Mob(b)log

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I think it's time for me to give up this blog, now that the phenomenon has reached the New York Times (page A4, w/photo, in today's edition): "What: Mob Scene. Who: Strangers. Point: None." (*And* CNN.)

I've got other stuff to do, and besides, there are so many other blogs out there devoted to mobbing now. Anyway, it's been fun. See you at the next mob!

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New Tinseltown Mob: first event slated for September.

New Gateway Arch Mob

[Note: The link to "A picture" below did not work when I tried it.]

To: mobblogger@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 21:04:28 -0500
Subject: St. Louis Mob

Just wanted to pass on some information for reporting to the world. St.
Louis had it's first ever MOB last evening at a popular, local record
store. Approximately 40 people met and entered the store to aimlessly
search the $4.99 bargain bin until the phrase, 'Found it' was announced.

Store patrons and management were bewildered at best. For the first MOB
event in St Louis, the precedent has started. More are in the works . . .

More information at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stlmob/.

A picture:
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/groups/g_10703579/STLMOB+%231+-+Vintage+Vinyl.jpg?bcd_JK_AaeV7piZ8

-The Legend

*****

Photos of St. Louis Mob #1
Estimated turnout: 40

Instructions for and Coverage of Boston Mob #1

Harvard Coop greeting-card mob: "Ode to Bill." Instructions here.

Claudia, "Mob pictures," August 1, 2003 (w/photos)

Bradley's Almanac, "The First Boston Flash Mob : Ode to Bill," July 31, 2003 (w/photos, including stills of local TV coverage; plus links to other blog coverage)

bitter-girl.com, July 31, 2003 (w/photos)

wackyfun.net, "Boston Flash Mob #1: Ode to Bill," August 1, 2003

The Sacrifice Zone (!), July 31, 2003 (w/photos)

Coverage of Minneapolis Mob #2
How to walk, chew gum, and ride an escalator, all at once

Fimoculous, July 30, 2003 (w/photos and scan of on-site instructions)
Estimated turnout: 170

The Perks of Being a Democrat, July 30, 2003 (w/photos)
Estimated turnout: 200

New Lone Star Mob: "downtown, umbrellas, synchronized crosswalk";
first Austin mob to convene August 14th.

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Manhattan Mob #6 Coming Your Way

Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 22:07:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: The Mob Project
Subject: MOB #6
To: themobproject@yahoo.com

You are invited to take part in MOB, the project that
creates an inexplicable mob of people in New York City
for ten minutes or less. Please forward this to other
people you know who might like to join.

FAQ

Q. Why would I want to join an inexplicable mob?

A. Tons of other people are doing it.

Q. Can I wear a costume to the mob?

A. Please don't.

Q. If I am a reporter, can I write about the mob? I
am aware that many articles have already been written
about the mob, and yet I feel that the world needs
another.

A. Feel free to write about the mob. Press builds the
mob, and anything that builds the mob is pro-mob.

Q. Does the Mob Project take requests?

A. The Mob Project will take precisely one request.
Write an email describing your dream mob and send it,
under the subject heading "My Dream Mob," to mydreammob@yahoo.com.
Entries must be received by August 15th. The winning entry will be
used as the basis for a future mob. (Note: New York City ideas only.)

Q. The last mob didn't have enough spectators. I want
to be seen whilst I mob.

A. Alright, then.

INSTRUCTIONS - MOB #6
Start time: Thursday, August 7th, 7:18 pm

(1) At some point during the day on August 7th,
synchronize your watch to
http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java/java.
(If that site doesn't work for you, try
http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5.)

(2) By 7 PM, based on the month of your birth, please
situate yourselves in the bars below. Buy a drink and
act casual. NOTE: if you are attending the MOB with
friends, you may all meet in the same bar, so long as
at least one of you has the correct birth month for
that bar.
January, February, March: Hamburger Harry's, 145
W. 45th St. (just east of Broadway). Meet by the bar.
April, May, June: Connolly's Pub, 121 W. 45th St. (between 6th
Ave. & Broadway). Meet in the back, by the window to the kitchen.
July, August, September: Charley O's, 218 W. 45
St. (just west of Broadway). Meet by the bar.
October, November, December: Howard Johnson's,
1551 Broadway (at 46th St.). Meet in the back to the
left, by the bar.

