, in a 6 columns facing towards the target end of rundle mall. People without an umbrella go in the centre, people on the edge lean your umbrella in the direction of your side. People in the middle hold your umbrella straight up but high enough that you can avoid hitting anyone taller than you. We will then march in a straight line to the David Jones. Upon arriving at David Jones we will halt and carefully crouch down. We will hold this position for 30 seconds and then very carefully break up the legion and disperse.
I remember this one being a little painful with repeated ‘falling’ over. Bus stop plague looked really good on the video with everyone falling perfectly in time but no one payed any attention to us. Some people just walked through, stepping over bodies like they were puddles. Like all mobs involving random lines, Line Up was quite successful. I was one of the first people to be let in so missed most of the action but apparently we got a good reaction. Umbrella Legion was a good finish. It was a bit hard to see reactions from within our umbrella cacoon but we got a classic shout up from the Harris Scarfe spruiker, “Its Not Raining!”
Flash Mob #9: ‘Cebo’ Cheers
When: 5:50 pm 19th September 08
Where: Rundle Mall
To be honest, I can’t remember the instructions for everything we did in this event. I do remember that it was one of our best events so far and unfortunately our first un-filmed event so far (good one Ken). Those who were there, help me out with any missed details in the comments below and I’ll add them in.
Can I have a Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee please?: Slowly move into coffee shop (which one) and casually hang around, some people order something. Start talking to the people around you about anything u like and gradually raise the volume in the room until you nearly have to shout. Keep your eye on James, he will make his way to the counter and ask for a Farmers Union Iced Coffee… which they don’t have. When they say they don’t have them, everyone go dead silent and leave.
This mob went down extremely well and is one of my favourites to date. We got the volume up without raising any suspicion and the staff had to literally shout the orders out to be heard over us. The effect of the silence after to commotion was brilliant and once we’d left there was only one or two patrons left in the shope and a lot of confused staff.
‘Cebo’ Cheers: Casually hang around the Cibo in Rundle Mall and when someone receives their order, clap and cheer. Repeat a few times.
This was our successful ATM Cheering Mob rehatched. I think it actually worked better because ATM Cheering tends to make the ATM user uncomfortable while Cibo cheering got everyone happy.
Copy Cat candyman free download : Hang around the Harris Scarfe Spruker and repeat everything he says in chorus.
This one started off well but then ran into a brick wall when the spruker caught on and refused to say anything. Don’t worry, we got him back at the end.
<there was one or two other mobs in here that I can’t quite recall>
Before heading back to David Jones to reflect on the days mobs we decided to have another go at the spruker. I lead an impromptu worship of him in front of Harris Scarfe. We hailed and made lots of noise and he lapped it up, enjoying the extra attention. I had a quick look around and saw that quite a crowd had gathered to watch as well. Soon Harris Scarfe security arrived, supposedly to move us along but the spruker waved them off, assumingly to not appear like he couldn’t take a joke. He was trying to get rid of us but we would continually interrupt, taking his last word and repeating it. He started getting quite annoyed so we wrapped it up, but not before letting him know that we are not to be messed with.
Flash Mob #10: The Sign 2
When: 5:50pm 17th September 08
Where: Rundle Mall
The Sign: Scatter around the area on the target end of Rundle Mall between dymocks and EB games. Laura will hold up a sign that states “Do Note Read, Penalties Will Apply!” A flashmobber will then approach and read the sign. Laura will whistle and every mobber should run in, grab the sign reader and carry them off down the corridor under the Richmond Hotel.
Follow the Leader: Scatter in the area around the malls balls. Nick will pick a non-flashmobber to follow. Then in dribs and drabs we will join a line of people following this person. Attempt to copy the exact route of the person in front of you and their speed of walk. When Nick ceases to follow the person, disperse and return to the balls to repeat.
Whirlpool: Scatter around the Mall/ Gawler Place intersection watching James. He will slowly start walking in a tight circle around the centre of the mall. Gradually join him in dribs and drabs. Some people walk in tight circles near the centre while others walk in wider circles on the outside. Those further out will have to walk faster to make one revolution in time with those near the centre.
Creep: We will select a non-flashmobber; we will then scatter in the area around them. If they look in your direction you must freeze, otherwise creep slowly towards them. When Nick stops creeping towards them and walks off, all disperse.
You will notice I haven’t put any of my comments about how I think each mob went. If you were there, please leave some comments at the end of the post letting us know which mobs you enjoyed, which ones worked, which didn’t and any good spectator reactions you got or saw.
AFM#8 and AFM#10 were both filmed and we should have the videos up soon (well eventually). If you missed them, the videos from AFM#7: The Sign are up on youtube, and on the event report.
The dates for our next two mobs have been set, Saturday November 1st and Saturday November 29th, details coming soon. The Adelaide Zombie walk is also coming up next Saturday, check facebook for details.