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Okay, this is an old one (2006)

But if anyone hasn't heard of "improv everywhere" ,
or if you just would like to see what happens if you dress up in khakis and a blue polo and wander into a Best Buy:
imagine a flash mob doing just that!

Best Buy

I would personally prefer an http://improveverywhere.com/ WikiLeaks Theater Orchestration. On one day, lots of folks all over the world get dressed up like cold war movie land spies: beige raincoat, sunglasses, a newspaper, and a briefcase full of play money. Then they follow officials leaving government buildings, and offer them the briefcase for a leak, insisting, "Julian sent me!"

. . . and don't forget the sign/countersign . . . "It is warm in Moscow this spring . . . The camels are in heat . . . "

The gag here, is that all these government officials would report these bizarre incidents, and the security services will be totally baffled.

Oh, and some officials might actually take the play money.

Outside of the Geek and Government universes, most normal folks probably have no idea what WikiLeaks and Julian Assange are.

Here is Improv Everywhere's write up of the event: http://improveverywhere.com/2011/07/25/the-mp3-experiment-eight/

Plz turn off cameras => sounds like a job for...

"Gotta share", the musical.

Showing up to a meeting in Korea without business cards is like showing up without pants.

Well, I hope all those Korean folks show some mutual cultural respect, and ride the subway in New York City without pants: http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/

Yay interstellar subway system!

So what I want to know about your Interstellar Subway is:

• Does your interstellar subway system stink of piss, like in New Your City?
• Will I get mugged there?
• What will it cost the taxpayers?
• Do the folks there panhandle?
• Is there a No Pants day? http://improveverywhere.com/2010/01/10/no-pants-2010-nyc-reports/

Oh, such drama. Quite the characterization of a bunch (kids, /b/tards, immature adults) who are happy to do the bidding of others because they think it's funny.

As for "brilliant pranksters", neither word applies to scripted ddos attacks. You want brilliant pranks? Check out http://improveverywhere.com/

And butterflies aren't stealthy...quiet, yes, but have you seen how they fly? You could never sneak up on anyone if you walked in a similar pattern.

You mean like this? http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/

Sounds like fun!

Steve Jobs look-alike day!

http://improveverywhere.com/

Imagine armies of folks emerging from the New York subways, all dressed up in Steve Jobs black turtlenecks and glasses. Even children, as well! They all head toward the NYC Apple Store. Half the onlookers are shocked, the other half laugh their asses off.

I bet that with a little more poking by the powers that be, we could gather a semi-large crowd to all participate in an airport No Pants Day.

Maybe free hot dogs from NY street vendors for their employees. This would definitely be a mission for these guys: http://improveverywhere.com/

Armies of folks converge somewhere in NYC, wearing Microsoft T-Shirts, and demand their free hot dogs. And then disappear.

Actually, the trick would probably work better if the folks had iPhone / IPad / iWhatever T-Shirts . . .

An old NYC saying says, "A hot dog vendor, and his hot dog, are not easily parted . . . without a cash payment, or a bare knuckles fist fight."

I always wondered how I could make a profit from having identical twin kids.

Well, I'm not sure about the Profit! step, but maybe you can use the Human Mirror idea ( http://improveverywhere.com/2008/07/06/human-mirror/ ) as a starting point.

these people don't. I guess that's why they do it in a subway... But in all seriousness, I don't think these people would complain either.

OV-519 JPEG based cams are a bit of a bitch to get working; no one wants to put JPEG code in the kernel.

Someone does RPM it for SuSE, but the hunt took me almost 2 hours.

But, really, the problem here is that you're going to the wrong Best Buy stores.

Heh.

So you're saying, that prior to 1710 when the Statue of Anne was passed in the UK, no artists were compensated for their original works?

I believe the term "starving artist" exists because artists will continue to create, regardless of compensation. Some people are simply driven to do so and it benefits us all. Pulling one poignant example out of the air: Improv everywhere.

Here's a side thought: perhaps the obesity epidemic can be blamed on copyright. Never in history have so many been compensated so well for sitting on their arses all day producing "intellectual property".

And if you happen to unknowingly be behind a proxy when you commit the heinous crime of publishing proof of a television station's copyright infringement against you? Or happen to be Julie Amero?

That I can understand. I myself do not play many videos games (pretty much anything after snes I have stayed away from) but from an artistic stance I defend them as an art form. Video games as a whole have introduced something new to the world of media, and that is the ability for the audience to participate within the creation (This is also something seen within street performances, i.e. improv everywhere. The thing is, we must not judge the genre based on the current titles that are out so far. The ability to interact with a work is something amazing in itself, and if not already, I'm confident there will be video games that truly exemplify that ability.