(3) Then or soon thereafter, a MOB representative will
appear in the bar and will pass around further
instructions.

(4) In particular, the instructions will specify when
to disperse. Make sure that two minutes after the
specified time, you are no longer at the mob site. The instructions
will also specify a short window of time — two to three minutes — when
we ask that you not take photographs of the mob, or interview
participants or bystanders.

(5) After the mob, return to what you otherwise would
have been doing. Await instructions for MOB #7.

*****

// posted by Alex Z. @ 11:41 AM

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Get a Gander of Minneapolis Mob #2

Mitchster Minneapolis Mob Photo Gallery (35 pics, including one of the on-site instructions)

Revolutionär Potenzial: German weekly hops aboard mob juggernaut

Der Spiegel, "Wenn dir plötzlich Hunderte applaudieren," July 28, 2003 (w/photos) [English translation here]


Are They Predators, or Volunteers?

New Nashville mob

Logo: Go, or No-Go?

Readers of Naomi Klein will appreciate -- or detest -- this "Flash Mob" logo from Germany



posted here.

How Many Mobs Does It Take to Make a Mob of Mobs?

Flash Mob, "Flashmob an mehreren Orten gleichzeitig!", July 28, 2003 [English translation here]

Note: This same site also has links to an astonishing 21 mobs in Germany (Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Klagenfurt, Köln, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich, Münster, Nürnberg, Ruhrpott, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Würzburg), four in Austria (Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Vienna), and one in Switzerland (Zurich). The German-speakers have gone Mob-wild!

Caveat Lector

Suspicious-looking site self-dubbed "Flash Mob Central"

Manhattan Mob Coverage "Freedom"-Style

Le Monde, Paris, "La mode des 'flash mobs,' " July 29, 2003 (w/photo) [English translation here]


Reuters Piles On

"New Yorkers become a mob for fun," July 25, 2003 (w/photo)
Note: Photo links never last long on Yahoo.

Thanks to Mr. Rheingold and his team for the following:

New, mile-high mob

INSTRUCTIONS - DENVER MOB #1
Start time: Monday, August 11th, 5:43 pm
Duration: 10 minutes

1. On the morning of August 11th visit the following site to
synchronize your watch:
http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Mountain/d/-7/java.

2. By no later than 5:30 pm arrive at one of the following locations
based on the first letter of your last name (or the last name of the
tallest person if you are traveling to the MOB in a group).

A, B, C, D – On 16th between Tremont & Glenarm

E, F, G, H – On 16th between Glenarm & Welton

I, J, K, L, M – On 16th between Welton & California

N, O, P, Q – On 16th between California & Stout

R, S, T, U – On 16th between Stout & Champa

V, W, X, Y, Z – On 16th between Court & Tremont

Upon your arrival, find a place to relax in the median of the mall
(between the two mall shuttle lanes). Act casual and enjoy some of
the cities finest street performers.

3. Shortly after 5:30 look for the person carrying balloons. This is
the MOB representative. The MOB representative will hand you a small
slip of paper with the final location and instructions.

4. Memorize the instructions and place the slip of paper in your
pocket. Do not throw this paper away and do not carry this paper
visibly to or at the MOB site.

5. Walk or ride the Mall Shuttle to the MOB location arriving in the
final location no earlier than 5:37 pm.

6. The MOB action begins at the designated location at 5:43.

7. At 5:53 you should disperse.

###

Still Blogging -- For Now

Since late last night, when I made my last posting, I have already received two e-mails urging me to stick with it. So I will slog on, for the time being, at least.


Minneapolis Mob Coverage

The Twin Cities Capo di Capi reported a "great turnout" last night for the group's second event -- something to do with a cooking class and an escalator.

There is now a full photo album online of Minneapolis Mob #1 (56 pics).
Note: You have to register to view the album, but it is free of charge.

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I just went to Howard Rheingold's site, and to be honest, it makes me want to give up. With all those bloggers he's got working for him, there's no way I could ever cover as much as he does. And I am not going to devote my life to this phenomenon. I just think it's fun, that's all. So perhaps this blog is no longer necessary. Let me know what you think at mobblogger@yahoo.com.

Mundane Mob Announcement

Say the inexplicable San Franciscans: "MOB #2 will take place on Saturday, August 9th at 2:00 pm." More later.

