History behind Flash Mobs and the Cultural Sensation

I've been digging up some history behind Flash Mobs. Remember those? Remember back in those days when you are just going about your day, and you see a collective amount of people dressed up and coming together to do a dance numbers. Mostly for going to the Prom proposals, or just because. 

As far as I know, flash mobs have been there for decades, but more recently, and for a long long time, flash mobs have not been prevalent on TikTok or Instagram. I'm guessing more people do not have time to collaborative together to do chorography and dance outside while others look on. 

The last dance flash mob that I've seen was a couple of years ago, mind you this was on Youtube, and I have not seen one in person lately. And it was this viral video located in a shopping centre, and four women dressed like they are flight attendants and more airport staff came to dance as well. Onlookers look at how wonderful they danced. As the video goes on, there was room for breakdancing and some guy in a green suit jumped from a duty-free counter. 

I can tell the onlookers were pleased and actually positive vibes throughout the square. On a side note: It was funny to see the DVD logo, it just shows how old this video was. And people loved every moment of it. They were video taping and having a laugh, some instantly joined in with the spectacle. Feel free to watch it below. 

Flash mob in a Dubai Airport, it went viral

History behind it is very interesting as well. 

Bill Wasik

According to the actual 'Flash Mob' website, it started back in 2003 in a New York City suburb of Manhattan. It was created by Bill Wasik, He wanted to try something new to 'poke fun at hippies and highlight cultural atmosphere' and be 'the next best thing'.  

A bit more on Bill Wasik, he is an editorial director of the New York Times but was an senior editor of Wired magazine (not Weird lol, Wired, I get that mistake a lot) and Harper's magazine. 

He made several books including 'Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Diabolical Virus' with Monica Murphy in 2012, 'And Then There's This: How Stories Live and Die in Viral Culture' in 2009, and last years 'Our Kindred Creatures' again with Monica Murphy. 

Back to his flash mobs, the first one he made was unsuccessful. After he targeted a retail store to have random strangers dance with him. 

On June 2003, in a Macy's store, his 'flash mob' made into existence. 

According to the website, the participants were instructed to be in four different Manhattan bars to follow instructions before it began. 

Here is how he did it (from the website):

"More than 130 people converged upon the ninth floor rug department of the store, gathering around an expensive rug. 

Flash Mobs 

Anyone approached by a sales assistant was advised to say that the gatherers lived together in a warehouse on the outskirts of New York, that they were shopping for a "love rug", and that they made all their purchase decisions as a group. 

Subsequently, 200 people flooded the lobby and mezzanine of the Hyatt hotel in synchronized applause for about 15 seconds, and a shoe boutique in SoHo was invaded by participants pretending to be tourists on a bus trip." - from the 'Flash Mob Website.

Unfortunately, there is no video that was released from this, however, if you have videos or photos of this, feel free to share them in the comments below. 

I'm hoping Flash Mobs come back, because it really meant a lot to the community, and to spread a bit of kindness along the way helps a community grabble through hard times, and to shine a light that even a single coming together, like a flash mob, can really make their days.

Here is the website to learn more about Flash Mobs: http://myweb.astate.edu/mford/3463/Xie/history.html