AFM#14: CIBO! CIBO! CIBO! Event Report
August 1, 2009 
8 Comments
For this event, we did four mob activities along Rundle Mall on Saturday August 1st 2009.
We did things a bit differently by giving out the instructions before the event while usually mobbers don’t get them until they show up on the day and receive a sheet of papper with the details. It seemed to work in getting more people out as this was our biggest flashmob event so far with around 50 people.
Check out the instructions for the event including details of each activity. Watch the video below and read the comments from event participants. Add your own comments.
Funny Video Moments
3:20- Guy in white jumper and blonde girl in pink top arrive after Chibo Cheers has finished and stand around waiting for something to happen…
3:55- Guy in black jumper with a coke walks by with a smile on his face
4:02- Two girls in red, apparently they weren’t part of the mob and just decided to join in. At the end they said “why did we just do that?”
4:12- Tall, thin guy with light coloured clothing standing to the left of the girl with the camera, looking around interested
4:34- Girl in denim jacket and girl in brown jacket enter from the right and look on shocked. They make another appearance at 4:55 (behind the pole) and are left standing confused once everyone disperses
Long time mobbers would recognise that 3/4 of the mobs we did were ones we’d done in the past so we had a good feeling that they would work. The Line was no exception. There’s something about a long line of people that just turns heads, and when you add that they guy at the front is holding a sign saying “please line up here” but with no explanation of why, people must stare while their minds search for an explanation.
Everyone seems to be in agreement that Chibo Cheers was the best activity and the most fun to participate in. As expected, the cheering and clapping quickly brought a crowd of onlookers. It’s hard to say whether they were more confused by the subject of our commotion or the speed of our arrival and departure.
Our last two activities were more subtle both visually and audibly. Some people in their own little worlds just walked on by without even noticing, those more observant stopped, realising that something wasn’t quite right. I think Boing Boing would’ve been better if we had people look in different directions and stand not so much in a circle formation. Murmer worked pretty well, might have perhaps been better if we’d spread out a bit more.
To end the event, those who wanted to headed into City Cross for some food and a chat. In order to identify themselves as mobbers they were instructed to put their left hand on their head and walk around until they met up with others doing likewise. This wasn’t captured on the video but it was pretty funny and certainly confused the security guard on duty.
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We love hearing about funny bystander reactions so if you can remember any or notice any good ones in the video, please put them in the comments. Here’s some other questions we’d like to get your answers to.
- Which of the four activities did you think worked the best?
- Do you think the fact that we gave out the instructions before the event made it better or worse?
- Do you have any ideas for future events?
- Any other comments or suggestions?
![Adelaide Flash Mob - Here's A Flower RICK ROLLED [ 2 flowers given out ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bWve2DDv1tE/default.jpg)
![Adelaide Flash Mob - Here's A Flower RICK ROLLED [ 3rd Flower ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gQ1LYefUb7o/default.jpg)
Today was a lot of fun! I think it worked really well.
The line-up was great, and I had a lot of people ask us why we were lining up. We simply replied ‘the sign says to’ XD
But I think the CIBO! shouting definitely worked the best and attracted the most attention, as would be suspected from lots of people yelling and clapping. The circle chanting didn’t work quite as well as the others, but still made lots of bystanders say ‘is that a cult?’
I think that giving out instructions made it better, since most people I talked to said they felt more comfortable knowing exactly what they had to do before they got there.
All in all, a great day! Looking forward to the next event
Lolz the line was sick. Epic ROFL when that guy came out of the store he was working at and was like “people have officially lost it” or something like that. Everyone was so confused!
The boing event had potential, but instead it turned into a massive circle and everyone was ‘boining’ at the same time.
& Yeah, it was so much easier with the instructions.
Hope the next flash mob is even better.
Today was great, and Cibo definantely worked the best. But the line was awesome as well.
I think lots of people just joined the line without actually knowing what it was for.
I think the cibo activity worked best. everyone was really into it, i thought it was hilarious!!
i haven’t previously attended a flash mob event, but i think the instructions worked well, everyone knew what they were doing.
as for bystander reactions, a friend of mine saw us standing around the pigs muttering. afterwards she came up with an extremely concerned look on her face and asked what the hell was going on, and where we all stoned.
The line was pretty good but the cibo was the best and really turned some heads. After the cibo an old lady asked me and my friend what was going on and why we were doing it to which the reply was “for s***s and giggles” and she just said “well what ever works for you”
The chanting circles was pretty interesting and got some rather concerned looks from passers by. I can recall my friend stating while it was happening that he was just waiting for stuff to just start levitating or something.
The instructions were good so everyone knew what they were doing and passers by still didn’t know what was happening so it all worked out nicely.
A suggestion for next time would be to try spread it out across the city more so it doesn’t hit the same crowd as much. Something at marion in the school holidays when they have the stage out with some sort of mascot would be good. Always some laughs to be had where ever there’s mascots :p
The first two events were classic!! the other events werent as good or as fun.
When someone asked us what we were doing lining up, i replied “I don’t actually know, the line is too long and I cant see the front, but if its this long its got to be good”
This was my first flashmob event, but i only went because i recieved an email with instructions, so keep on sending out the instructions
Hi our family loved the whole thing. It was my son’s 22nd birthday and he wanted to do it with us and friends. It was amazing especially melting into the crowd afterwards then re-emerging. The line and cibo was great but I had great reactions from bystanders for the other two. One man said what are you doing. I said its a flash mob. He then said “Oh no my daughter might get raped!” Two very loud young women said “What the f…. is going on?”I said its a flash mob. “They yelled “What the f…. for? and I yelled back ” F..n fun! They laughed.
OK, so I love the boing one, the idea is awesome, but I thought everyone was meant to do it at their own time, and speed, not all together? Is there a youtube video version I can link on my blog?
Keep up the FM work folks!