Yesterday’s festivities began with Improv Everywhere’s MP3 Experiment. Like the past 3 MP3 Experiments, participants were instructed to download an MP3 track from the IE website and refrain from listening to it until further instructed. We were instructed to synchronize our watches and head down to the The World Financial Center Plaza by the North Cove Yacht Harbor wearing a Red, Blue, Yellow or Green shirt. At 4:00 PM sharp, we were to start the MP3 and about 600 or so people did just that.
Like the past MP3 Experiments, we were lead around on a fun journey by Steve, the Mountain-dew drinking omnipotent being from above. The fun began with a huge game of twister on the colored tiles in the center of the plaza. Most of us couldn’t get onto the “twister board” area as there were so many people, but imagine if you were just there for lunch, or worked there and were outside on your break when people just hoarded around the plaza and started playing twister while everyone else waved them on from the sidelines.
We went for a walk, greeting strangers as we walked.. Smiling, Giving them thumbs up and even high-fiving people who were having picnics, walking dogs, riding bikes, etc… At a few points we even pretended to be walking dogs or roller blading. Imagine 600 people pretending to be walking a dog simultaneously 🙂 Outrageous.
We gathered in a clearing where we were instructed to take out digital cameras and camera phones and given specific instructions on what to take pictures of. Red and Blue but no Yellow, Take a picture with a camera, with no camera, with red and blue shirts only, with green shirts only, etc… Everyone was running around and taking pictures of everyone else. It was disturbing yet fun all at the same time!
next, Steve told up to form a human bullseye, greens as the bullseye, then reds around them. Yellow and green forming the outer two rings. Everyone had to squeeze close together then..oops.. The center should be red!!! red and green, Switch! 🙂
Then we all went into a game of freeze tag… Each color taking turns being, “It” and running around and freezing everybody. This got a bit chaotic because the people who started their MP3 early were at an advantage. I was about 20 seconds behind, so I had no idea who was “It” until it was too late.
Keep in mind that all this was going on while people were picnicing, sunbathing, etc.. There were maybe 40 or so people scattered across this field who were just there doing their thing, and about 600 or so of us doing all this around them.
After freeze-tag, we all laid down to rest. We just stopped where we were, laid down, looked up at the sky and waved. A harmonius wave of “Bye Steve!!!” was heard by those around us, at this point looking on in wonder. The MP3 track went on, about 5 minutes or so we just laid there and listened to steve’s younger brother talk us through relaxation techniques.
The MP3 Experiment ended and everyone sat up to applaud Improv Everywhere on another great mission accomplished.
I insist that if you read this, and are even the slightest bit intrigued, head over to www.ImprovEverywhere.com and sign up for the mailing list. You can take part in their next mission.