Toytown Germany

TT brought the Flash Mob to Munich on 1st August 2003 - just two months after the worlds first ever flash mob which happened in New York. The Munich Flash Mob took place on Marienplatz at 6.30pm and involved around 250 people as well as hundreds of onlookers and 7 TV and radio crews.

Click for the SZ report and the TZ report.

The following photos were taken by Robin Merod:

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/munich-flash-mob1.jpg[/img]

MUNICH MOB #1

Rules of Flash Mob
============

1. Follow the Mob rules and instructions to the letter.
2. Forward these instructions to anyone on your email list; tell anybody you like.
3. Don't squeal to the police.
4. Do not gather before the appointed time.
5. Disperse means get out of the area; do not loiter.
6. Do no damage; leave what you find.
7. Don't ask questions; either follow the instructions or don't go.
8. NO PICTURES WHATSOEVER.

Instructions
========

Date: Friday August 1st.
Place: Marienplatz, Munich.
Time: Arrive in Marienplatz at 19:21 precisely.
Dress: Whatever you like.

Pre Mob Formation
----------------------
Browse the shops independently. Do not draw attention to yourself.

Mob Formation
-----------------
1. At 18:26 form a mob around the golden statue in the centre of Marienplatz.
2. At 18:29 point at the Glockenspiel on the town hall.
4. For two minutes stare and point.
5. At 18:32 exactly place one hand your hand and start to rotate on the spot shouting "bing bong".
6. At 18:34 APPLAUD LOUDLY.
7. At 18:35 precisely DISPERSE COMPLETELY and continue with your daily life.

Questions & Answers
-----------------------
If you are asked what you are doing say "I'm taking in the sights of Munich".
If you are asked about Flash Mob, say "I'm here to see the Glockenspiel".
If you are asked about who organised the mob say "I'm here alone".
If you are asked about the point of the mob say "Life is a journey, this is a stop".

Contact with the Press
==============

Questions from the press should be answered as above.

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/munich-flash-mob2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/munich-flash-mob3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/munich-flash-mob4.jpg[/img]

I still don't get what is that mob thing about? Got it via mail two, found the same text on a couple of web pages...

Enya - see bbc news

Seems to me like someone couldn't be bothered to think up anything original themself. Borrrring.

Perhaps my previous post was a little... err... blunt. I actually think the motivation is not bad (assuming the motivation is to make people who see it happen go "Huh? WTF?!"), but the actual event has been done. Many times. I just wish people would use their imagination. They've also given no thought as to what might happen if it is raining - so what if a bunch of people put up their umbrellas? Turning the tables on the Mob, now that would be funny.

What Noddy, you didn't get the secret email that says at exactly 19:30 show up with the water cannons and point 'em at the back in black crowd? I thought it was an intriguing idea anyway, but not enough payoff. No pix, no talking, no publicity, no after-beer stuff; where's the camraderie or infamy?I'd rather see/attend like a semi-organized local version of the Burning Man or something. Fills all the performance-art-weird-hippy-trip-hop-explosions-drugs-nudists- philosophy-mantra-techno-guns-fire-youth-body-cultureworship-freaks- rave-community needs. Switzerland has Burning the Böög, why not start a Burning the Bavarian fest?Hmm..I'm feeling a bit nostalgic for heading out to the desert to hang with the freaks in 40 degree weather

Well, I was thinking something like turning up with a rope in a rucksack and then whipping it out (ooer) when they stand around the statue, and with the aid of a partner or two tieing them all up together. Burning them is going a bit far, even for me. Where we would get 50 metres of rope is beyond me. Unless you count the climbing rope we happen to have in the rucksack over there...

A mob scene just made for being there"The Internet has spawned a gaggle of new verbs -- Googling, surfing and flaming are words most of us are used to hearing in everyday conversation. Now you can add "flash mobbing" to that list. In recent weeks, New Yorkers have been using forwarded e-mails to coordinate "flash mobs," or not-so-random crowds that appear and dissipate within a matter of minutes. Is it performance art? The cutting edge of a new social movement? Or just an easy way to flummox carpet salesmen?"

Now, I think I got the idea of what is that flash-mob gathering all about. A new social movement, very intriguing idea indeed! I think will be there myself, (not to take part, although). Wonder what and if the local newspapers will report next day?

Heh, will there be organized press kits and preferred press viewing areas for the spontaneous 10 minute 'flash' mob?

Well Enya, if everyone has the same idea, the Flash Mob will consist of a bunch of people hanging around Marienplatz, looking around for another bunch of people dressed in black with umbrellas (who, of course, never show up).

Showendo you recon they won’t show up?

Thing is, there are normally more tourists at the marienplatz than the number Mobsters is see in these pictures. The tourists already run around like sheep, pointing and waving - so what's the difference?There's that sad guy again with the brown singlet that we saw at Ned Kelly's doing his gay walk to the camera crew.

Were you there??? It was certainly a lot different than the normal tourist crowd. Japenese tourists don't turn in a circle for three minutes saying bing bing bing... anyway, it's just supposed to be silly and fun. And it's not your or my place to decide what that is for people. I think it's refreshing to have something silly to do on a Friday, other than drinking at Kilian's. Which is ever so much more unique, right?

