SPM caught up with Brandon Komar, a Russian and business management junior at ASU, and Jeff Moriarty, an alum and member of Improv Arizona (improvaz.com), on how to organize a well-executed flash mob. These guys know their stuff — it’s not easy to get 100 plus people together to simultaneously do a random act (like dancing, having a pillow fight or taking off their pants) while making it look spontaneous. Throw in the fact that it’s in public and they might be dodging the cops, and you’ve got it: the perfect flash mob. Komar and Moriarty walk us through what it takes, step by step:
Step 1: Find an idea.
"A good start is just knowing what you [want to] do," says Komar. That said it may not be as easy as it sounds to just pick an idea. It’s not a bad idea in this case to mirror things that other cities have done, which is why Komar decided to organize a pillow fight in Tempe Marketplace on the same day that many other cities nationwide had plans to take part.
Step 2: Find a location.
Picking a large, open public place where many people can observe the flash mob is the next step. This can get complicated, as Moriarty explains, because you have the issue of public versus private property.” Making sure that the location you choose is not private is important, because run-ins with the cops are one of the things that flash-mob organizers try hard to avoid.
Step 3: Make a plan.
Although it sounds simple, having a plan is one of the most important aspects to organizing a mob. Making sure that everyone involved knows where and when the activity will occur can help make everything run smoothly.
"Make sure to set an exact time for the event to occur and a time limit so that everyone stops at the same time," Komar says, "so that everyone involved will be on the same page."
Step 4: Spread the word.
Having an idea, a location and a plan will all be for nothing if no one shows up. The best way to spread the word is through word-of-mouth and social-networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Joining "Arizona’s First Official Flash Mob" on Facebook can be a good way to meet other people who are interested in starting and participating in flash mobs. Komar, who started the group, often posts new events on the page.
Step 5: Check the laws.
Before taking off those pants for the next no-pants lightrail ride, be sure that everyone knows the laws. "Before we had the no-pants light rail ride, I actually had to call the Phoenix police department and check the laws on partial nudity in public," says Komar.
Even if no laws will be violated, it’s a good idea to be willing to work with security and police officers. "Let officials know beforehand," says Moriarty, "to avoid any disastrous endings."
If students aren’t gutsy enough to potentially make a fool of themselves in public, there’s nothing wrong with showing up just to watch. What’s a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than watching a huge gang of students get into a pillow fight whilst unbeknownst shoppers gawk in surprise?
Reach the reporter at wesmith1@asu.edu.
