207 pranksters stand still for 5 mins in Grand Central Stn

In this video clip, the Improv Everywhere group brings 207 apparently normal people into Grand Central Station, whereupon they all freeze, at exactly the same instant, for five minutes, standing stock still, as though they were caught in some kind of time-loop. Around them, the Grand Central crowd looks on in wonderment, trying to figure out what's going on -- a little scared, but delighted too. When the frozen hundreds all begin to move again at the same instant, the crowd gives them a standing ovation.

We got great reactions from the folks who encountered us. Strangers started talking to each other, trying to figure out what was going on. With wireless microphones hidden in our shirts, a few agents and I struck up conversations with folks. I convinced one guy to grab a cell phone from a frozen woman's hand. He did it, laughing uncontrollably as he gently put it back in her hand. My favorite reaction was from a female cop who witnessed the whole thing from behind her NYPD recruitment booth:
Me: Do you know what that was?
Cop: I have no idea! That is the craziest shit I've ever seen in my life, AND I'M A COP!
Me: Ha. Yeah, it was weird.
Cop: You wanna sign up to be in the NYPD?
Me: No thanks.

Link (via Kottke)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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chronophobe

This is fun. So what if it has been done before. Does all art simply have to be trendazoid? It broke people out of their commuter/consumer/wageslave stupors and got them in the moment for a moment. How can this not be a great thing? Just to wake folks up so they think about, whatever. Give them a mental-health break. I’m all for it.
What an arrogant, elitist comment. You’re assuming that all of the travelers are bovine dullards – “norms” and squares in need of a shake-up from some crazy, out-there freethinkers. You’re assuming people need – or want – a “mental health break”? Guess what? People are busy; they have things to do. If people choose to do so, they can (and do) seek out art that interests them. Most people don’t want (and are annoyed by) idiotic “art” shoved down their throats, especially when they’re focusing on accomplishing a task, in this case commuting.

More than likely, most people would find dumb events like this to be irritating, not only because people are literally interfering with the ability of travelers to move about the station, but also because of the insulting nature of subjecting people to the equivalent of fast-food conceptual art without their consent. Would you like it if I came and covered your office with Thomas Kincaid prints because I thought they looked pretty (I don’t) and thought you needed it to shake you out of your stupor? I can’t wait until the dumb hipsters age out of antics like this. This is the epitome of trendy, flash-in-the-pan “art”. (By the way, this is coming from a graduate of art school – I mention this because I am a fan of some out-there, esoteric art. This just ain’t it.)
Sal Pic

Flash mobs are not art. In my experience they are fun for not only the people involved, but those who happen to be around when one goes down.

That’s really it. Just fun for the sake of fun. Is that OK? I understand that people have things to do, but (again, from experience) two or three minutes to freeze or dance or walk like zombies really isn’t taking much time out of your day. You’ll still catch your train, make it to class, or whatever it is you’re doing.
Another Aaron

@Chronophobe – I like how you quietly ignored the positive reaction from the witnesses.

It’s much easier to give your opinion of what “most people feel” versus actually watching the video.
V

Zombie Lurches – all fun and games until someone initiates their Zombie Plan…
hemidemisemiquaver

Flash mobs exist. News at 11.

Yawn.
franko

i think this is awesome. i don’t see any of the commuters hindered by their presence, in fact, it seems clear that people really liked it. the only one that seemed inconvenienced in the video was the guy in the cart, and even he seemed to think it was cool. if he was really put out because his life and his tasks were more important than an unplanned stop for a few minutes, he would have just pushed his way through.
mmbb

I feel sorry for the person who had to “freeze” while at the ticket window…
Takuan

I would like to think I would have immediately frozen myself, had I been there.
obscurica

Flash mobs are soooo 20th century.
obscurica

Flash mobs are soooo 20th century.
Susan Oliver

On another note entirely, why oh why was it important to note the gender of the cop? Sigh…
Emily