There was a spread about this mob in the SDZ on Saturday.Here's the online version of one of the articles:

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sz/muenchen/red-artikel2958/

For those of you who don't read German, here's the (rather amusing) Google translation:The Flash mobilization sloshes to Munich: Two hundred humans meet to a strange action before the city hall (by Klaus Raab) The important secret instructions read thus first concretely then times as follows that one atomic clock-exactly between 18.47 and 19.16 o'clock under the second nonsmoker sign of the McDonald's branch in the valley closer, still more important and secret instructions receive. There, atomic clock-punctually, a strict young gentleman with black sun glasses stands. In its hand: small white notes. On the notes: the accurate instructions for the "bell play tourist Spoof". Friday evening, briefly before the federal league start: Munich plays conspiracy. The play is called Flash mobilization. A quantity apparently coincidentally met appears lightning-like. Disappears lightning-like again. And makes between them any Bloedsinn. That is everything. A the goal, if one can speak of a goal: to break open the samples of the everyday life. To Munich first Flash mobilization meet on Marienplatz 100 to 200 young humans, which 100 to 200 more is than being expected was and interpret o'clock at 19.26, the important secret instructions in accordance with, the bell play at the city hall. They tell all tourists from Japan and the USA, it will directly strike. At 19.30 o'clock puts it a hand on the head, turns in the circle and makes "Bing". At 19.32 o'clock puts it to call the second hand to it and to "Bong". At 19.34 o'clock applaudieren it, is jubilant, hops on and off. At 19.35 o'clock absent-minded itself the quantity suddenly in all directions. "control room not, which instructs next happened", the handbill. "next nothing happens." Back remain verdatterte passanten, amused passanten, helpless policemen and a handful television teams, because plans, which in the InterNet, then evenly nevertheless not, are so secret.Martin is under the members of the Mobs and one of these hippen residents of Munich, who like that hip are that they would have to actually pull to Berlin. If it is not in the Atomic Café, it is in the InterNet, and one can say that he moves in both areas perfectly. "with rough mischief", Martin says, "always is I thereby". He participates - with which he is however thereby, experiences he only briefly before. Time and place are given, everything else white only, who invents the action. Communication takes place by InterNet. And thus not everyone takes part in and so the feeling of the Subversivitaet remains, can the rules to short protected before beginning of action be changed. The society play conquers the public places. And if the action on Marienplatz also looks, as if it rose from a roof damage: It is of Munich second dadaistische quantity meeting. After the clearly less amusing Blade Night. (the bell play plays daily around 11, 12 and 17 o'clock.) "strict young gentleman with black sun glasses"? Should that have been "strict young Toytowner with black TT-standard-issue sun glasses" perhaps?

I guess the author of the article wasn't even there... he only got told by his friend's brother or something like that...

Right then,I think the best Flash Mob idea would be the Tiswas Dying Fly!

All that nazi saluting can't have gone down too well.

+++Munich Flash Mob #3: Wednesday, 3rd September+++
Powered by: The Munich Flash Mob Revolution _instructions ....
The final instructions will be distributed on small sheets of paper only a few minutes before the Flash Mob. Collect the final instructions here: _date: Wednesday, 3rd September
_time: Between 18:49 and 19:11 hrs EXACTLY (www.uhrzeit.org/atomuhr.html)
_place:
EITHER: The ejection hole of the "Passfotos/Visitenkarten" machine opposite to the SW//M Shop in the Marienplatz basement (next to the Kaufhof -1 entrance)
OR: Opposite to Palmers, at Rindermarkt 10:
Take a closer look at the SZ newspaper machine... _dress: Anything The Flash Mob happens a few minutes after 19:11 and it will last no longer than 10 minutes.
_collection of instructions ...
1. Do NOT wait at the collection place.
2. Find the paper and LEAVE.
3. Do NOT ask questions.
4. Do NOT talk about Flash Mob.
5. Move quickly but discreetly; do not cluster.
_rules of Flash Mob ...
1. Don't come to watch or take photos; TAKE PART OR DON'T GO.
2. Follow the rules and instructions to the letter.
3. Forward these instructions to your friends and relatives.
4. Don't squeal to the press or the police.
5. Don't answer questions from the press.
6. Do not gather before the appointed time.
7. Disperse immediately after.
8. Do no damage; leave what you find.
_questions & answers ...
1. If you are asked what you are doing, say: "I lost my dog..."
2. If you are asked about Flash Mob, say: "I ain't like no mopping!"
3. If you are asked about who organized the Flash Mob, say: "I'm here alone."
4. If you are asked about the point of the Flash Mob, say: "All you need is love..."

I'll pop along (a little early) and take some pictures, ask some questions, answer questions, wait at the collection place, all whilst wearing a ribbon around my neck with a set of keys attached to it.

What a joke!!!Not to sound cynical, but don't you people have anything more interesting to do with your time ... baaah baaah baaah!!!