If anything by comparison, have you ever watched a movie and wondered what would happen if....? The interactivity allows for this depth, and yes, it is up to the artist to create that. That is what will allow for that specific game to be considered as a true art form. But from what I've watched (and I have watched a decent amount of video games versus playing them) I am hesitant to say that video games have reached their full potential. But that does not mean that someone will come out with something that will truly make you think "woah".

Years ago, I attended a community Labor Day parade. I wore a bright orange T-shirt with the word "STAFF" across the back. Worked wonders for gaining access to areas off-limits to ordinary "unwashed masses" folks. Social engineering can be entertaining.

Entertaining, yes... so I figure you"ll appreciate this. http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

The StarTribune article said the warrant included seizing MP3 players. How can these be used to break the law?

I wonder if the thinking is that the protesters were going to use them the way flashmobs have in N.Y.C..
Improve Everywhere does a thing with MP3s where everyone downloads an mp3, and at a predetermined time starts playing it to get instructions on what to do. I suppose that could be used as a strategy to get instructions out to be followed at certain times while guaranteeing that there are no radio transmissions for the police to overhear.
I'm not saying this justifies taking the MP3 players, but it might make a little more sense as to why they were targeting them.

If I could mod you to +1000, I'd do so.

For folks who don't realize how much so Quantum is dead on:

If you watch the improv everywhere group when they did the best buy stunt (linked), they explicitly ask the officers this when they try to threaten people. They say "are you asking me to leave" and "do you have the authority to ask me to leave?" after every time they are threatened with "this is illegal/not allowed".

From the link (the important part when people threaten about legality):

Agent Shafer confidently informed the cops that it was not, in fact, "illegal" to film in Best Buy and that they couldnâ(TM)t accuse him of trespassing until he had been asked to leave the store. He pointed out that he was perfectly willing to leave. A manger told Agent Shafer, "I don't come to your house and film you," to which he replied, "Who lives here?" The cops argued for a bit, but finally realized there was nothing they could do. They let the cameramen go and informed the manager, "The worst you can do is ask them to leave."

Also, the second rule of anything legal but people bullshit that it's not:never do something alone and never respond to any question an officer asks you at all. All things are "I don't know/I don't have an answer". Providing any answers = incriminating yourself and waiving your 5th amendment rights.

But do you often take your desktop PC out for coffee?

I personally don't. But these guys do ,)

That would be Improv Everywhere

Actually, I agree with a lot of others - there are two possibilities that immediately pop into mind:

1) It's just the Cult of Steventology (again)

2) It's Improv Everywhere or some other form of street theater.

"Line forms spontaneously at NYC Apple Store" It sounds like a headline on The Onion!

Or simply another Improv Everywhere stunt like the 80 blue shirts that showed up at a local Best Buy.

http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2006/05/best_prank_of_the_year_so_far.html

This stunt sounds alot like what Improv Anywhere would do.

But your mention of "a friend of mine got an invite for it" sounds strange. Normally when Improv Anywhere stages an event, the invitation makes no mention of what the event actually is. It just says something vague like "bring a green shirt and be prepared to walk alot" or whatever. Only once everyone is gathered do they explain the stunt. (This is intentionally done to prevent information leaks and to keep everyone genuinely surprised.) If you want proof, watch some of their videos: the first step is always a briefing session for the volunteers.

I suppose your friend could have phoned/emailed you after receiving the instructions...

Improv Anywhere is officially denying involvement (not sure if you can take them at their word, however!). All this to say that without more proof, I don't think it's warranted to conclude this is Improv Anywhere's doing. (Yet.)

. . . we'll know for sure, when they all remove their pants . . . and then start screaming for "iPants" . . . http://improveverywhere.com/2008/01/16/no-pants-2k8/

Maybe it's the same people who pulled off this stunt? http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

Things that have worked:

• * Memorial/Labor Day parties, at the lake, one or two weeks before or after Memorial/Labor Day. Everyone has an easy time getting to the lake/beach, the places aren't nearly so crowded, and there's a sense of (George Carlin, Iceboxman-esque), "feel[ing] really intelligent."
• * Game night, as suggested above a few times, preferably with games that can be played by more than two or four people, and preferably ones that are not logical/deductive (e.g. Clue). Winners have been Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, RoboRally (breaking the advice I just gave), Taboo, Quelf, Dilbert Corporate Shuffle (q.v. The Great Dalmuti http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dalmuti and President http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_(game) ), Primordial Soup, Trivial Pursuit (various editions), and I'm sure there are others that aren't popping off the top of my head. Other less formal games are Botticelli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botticelli_(game) and variants where instead of people, the subject matter is movies, bands, albums, television shows, and/or quotes from any of the above.
• * Sports (shock!) although the difference between vaguely active games (like Quelf) and sedate sports can be a bit tricky -- typically a little quirky, like bowling, archery, curling, bocce, horseshoes, lawn bowls, croquet, lawn darts, et al.
• * Music night -- bring an instrument, jam with/annoy the others. For a slightly less musical crowd, might have an instance or two of Rock Band http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Band_(video_game) set up.
• * Movie night -- preferably on several screens in several rooms, with a mix of "good geeky movies" (e.g. Lord of the Rings, Sneakers, Flash Gordon) and "bad geeky movies" (e.g. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Flash Gordon).
• * Obscure alcohol night -- bring something odd you found or something you made. Expect to provide craploads of small (probably paper) cups for tasting.
• * Coffee House Takeover -- if you have a large group, plan to take over a coffee house, and chat/game/whatever. For ideas with a smaller group, start here: http://improveverywhere.com/2003/03/22/the-moebius/

That's not an exhaustive list, and even the items are incomplete, but it's not a bad leaping off point to go in whatever direction you like.

That sounds like a library. You know that only crooks check out books, right? Libraries are massive pools of organized theft! It is wrong to learn things without paying for them!

http://www.improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

so they went to the chelsea best buy, hundreds of them, in blue shirts, and pretended to be assistants throughout the store, perhaps more helpful than actual staff in some cases

customers were amused and bemused, management went apeshit, the best part is the the black chick who goes "it's like that movie, 'the thomas crown affair'"!

but seriously: this is all a case of people with too much time on their hands: the best buy "actors" in the original "event", AND the lawyers suing them

and isn't there some sort of legal protection for comedy, jokes, mockery? the law that protects political cartoons for example. would they have a case with that? obviously IANAL, as i can't even remember the legal term for this sort of "mockery" that is protected

What do you expect from a country where it is common for people to call 911 for trivial matters such as people entering their store wearing the same color clothes as the staff... OMG!!1!

http://www.improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/

And, once again, art pre-imitates reality: http://www.improveverywhere.com/2002/01/19/writers -against-piracy/

What's so horrible about this?

Your sarcasm may actually ring true: http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?m ission_id=57

Not if you're talking about these people.

Well, with the number of employees at their stores, I think they have enough overlap to allow this for store employees, too.

- RG>

...that improv actors can make better Best Buy employees than most people on their pay-roll, I can't say I'm surprised.

If you got a couple hundred people to go down to your local Best Buy, they'd probably call the cops.

http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?m ission_id=57

It has already been done, sort of, with Best Buy. They were not there to negotiate a deal but amny people went to a Best buy and sure enough the cops were called.

If you got a couple hundred people to go down to your local Best Buy, they'd probably call the cops. Even if they didn't, the iron-fisted corporate policies of most retailers would probably preclude getting any kind of deal.

For added impact try wearing blue and white. Just don't try this in New York - they got burned once already.(http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_v iew.php?mission_id=57)

You don't think it would work? Prepare to eat your words!

If you got a couple hundred people to go down to your local Best Buy, they'd probably call the cops.

You mean like this?

-Grey

Actually, you only need 80 http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?m ission_id=57

In fact, they did: http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?m ission_id=57

Granted, they aren't trying to buy anything... but it's still humourous nonetheless to see management flipping out.

A horde of blue-shirts also invaded Best Buy and walked away with NOTHING!

Not even a customary "Would You Like Extended Protection?"

All this talk about Best Buy apparel reminds me of this.

Reading the accounts, it's obvious that the group could have used some yellow shirts and black shirts in the mix, but no mention of white shirts with black ties.

FSF should have arrived, with supporters, all dressed as Microsoft exhibitors. The more knowledgable they are about Microsoft technology, would be the more untrollish their arguments could be. Just by arriving at an event to protest is an absolute example of what will be avoided. After all, the people that attent such events are there because their minds were already convinced and the expensive preparations were completed for their appearance.

The recent deploy of IMPROVEEVERYWHERE was at Best Buy (woof).

i don't know about screaming, but they've already at least done pantless 5 times on a new york subway.

#56 is pretty funny too.