(Corrected) Instructions for First Beantown Mob

Subject: MOB #1 (Corrected - 7/29/03 11:08)

You are invited to take part in MOB, the project that creates an
inexplicable mob of people in Boston for ten minutes or less. Please
forward this to other people you know who might like to join.

FAQ

Q. What was the purpose of a Yahoo group?

A. We set up the Yahoo group in order to find like-minded individuals
interested in the Inexplicable Mob phenomenon. We think we've done
that.

Q. Will the Yahoo group be closed down?

A. No. The group will remain open to all, but there will be no more
ability to post comments, we're just not interested in running a
forum. We have an e-mail address if you wish to speak with us.

Q. How will I find out about the MOB projects?

A. If you signed up for our group you will receive updates and/or
email.

Q. Can people still sign up?

A. Yes. You can continue to sign up so you will receive future
invites. Those already on the list will continue to receive invites.
The group is located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bostoncitymob/.


INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOB #1
Start time: Thursday, July 31st, sometime after 7:03 pm
Duration: 10 minutes or less

(1) At some point during the day on July 31st, synchronize your watch
to: http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java/java.
(If that site doesn't work for you, try
http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5.)

(2) By 6:43 PM - 6:57PM, based on the month of your birth, please
situate yourselves in these locations below.

NOTE: if you are attending the MOB with friends, you may all meet in
the same location, so long as at least one of you has the correct
birth month for that location.

January, July: Au Bon Pain (near Harvard Square), the window table
nearest the bathroom.

May, October: Border Cafe (Church St) by the main bar.

June, August, December: The Garage. First floor by the tables near
Ben & Jerry's.

March, September: Daedalus (Mt. Auburn Street) near the
brick wall directly opposite the front door.

November, February, April: John Harvard's Brew House, by the
stained glass windows to the left as you enter at the far end of the
bar.

(3) Then or soon thereafter, a MOB representative will appear in the
bar and pass around further instructions. The instructions will
specify the mob site, the start time, and the duration. The
instructions will give you what you need and then some.

(4) In particular, the instructions will tell you when to disperse.
Make sure that two minutes after the specified time, you are no
longer at the mob site.

(5) Prepare for MOB #2 by getting together a plastic shopping bag and a ...

Fo Sho,

Bubb Rubb & Lil' Sis

*****

Pardon me for being a nitpicker, but isn't this actually a Cambridge mob? My apologies for posting the instructions so late.

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Mob Reaches Readers Down Under (and nonprofit managers too)

The Advertiser (Adelaide), "They really are a weird mob," July 29, 2003
(also featured today on the Idealist)


New Mob for New-branded Birmingham, England

the.mob_stirs (they work in "grey" office buildings)

Dallas-Fort Worth Mob Ready to Take to the Streets

Received by mob(b)log today:

You are invited to take part in MOB DFW, the project that creates an
inexplicable mob of people somewhere in DFW for ten minutes or less.
Please forward this to other people you know who might like to join.

INSTRUCTIONS – DFW MOB #1

Date: Thursday, July 31, 2003
Time: Sometime shortly after 7:30 PM
Duration: 10 minutes or less

(1) At some point during the day on July 31, synchronize your watch
to http://www.time.gov/ (central time, of course).

(2) By 7:15 PM, based on the month of your birth, please situate
yourselves in the locations listed below. Do not acknowledge anyone
else who you think may be a mobber, in order to maintain the
anonymity of the group until the appropriate time. NOTE: If you are
attending the MOB with friends, you may all meet in the same
location, so long as at least one of you has the correct birth month
for that location. Here are the locations:

January, February, March: Virgin Megastore, Mockingbird Station, 5307
East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Feel free to browse around, but stay
close to "Movie Central."

April, May, June: Cafe Express Mockingbird Station, 5307 East
Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Order a drink, and blend in. Keep an eye on
the north side of the dining room with the star lights on the wall.

July, August, September: Margarita Ranch Mockingbird Station, 5321
East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Order a drink and blend in. Keep an
eye on the large palm tree.

October, November, December: Trinity Hall at Mockingbird Station,
5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Order a pint and make your way
out to the patio.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS ARE AT MOCKINGBIRD STATION IN
DALLAS. THIS GIVES US QUICK AND EASY ACCESS AND REGRESS TO ALL OF
DALLAS.