That’d be “Improv Everywhere”, Cory, not “improve”. Their URL isn’t quite as unfortunate as WhoRepresents, but it’s kind of unclear.
Takuan

yeah, traditional art has its place too. Always wanted to join a good Zombie Lurch.
funeralpudding

Ugh. For an improv troupe, it doesn’t show very much imagination to simply repeat the ‘standing still’ flash mob that’s already been done and widely reported.
Jeff

Life Art? A Happening? Or just crazy people out to upset others with something that could posssibly frighten and disturb?
License Farm

I love Improv Everywhere; they’re such happy ontological terrorists. That said, this is similar to an event they staged in a Best Buy in NYC where they all froze, then moved in slow motion. I hope they’re not lapping themselves.
License Farm

Sorry, that should have been a Home Depot. Best Buy’s the dinks who want to sue IE for parody and anyone who reports on that parody, too.
Pipenta

This is fun. So what if it has been done before. Does all art simply have to be trendazoid? It broke people out of their commuter/consumer/wageslave stupors and got them in the moment for a moment. How can this not be a great thing? Just to wake folks up so they think about, whatever. Give them a mental-health break. I’m all for it.

It is really sad that there are people who would find this frightening. That kind of fear response just feeds the police state and erosion of freedom.

If the flash mob thing works, who cares if it isn’t cutting edge. People still paint watercolor landscapes and damned if some of them aren’t really fine.
flipa

It looks like the people who did it enjoyed doing it and the people that witnessed it enjoyed witnessing it. I think that’s awesome.

Then some people on the internet opined that it was uncool because it has been done before, and someone else worried about a hypothetical person who could find it threatening, but I guess those happy, fun-loving people who participated in the action or witnessed it couldn’t give a rat’s ass.
KipEsquire

“the crowd gives them a standing ovation”

Are you suggesting that the crowd could somehow have given them a sitting ovation? ;-)
Dillenger69

It’s a good thing they didn’t try this in Boston … or in an airport.

The gestapo would be all over them.
mikeashworth

Hi, On a slightly different theme, in the UK, last year there was a silent disco flashmob (think dancing, but without music) at brighton station, in aid of international womens day

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vdhoBgEb5Os

and an even bigger one 4,000 flashmobsters startled commuters at victoria station in london, UK.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23391632-details/4,000+flash+mob+dancers+startle+commuters+at+Victoria/article.do

Unfortunately, the large numbers and the very unhappy travellers elsewhere around the station meant that the police had to come and disperse them! can you believe it
strathmeyer

“Are you suggesting that the crowd could somehow have given them a sitting ovation? ;-)”

Well, if I were there, I would’ve joined in, which would’ve made the reanimation a little awkward.
Dave Rattigan

Reminds me of Derren Brown’s brilliant mall trick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOEKdaXIEHc
samu

On the bright side, it hasn’t been as overdone as the application of coloured oils to canvas, or the rhythmic agitation of strings or membranes.
Sal Pic

Not only has the freezing flash mob been done, IE themselves have done it as part of their Slow Motion Home Depot prank.

Either way, it’s fun. People involved love being involved. The UK has mobs all the time and they’re also popular on college campuses stateside.
the_boy

So. Kewl.
Virion

I was wondering: are the photos being taken done by IE or the observers? It’d seem rather silly to photography non-moving people, imagine tellign somebody about it.

1: “Look, right here. See that guy? Not moving.”

2: “Nobody is, it’s a photograph.”

1: “:(“
ill lich

#12 DILLENGER69

“It’s a good thing they didn’t try this in Boston … or in an airport.
The gestapo would be all over them.”

That remains to be seen. If the cops didn’t arrest anyone for the various zombie-marches in Boston, why would they bother with people standing still? (There were no exposed wires or LEDs involved, which seem to be touchy subjects with the cops in Boston). What’s more threatening: zombies or people standing still? Don’t let your preconceived notions get in the way of logic; ultimately Boston is not much different than any other American city.