Austin Improv

ratliff wrote:I'm a big fan of this stuff, whatever you call it. I just don't get why you have to call it improv.

Word. Yet another confusion of what improv is (see Jeremy's post on this subject) for the public to misunderstand what we do.

Kathy Rose Center wrote:I'm not a fan of "pranks" and "tricks," which often have malevolent intent or "fun" at the expense of others. As I understand it, Improv Everywhere has more benevolent & broader objectives, creating a sense of curiosity, wonder or amazement.

to be entirely fair, the role of the trickster in mythology is often to teach and bring wisdom, usually through mocking themselves as often as those around them. they typically operate in very creative and protective roles as well. the fact that in Norse mythology Odin the All Father and wisest of the gods is as much a trickster as Loki (who was originally merely the god of mischief rather than the evil incarnate being he became later) is quite telling.

it's all in the connotation, is all i'm saying.

After much discussion, I think this group is going to call themselves something generic yet descriptive of what they do.

(insert drum roll here)...

"FLASH MOB AUSTIN".

Sweet, huh? I think it is. Why? Well, because according to the all-knowing Wikipedia page, a flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse.

This is IndianaAdams (aka "ice cream Indiana"), who is a partner in crime with megaMelissa of the newly active Austin Flash Mob.

indiana wrote:"FLASH MOB AUSTIN"

I like it. Keep us updated on these forums how we can get involved in future events.

indiana wrote: "FLASH MOB AUSTIN".

Nice. The flash mob, she is not dead. Kick it.


(I know that someone on these boards started the first flash mobs in Austin several years ago, under the pseudonym "Arthur Flegenheimer". Their secret is safe. But for how long?)

indiana wrote:"FLASH MOB AUSTIN".

I really like that!

indiana wrote: "FLASH MOB AUSTIN"

Awesome! I can't make it this Saturday (something about filming GGG), but keep us all informed!

indiana wrote: "FLASH MOB AUSTIN".

Much nice!

(And, about the comment up there about the Home Depot event, I'd like to say I think that kind of theatre is awesome. It's definitely a fun way to remind people that we're capable of, and allowed to, create new patterns out of the predictable and habitual activities in our lives).

I love Flash Mob Austin.

I would also like to say thank you for considering our requests and for being flexible. I wish you great success and I hope to be able to join you for an event or two down the road.

Keep us in the loop!

sigh...i guess there went my idea for a group of streakers engaged in organized crime. but i can always dream...

(no, seriously, great name. love it. )

(info directly from flashmobaustin.com for anyone interested)...

We are meeting at Dominican Joe (515 s. congress) @ 6:45pm to go over details again with people who have specific roles. If you are not one of these people but are interested in ironing out any last minute concerns or asking questions, PLEASE join us! Agent Filkins and Agent Adams (that's me!) will be there and wearing "FLASH MOB AUSTIN" tee's.

Important: we will be leaving Dominican Joe PROMPTLY at 7pm to walk over the bridge and get in place on the hillside. If you are late for the meeting please don't risk missing the pillow fight, just head straight over to there.

Here are all the gnarly deets for those who somehow missed them on the Urban Prankster page:
-6:45pm pre-meeting at Dominican Joe.

-7:15pm all agents in place on the hillside to the NE of the bridge (sunset is forecasted @ 8:03pm that evening)
-bring yourself and a pillow. bring a friend or several friends and an appropriate number of pillows.
-sit anywhere you like. be on the look out for other agents sitting on pillows, and locate yourself accordingly. do not approach other agents with questions or mention anything about the mission.

-7:30pm two designated agents begin whacking each other with their pillows (POSITION FILLED by Agent Princess Mariposa and friend). all other agents remain seated and observe along with the rest of the crowd. start counting a minute off in your head or glance at your cell phone (or other atomic clock ordered device, so we are all on the same exact time) a couple times, letting them continue on their own for exactly one minute.

-7:31pm all other agents/friends of agents initiate fights with anyone who has a pillow! do not hit to maim, folks! try to take it easy, but also make it look authentic! have fun! switch it up, fight with multiple people, going distances to make it happen. be aggressive and play to win! (Agent Jones will be the "crowd stirrer" who walks around during the pillow fight and question bystanders about what is happening, who started this? why wasn't i invited? man, nobody told me this is what goes on at the bat bridge, cool!, etc.)

-7:35pm a referee (POSITION FILLED BY: Agent Erik Ellison) who has been watching all this activity from a stationary ref stance blows their whistle and all activity comes to a SCREECHING HALT. all eyes go to the ref who walks over to an agent who he declares the WINNER (holds hand and raises it, ref like) and amidst great cheering and clapping, all agents resume their seated positions as if nothing happened.
-any inquiries in regards to the reason behind the pillow fight should be answered with an innocuous response along the lines of "oh, i just love pillow fights!" or some such hilarity.

-8:20pm (aprox., after the bats have made their appearance) any and all agents who would like to participate in a play-by-play with the group will meet at the STEVIE STATUE on the W side of the s. congress bridge. it'll be fun to discuss how our experiences were, what worked, what we should have planned for, etc.

Thanks and see you there!

I am really interested in hearing about how this went. I wish I could've made it

It. Was. Amazing. Truly, I expected there to be about 30 people. After watching the video (which we'll post online later) I'd say there were almost 100 people!

It was also freaking awesome to see so many improvisers out there. We whompped people good. Well played.

Thanks for Mega Melissa (Agent Filkins) for reviving this.

Well played!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGXe6_muLkw

Really good. It looked so natural at the beginning.