Living a spontaneous Life

October 10th, 2004

Its what makes life exciting, the sudden decision to do something unplanned, a mini adventure in our daily lives.

and flash mobbing is something that is enabling this to happen with greater frequency…and it seems the trend has moved to the Internet.

Here are two recent examples that have taken place in London

The Pillow Fight took place outside St. Paul’s Cathedral

They came in their hundreds, with pillows stuffed in plastic bags. Then, at the appointed hour, they drew weapons and battle was joined. What ensued yesterday was one of the biggest pillow fights ever seen.
An e-mail did the rounds to those in the know inviting them to attend and then, at 5.40pm, a whistle blew Hannah Ford, 35, a project manager, said: ‘It was mayhem. There wasn’t any shouting just this padding sound. People were laughing their heads off.’
Minutes later, the madness ended as suddenly as it began and the crowd disappeared.

500 people turned up to this event, whilst The BBC joined the throng of flashmobbers in Flashmob Opera

Commuters at Paddington were bemused to find a 65-strong orchestra, three professional opera singers and more than 40 amateur choristers descend on them for an hour-long operatic spectacle just after 8pm. The show, broadcast live on BBC Three, was the first of its kind to be performed anywhere in Britain.

Lets not forget the famous flashmob of iPod crazies dancing silently together listening to their own music on a main street station.

The interesting thing is about the mobile and the mobile internet in this instance, is that it can connect communities of interest together and mobilise them very quickly. The outcome for these people is “an enhanced experience,” to be shared and treasured.

Now if I was a brand, wanting to connect in a fragmented media world I might be thinking about some of these cultural/technological changes.

Finally flashmobbing can be used to very powerful effect for more serious causes. Phillipine President, Joseph Estrada was forced from office in 2001 after charges of corruption were brought agaiinst him. Duriing the four days of the uprising, leading to Estrada’s removal from office, SMS was used to coordinate protests, keep protestors abreast of events as they unfolded, and to mobilise citizens to march, to bring food and keep vigil.

Additonal reading: Mobile marketing. How to succeed in a connected age

Bookmarks: