Pointless but fun? Flashmob phenomenon reaches UK


London's first flash mob gathers. Photograph: Dan Chung

At precisely 6.31 yesterday evening, Sofas UK in central London found itself at the cutting edge of internet culture.
Simultaneously, and not coincidentally, it was also besieged by 250 sweaty people speaking English without the letter "o".

Sofas UK, currently offering sizeable reductions on a wide range of suites, was the chosen venue for Britain's first "flashmob" - a spontaneous and ostensibly pointless gathering, organised secretively by email and subject to meticulous timing.

The mob was set in motion yesterday morning, when emails were sent to interested parties signed on to the LondonMob website, giving instructions to meet in one of three pubs at exactly 6.17pm, when more information would be given. Until then, it was important to keep an eye on the fruit machine.

A flaw in the plan became apparent at 6.13pm when a young man in a tight-fitting T-shirt left printed instructions on the fruit machine of the Carpenters Arms. While watches were supposed to have been synchronised, it was not clear to which standard. The timing was already out.

So far out, in fact, that when the mob eventually descended on Sofa UK its manager, Derrick Robinson, had shut up for the day.

Citing a slow afternoon in the heat of the capital - "one tends to use your discretion, if you haven't seen anyone for an hour" - an unsuspecting Mr Robinson was in the Hope pub when the mob descended.

After negotiations with mob spokespeople, intent on emphasising the power of collective bargaining, Mr Robinson opened up. The mob then duly obeyed their instructions; to speak without using "o", text message a friend, and commend Mr Robinson on the quality of his furniture.

The first flashmobs were spotted in New York earlier this summer. Organised by a man known only as Bill, and recorded in the weblogs of Manhattan's neterati, the craze quickly spread across America and emigrated to Asia and Europe. Germany now lays claim to the flashmobbing crown: it has groups registered in 21 cities and stages mobs every night of the week.

Until yesterday it seemed the British movement was all talk and no sudden congregation.

"I set my watch by the speaking clock", said Tristan a tall man in shades and ponytail. "To be honest though, it's been better than I expected it to be. I actually thought it might be a bit of a washout. I'm going to Spain tomorrow, though, so I might try starting one in Alicante."

At roughly 6.38 the mob burst into a round of applause and departed, leaving Mr Robinson to contemplate a rather bizarre seven minutes.

"I don't know that this is the strangest day of my life - I'll have to check my stock first," he said.

"But everybody seemed to appreciate the sofas, so that makes it worthwhile."
I read this on the Guardian News