A flash mob is a gathering of a usually large group of people who perform a special action without prior warning. Afterwards, the group of people inconspicuously falls apart. A flash mob is usually carried out as part of a publicity stunt or in protest. How is a flash mob organized and can you organize it yourself?
What is a flash mob?
A flash mob is a sudden gathering of a group of people, who do something unusual and then fall apart just as quickly. A well-known flash mob is the dance at the Central Station in Antwerp, where a large group of people danced to the song ‘Do Re Mi’ from the musical film The Sound of Music . The dance to the music of Michael Jackson, in 2009 in Stockholm, is also a well-known flash mob.
Why a flash mob?
A flash mob can serve as a protest against something, to honor or remember something or someone or as a publicity stunt by a large company. The very first flash mob was carried out on behalf of Harper’s Magazine in 2003. The flash mob soon became known worldwide. Nowadays flash mobs occur all over the world, especially in large cities.
Flash mob in protest
A flash mob in protest is, for example, that of Greenpeace. In 2012, a group of about 150 members dropped ,dead,, simulating a nuclear disaster. This was in protest against nuclear power plants. Another protest was against high retail prices, where a group of shoppers spontaneously ,froze,.
Flash mob as a publicity stunt
T-mobile, a provider of mobile telephones, among other things, often carries out advertising stunts in the form of a flash mob. This mainly involves dancing: in a large public space such as a Central station or a square, music suddenly starts playing. Soon one person starts dancing, after which so-called bystanders join in. Once the dance has been completely performed, the idea is for the entire group to fall apart and continue walking as if nothing had happened. At that moment a flash mob was successful.
Organize a flash mob
Many people have the idea of organizing a flash mob, but don’t know how to go about it. First of all, it is useful if a team of at least four people sits around the table to think about why and how they would like to organize a flash mob. A flash mob is not just carried out: there is a purpose behind it. This could be a publicity stunt, a protest, a tribute, a commemoration or an expression of something.
Once the goal is known, it must be considered where the flash mob can best be organized. A large square or a station, but also another central place such as a shopping center, attracts the most attention from the public. However, it will have to be examined whether this is possible in terms of space and the cooperation of the location. For example, at a station, it is useful when the music is played through the speakers. Also take a look at the location: a large city attracts more attention than a village, and a central location in the Netherlands also attracts more participants than anywhere on the Wadden Islands.
Determining a day is also useful: when the exact date is known, it is easier to find people. Do not decide the date afterwards: there is a good chance that many people will still lose weight. When the date is known in advance, participants can immediately determine whether they can participate or not.
Also thinking about what will be implemented. Is it a dance, is something sung, does one ,freeze, or adopt a different position, or is something else performed? Determine this in advance and not afterwards. People who register to participate must have clarity in advance.
Once everything has been recorded, you can start searching for participants. The most convenient medium for this is the internet. In the Netherlands there is a forum specifically for flash mobs. Hyves also has a page where people can become a member. You can place a call on these websites. Make a note of all participants and respond to all emails that come in. Don’t cancel too many people: usually on the day itself, a number of people who cannot or ultimately do not dare are dropped.
Send all participants a film or clear instructions with what will be done that day. Sometimes it is more convenient to get together one or more times to practice the dance or act. Agree on a clear sign or signal at which the group should start. Also clearly agree on who will start first, where the others should be and how the group will disperse afterwards.
On the day itself, it is important to act as inconspicuously as possible at the location where the flash mob will take place. Let everyone walk quietly around the agreed location without coming into contact with each other. When the first one starts at the agreed signal, the other participants will not jump in immediately: this happens gradually. Bystanders must not notice who the participants are: they must therefore react as surprised as the bystanders. The flash mob must continue at all times and may not be stopped in the event of errors. When one or a few participants perform a wrong action, it is often not noticed: just keep going. Afterwards the group disbands without talking to each other. Leave the square or location as agreed, with the group clearly spreading out and mixing with the audience. Never wait for applause or bow or wave.
If the above has gone well, the flash mob is a success. This will probably appear in the media soon. Preferably make sure that there are also some people among the audience with cameras such as a cell phone or a camera. Sometimes it is also useful to warn the press in advance of a request for confidentiality. A flash mob that is already known to the public in advance loses its power.