(3) Shortly after 7:15 PM, a MOB DFW representative will appear in
each location to present you with further instructions. Look for
someone wearing a red hat and a white shirt. Approach this person,
and say, "I'm here for the fun!" They will give you a small slip of
paper with the instructions for the remainder of the event. Commit
the instructions to memory, and put the paper in your pocket. DO NOT
DROP THE PAPER ON THE GROUND OR FLOOR, AND DO NOT LEAVE IT AT THE
MEETING LOCATION. Once you arrive at the MOB site, none of the papers
should be visible.

(4) At the appropriate time, make your way to the MOB site. If you
arrive at the site before the appropriate time, stall nearby. NO ONE
SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE FINAL MOB DESTINATION UNTIL THE GIVEN TIME.

(5) When the given period of time for the event has passed, quickly
disperse from the site. MAKE SURE THAT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE
SPECIFIED TIME, YOU ARE NO LONGER AT THE MOB SITE.

(6) Return to your normal activities, and await instructions for DFW
MOB #2.

If you plan to attend MOB #1, please RSVP by sending an e-mail to:
imgonnabetheredfwmob@hotmail.com with the words "I'm gonna be there!"
in the subject line.

|
Mob Blows Into Windy City
New Chicago mob


A Mob Apart
Craig's List, "variations on the MOB Project," July 20, 2003


Global Anti-Mob Project?
Writes one ambitious member of the Minneapolis mob (in an e-mail dated July 24, 2003):

"Hi ... The methods of the Mob Project don't particularly appeal to me, as I am not a group person nor do I like scripted behavior. Yet the concept has started me thinking and I have created the Antimob Project which to succeed, will require the participation of everyone on the planet.

"The concept is the opposite of the Mob Project. In Antimob, we all agree not to be at a certain location for a brief period of time. If all humanity participates, the sudden ghost town appearance of a place like Grand Central Station or the Motor Vehicle Bureau in Chicago will be stunning. Antimob requires little of its participants, so that billions of people, without even knowing of the non-event, will be participating in this first example of non-performance art.

"So I'd like to invite all members of the Minneapolis Mob to become part of the Antimob. For details see:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/antimob

"Whatever you decide to do or don't do, I hope you have continued fun with your activities in Minneapolis. I was happy to read that things were very mello at the MOA event."

Mob #5 Hits Wires

Agence France Presse, "It's not your party, but we'll come if we want to," July 28, 2003

Second Minneapolis Mob in the Making

Earlier today I received an e-mail whose text was as follows:

The invite for Mob Event #2 is available and on the Internet as of July 28th.

MOB #2 - "Going uptown, going downtown"
Locations: TBA (To be announced)
Start time: Wednesday, July 30th, 7:18 pm
Duration: 10 minutes

Invitations can be acquired by emailing MinneapolisMob@hushmail.com or locating the invite on the Internet. A few blog sites and other sources will have the invite posted.

Note: The MinneapolisMob@hushmail.com utilizes a Spam protection feature that will require you to validate your email address.

If you do not wish to use the Hushmail feature, start looking! Invites are available on the Internet.

MM

*****

Note: I got mine by e-mailing the hushmail address. Here it is:

-------------------------------------------------------------
--- Minneapolis MOB Event #2 ---
-------------------------------------------------------------

You are invited to take part in a MOB, the project that creates an inexplicable mob of people in Twin Cities Area for 10 minutes or less. Please forward this to other people you know who might like to join. If you don't participate, please forward it to a friend anyways!

MOB #2 - “Going uptown, going downtown”
Locations: TBA (To be announced)
Start time: Wednesday, July 30th, 7:18 pm
Duration: 10 minutes

(1) At some point during the day on July 30th, synchronize your watch at http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Central/d/-6/java.

(2) The day of the event, you can get a detailed script for the event by meeting at the following locations at 7:00 PM based on the month of your birthday.

NOTE: if you are attending the MOB with friends, you may all meet in the same bar, so long as at least one of you has the correct birth month for that location.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.: Uptown Bar & Cafe, 3018 Hennepin Ave (Bar) May Jun. Jul. Aug.: William's Pub, 2911 Hennepin Ave (Lower level) Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.: Famous Dave’s – Calhoun Square (Bar)

(3) Then or soon thereafter, a MOB representative will appear and provide event details. Look for an individual in a “PRADA” shirt or a "MOB" button. He or she will provide you a slip of paper, on which two important pieces of information will be printed: (a) the MOB site, and (b) secret event details.

