2011 Flashmob!

[russycarps]

no by failure I mean a couple of hundred people standing around watching a complete fook up, despite months of preparation.

It would have been miles better if just him and his mates turned up and did it on their own, like most people do at the stone circle. Rather than having it swarming with idiots all holding their iphones aloft to record a "glastonbury moment".

It's not a glastonbury moment, it's shit

[MamaJojo]

this was the most self indulgant cringeworthy threads leading up to the festival. This Ian fellow clearly just wanted to get a nice video to put on facebook to show all his other braying buddies just what a "character" he is.

I'm laughing my tits off that it was a predictably abject failure.

[Oddone]

Yep it was w*nk. However out little group got load of people singing random songs like Fresh Prince of Belair. Much more enjoyable.

[ThomThomDrum]

no by failure I mean a couple of hundred people standing around watching a complete fook up, despite months of preparation.

It would have been miles better if just him and his mates turned up and did it on their own, like most people do at the stone circle. Rather than having it swarming with idiots all holding their iphones aloft to record a "glastonbury moment".

It's not a glastonbury moment, it's shit

[Flange Basket]

did anyone do a headcount? I've seen it described as 1000's and now 100's. It looked like about 27 and a load of others wandering up to see what the fuss was about.

I don't want to upset the Ministry of Organised Fun, honestly I don't, this is as far from my cup of tea as it gets, but consider for a second that you'd had a long day, perhaps the people you'd travelled with had forced you to listen to Elbow on repeat all the way there, and you just wanted half an hours relaxation at the stone circle, and then all of a sudden, a few dozen people arrive to fill your head with THAT song again!!

DAMN YOU SINGALONGERS MASQUERADING AS A FLASH MOB!! THATS REALLY F'd UP MY DAY!!

Would you not feel a twinge of guilt for making an innocent fellow festival goer's experience just a shade worse? Can you wear the guilt lightly on your shoulders as you dream up next years 'Flash-hugathon'? I hope so, because you drove a young man with Australian style hair and 'muddy' pants (lets hope it was mud) to breakdown!! Everyone assumed it was the drugs, but no, he just couldn't take THAT song again!! 'If only they'd sung one of the less popular, yet infinitely better Elbow songs' he thought before he really cracked and went on a rampage.

Hmmmm, can you live with that Ian?? Can you??

[ThomThomDrum]

............but consider for a second that you'd had a long day, perhaps the people you'd travelled with had forced you to listen to Elbow on repeat all the way there, and you just wanted half an hours relaxation at the stone circle, and then all of a sudden, a few dozen people arrive to fill your head with THAT song again!!

DAMN YOU SINGALONGERS MASQUERADING AS A FLASH MOB!! THATS REALLY F'd UP MY DAY!!

[Ian_Mackay]

Sounds like someone needs a hugathon..

;-)

[Oddone]

I can confirmt here were a few hundred people there. Most of them already there at the SC and got up to wander over to see what everyone else was doing. Only about 20-30 people were actually singing.

[Flange Basket]

I still feel sorry for the poor theroetical chap though.

OK, you sold it to me. Well, almost sold it.

I still object to it being referred to as a Flashmob when it clearly wasn't. It was a gathering. there seemed nothing flash about it. It looked the opposite of flash in fact. A casual ambling towards the gathering at best. Can next years hugathon please have a little more thought put into its description please?

[Flange Basket]

I can confirmt here were a few hundred people there. Most of them already there at the SC and got up to wander over to see what everyone else was doing. Only about 20-30 people were actually singing.

[ThomThomDrum]

Yeah it was defo not very "Flash"........I do believe the description is not doing it any favours.........It was very much a bunch of people having a sing song.

Classic Flash Mobs when done correctly change the environment they take place in instantaneously..........

This had the feel that people were hanging about for it and meeting up for it........and then it simply kicked off......

