But what is flash mobbing I hear you ask? Not a group of angry naked anarchists, although in some situations that might be the case. No, a flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, then quickly disappear. Groups can be any size, from 20 into the thousands. The mob phenomenon has swept the world, from the States and Europe to china, India and beyond. Larger cities are the most likely places to find mobs. They have seen everything from giant water fights and spontaneous applause to silent raves (where everyone dances to their own song on their Ipod/MP3/in their head).

Flash mobbing was invented in 2003 by a magazine editor called Bill Wasik. He explained some time after mobs became popular that he originally conceived the idea for New Yorkers, to mock of how people will turn up for whatever they think is the ‘next big thing’. He no doubt never dreamt it would become such a global success. So why has it? Flash mobbing can largely be credited to the rise in new technologies and has been referred to as part of ‘net culture’. Ideas for and details of mob events are easily circulated using the web and email. Such is the popularity, that sites like
www.flashmob.co.uk are widely used across the globe. Sheffield even has its own flash mob network. Other than that it seems once people realise something as odd, spectacular and organic as that can easily be done, then hey, it should be!

Although its initial buzz has died down 5 years on, flash mobbing is still popular the world over. It gives people the opportunity to express frustration, let off steam, voice an opinion and just get away from the conformity of everyday life. And people just can’t seem to get away from loving the feel of large numbers of people doing something collectively, communally.

Flash mobbing has been likened to performance art on a mass scale and allows people to be both the audience and the performer. We all dress up in our rooms with the curtains closed (admit it) and this can be an excuse to not only dress up, but to go a little mad too.

In May this year, a storm of Zombies took over San Francisco, emerging from the subways smeared in blood. They carried banners telling people “don’t trust the living”.

For mobs such as this, preparation is required on the part of participants but more often than not they are spontaneous. People are informed as to what is happening when they arrive. If anything, they may be told to bring a simple prop. One Texan mob involved participants being instructed to bring newspapers and to sit and read. Suddenly, they were attacked by Ninjas with water pistols. In this case, only the organisers (and the ninjas) knew what was happening. It seems that the mystery around how mobs will actually play out also attracts people.

The first flash mob was planned for a Claire’s Accessories store, in New York City, but leaked information led to a large police presence. The second mob at Macy’s was made successful by using various pre-mob meeting places and flyers to keep things top secret. The rest is flash mobbing history. Apart from stores getting wind and shutting up shop there has been very little trouble caused by flash mobs since. But how do you ensure that you don’t end up in a jail cell or labelled with an ASBO if you partake? Well flash mobbing is not against the law; you cannot be arrested for simply gathering and doing something stupid especially if you’re doing it for a few minutes. You just need to guarantee that nobody is in any danger, and you do not distress anyone. If you are sensible (!) you shouldn’t have any trouble, although police may over-react and turn up in large numbers, in which case you would need to give up before anything serious happens.

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The flash mob at Macy’s had little real meaning and was not intended to be political, however the mobbing movement has since proved useful to carry agendas, both political and social. Mobs can be a creative way of collectively expressing cultural or social discontent and at the very least they surely bring questioning and otherness into everyday life. A mob may seem to have very little point, such as worshipping a toy dinosaur in TOYS ‘R’ US, but it can mean something entirely different for each participant and spectator, who are all united by its madness.

Of course, when organising a flash mob, there’s always a risk that no-one will turn up, or that it becomes impossible to go through with it. Many mobbers would probably agree that not knowing the outcome adds to the thrill. I know that I might get embarrassed, especially if there weren’t very many people there. On the other hand, think how much fun it would be to act crazy with a load ofcomplete strangers!

So now you’re in the flash mobbing know, check out www.flashmob.co.uk for info on your nearest group, or if you’re feeling adventurous, why not create your own? Note, the best kinds of flash mobs seem to be simple, bizarre ideas in ordinary public places that seem totally odd when imagined. Make sure it’s safe, for example not too many people next to a railway line. Make it pleasing, things that make people happy, such as spontaneous applause, (that would cheer up the sourest of business men). And most of all, it needs to be fun. We could even form a young flash mob group and start bemusing the people of Sheffield with our youthful antics.

By Katherine McKay