The concept of flash mob was created by Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, and organizer of the very first flash mob in Manhattan. His first attempt at gathering people for a flash mob wasn’t successful because the people from the planned venue (a retail store) were somehow informed and tipped off on the planned gathering.
The second attempt, this time at Macy’s, in June 3, 2003 was successful. Over a hundred people congregated at the rug section on the 9th floor, all of them telling salesclerks that they were a group who lived together and made all shopping decisions together. Since then, various flash mob activities have taken place in various establishments and areas in the city. An example of which is the synchronized applause done by 200 people who gathered at the Hyatt hotel. The applause lasted for 15 seconds, after which the crowd dispersed immediately.
Mobile clubbing is an example of a flash mob activity in which a group of people gather to dance to their own music at a specific time and place. Mobile clubbing is a sort of silent disco, because there is no loud music playing and people are moving to the beat of their own music from their own iPods or mp3 players. London-based artists Emma Davis and Ben Cummins are said to be the inventors of mobile clubbing, which they created back in 2003. Ben Cummins also founded the Pillow Fight club, which appears to be a parody of novelist Chuck Palahniuk’s concept of fight club.
Populated places like train stations and malls are the common targets for mobile clubbing venues. Flash mob activities like mobile clubbing were originally conceptualized with the goal of applying a kind of non-conformism. Also, seeing other people’s reactions while watching the erratic and seemingly absurd activities is satisfying enough for a lot of the participants. As found on the official mobile clubbing website, Cummins gives only three instructions: be on time, dance to your own tune, and spread out. Additional common sense-dictated instructions for mobile clubbing include be careful when making outrageous movements, you might hit your fellow mobile clubbers.