This is a real Flash Mob

[Ian_Mackay]

I agree with all that in hindsight it wasn't really a flash mob.. very little in the way of sudden arrival or dissipation of crowd, and a sing/jam- along would probably have been a better description, it's true. We didn't want to orchestrate something so formal that it required pre-gatherings where everyone practised in advance as a group, and trusted to luck on what would happen.. And the crowd in the end dictated what happened by gathering in the way it did.

Flange, we had no expectations on how many would turn up - if it had been just us we'd have had a good time anyway, we were just happy to see those that wanted to did join in, and have had many people saying that they had a great time - for us that meant it was a success, and I hope more people left smiling than disappointed or depressed about it. I met at least 15 people beforehand who had brought along instruments and played along, and I think the number of singers who actually sang was a bit higher than Oddone's estimation (who by his own account could only hear muffles from the back).. The 1,000s figure I think came from the BBC Radio 6 guys (Guy Garvey in an interview said there were 5,000, which proves he wasn't there!) - these things get exaggerated, but the important thing is lots of people with no prior expectations ended up having a good time, even if those further out probably felt like watching Radiohead from the back of the park.. something was going on, but couldn't see or hear what it was..

Anyway, I'm done with the debate - it was what it was and we enjoyed it - thanks again to all who joined in!

[amfy]

...and that's why I'm glad that this was more just a sing song. So what's the guy done so wrong? He called it the wrong thing? I don't think it's hard to imagine that if even only 20-30 people start singing a festival anthem at the stone circle that others might join in. It is hardly his fault that there was a wall of people who couldn't manage to sing and hold a phone at the same time between those who joined in properly, and those who might've if their way wasn't blocked by these numbskulls.

I looked at the instructions and the map, decided it was way too complicated, and just sat near the top end of the stones and looked out for something starting. When I saw it, I moved forwards and got involved. It didn't just land in my lap as I sat in position as many might've hoped, but joining in really wasn't difficult. As a result I really enjoyed it.

(EDIT: started typing this after the T mobile clip)

Edited July 4, 2011 by amfy

[formed a band]

Flashmobs and face book both shit. Thread closed

[ThomThomDrum]

Flashmobs and face book both shit. Thread closed

[Josie's Cat]

Yep it was w*nk. However out little group got load of people singing random songs like Fresh Prince of Belair. Much more enjoyable.

[Flange Basket]

I have no issue with a gathering of 20 - 30 people.

I'm naturally predisposed to not liking organised fun like this. Don't ask me why, I just feel uncomfortable with it and a bit odd that other people like it. Thats not a criticism.

However, I'm also predisposed to poking a bit of light hearted fun at stuff as well.

So, I took the mick.

Don't get so precious over it everyone.

Can anyone confirm if the rendition of Hey Jude that seemed to kick off was any fun?

[formed a band]

How insightful and profound of you!

*goes to delete Facebook account*

Anymore wise words on how to lead a better life?

Like how do I become a mindless, pointless twat?

[godders1966]

great new video of it uploaded

[godders1966]

no by failure I mean a couple of hundred people standing around watching a complete fook up, despite months of preparation.

It would have been miles better if just him and his mates turned up and did it on their own, like most people do at the stone circle. Rather than having it swarming with idiots all holding their iphones aloft to record a "glastonbury moment".

It's not a glastonbury moment, it's shit

[russycarps]

great new video of it uploaded

[danbailey80]

I spy with my little eye something beginning with......£100 pair of hunters wellys.

Nevermind the flashmob, you should get on to the phone to Norris McWhirter, you have absolutely smashed the "biggest collection of hunters wellys, rugby shirts and chinless wonders in one place" world record.

DEDICATION THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED

Edited July 4, 2011 by danbailey80

[ThomThomDrum]

You are doing that just fine as you are.

[formed a band]

Glad you noticed

[niceandfriendly]

not really my thing, but if people enjoyed it then that's all that matters really.

those getting all upset over it are just bizarre.