Commit these details to memory and put the slip in your pocket. ONCE YOU ARE AT THE MOB SITE, NONE OF THESE SLIPS OF PAPER SHOULD BE VISIBLE.

(4) Leave the bar and walk to the MOB site. If you arrive near the final MOB destination before 7:18, stall nearby. NO ONE SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE FINAL MOB DESTINATION UNTIL 7:16.

(5) Find the site and begin the objective. Be animated and follow the intended script.

(6) At 7:28 you should disperse. NO ONE SHOULD REMAIN AT THE MOB SITE AFTER 7:30.

(7) Return to what you would otherwise have been doing.

Have fun,
----

To the press: Please do not report on the event to the public prior to the actual event time of 7:18 pm CST on the day of the event. If you wish to report on the event please save your interviews until after the event activities are completed and the mob has begins to leave. If you would like to verify this script, email the auto-responder at minneapolismob@hushmail.com. This is an unmanaged account and only responses after validating an account. No email will be read at this account.

Foreign Mob Update ("I be pleased enormous")

Italian mob homepage: "Flash Mob: che fenomeno!" [for English translation, "cliccate qui"] (including seven links to coverage of the first Rome mob, which took place July 24th, w/photos and video -- Italians are so *good* at clapping and cheering; it's 'cause they're raised on soccer, I think)

New Austrian mobs: Vienna (July 25th) and Linz (July 29th) [English translation here] (w/photos and video of the Wienermob, at what looks to be a clothing store)

Boing Boing, "Flashmob in Vienna today, with an eco-Dada theme," July 25, 2003

New London mob

New Montreal mob


New Domestic Mob

Phoenix, Arizona

Belated Coverage of Past "Inexplicable Mobs"

Blogs

Happy Robot: photo collage of MOB #4

The Official Record, July 18, 2003: video of MOB #4

Interlocutor: Is this like the weirdest thing you've ever done in your life?
Young Woman: Ah, no. Probably not. But you know, it's one of those New York things.
Interlocutor: You gotta say you were there.
Young Woman: Yeah, you know, I [garbled] say I was there. I don't have to, but I probably will.


Web sites

Slashdot, "Flash Mobs: Peaceable Assembly for Spontaneous Fun," July 24, 2003


Newspapers

Boston Globe, "Shock tactics," July 25, 2003

Orlando Sentinel, "A mob scene just made for being there," July 24, 2003

New York Post, "It's Mob Rule! 'Stupid Human Fun' Is E-mail Project," July 21, 2003

On-site instructions (Bourbon Street) for MOB #5 in Manhattan:

*** MOB #5 ***

The Site:
Central Park — near 81st & Central Park West. Enter at 81st St. on the south side; turn right down the first path, then turn right again between the wooden benches. Climb the ridge and stand atop it, facing Central Park West.

Start time: 7:18. Duration: 8 minutes. Disperse at 7:26: no one should remain at the mob site after 7:28.

*(for those interested in graphics, this "bullet" was actually a chevron-style check mark) Stand still and stare straight forward. For the first three minutes, make as little noise as possible. If you can make a realistic bird call, you may occasionally do so.

* By 7:21, you may all make bird calls, unrealistic or no.

* By 7:23, you may also mumble "bird noise."

* By 7:25, you may also call out, "Nature here! Come get some nature!" to passersby.

* At 7:26, chant "Na-ture" for 20 seconds; cheer, and disperse.


* (camera icon) Please do not take photographs at the mob site until 7:23.

* (speaking-person icon) Please do not interview anyone at the mob site until 7:26.


**********

Coverage of Manhattan MOB #5


Fred's Journal, July 24, 2003 (w/photos; see also entry for July 25)

cheesebikini? July 24, 2003 (w/photos; also reports on other flash mobs, including Europe's first, in Rome)

Satan's Laundromat, July 24, 2003 (w/photos)

Fancy Robot, July 24, 2003 (w/photos)

Moist and Tasty (photos only; pix from MOB #3 still up beginning at http://www.moistandtasty.com/mob_2.html)

Strange Radiation, July 24, 2003 (text only)

glowlab news, July 25, 2003 (w/photos; including one of NY1 TV crew)

The Official Record, July 25, 2003 (w/audio! listen to it here)