From: ronro*exmsft.com
Subject: Flash Party
Date: May 25, 2004 4:47:28 PM CDT
I was telling my wife about your talk at MS and the problem you described. She said, "He just needs to hold a progressive dinner." That idea collided with the flash mob idea, to create the Flash Party.
There will be two media for learning the details of this party. One will be the email list, the IM buddy list, the Weblog. The second will be viral marketing, the cell phone address list, the Bluetooth phone-to-laptop email, the Wi Fi-hotspot laptop Weblog post, complete with phone-cam pictures.
One hour before the first iteration of the Party, Set A is provided the location and a time to be there. "Meet at Oat Willies (the only place I know of in Austin) at 9 tonight." Presumably Set A-n is at OW's by 9:30; some people won't make it; some may tell friends in the viral marketing phase.
At 9:30, iteration 2 begins. Set A+B is provided the location and time for the next locale. øA entry on the Weblog with pix of locale 2, taken previously, is posted. At 10PM those at OW leave for the next locale. øPresumably members in Set A+B will begin viral marketing to Subset AB using their phones, IM, and word of mouth to those in OW's. øAt location 2 You might expect Set A+B+n. If the weather's nice, location 2 might be a park or outdoor location.
At 10:30 iteration 3 begins. Set C ( all those present) + D is provided with the location and time for the next locale. They have 30 min to tell their friends and acquaintances. Perhaps phone cam shots of the party at locale 2 are posted to the Weblog. At each iteration the number of people grows as people tell others, and they tell others about this "new cool party."
You can see that by controlling the information you control the attendance. øBecause the idea is new and seemingly "insider" it will be seen as hip and people will want to come, people will want to tell others to appear "in the know." At least so I imagine.
Another riff on this idea: Set A meets Set Z at a common location in the third or fourth iteration. øSet Z was started by another person or group. A small set might meet at someone's home for a hour. Have munchies, Pu pu's, sushi, whatever. Then off to meet another larger set at a larger, public location. ø
A part of the fun of the party is creating ever more complex Sets and movements using evermore exotic and arcane means of communication. øFor example, "Go to the McDonalds (assuming the MickeyD's has WiFi) on 4th and Apple and check the website for details. øThe details are a phone cam pix of a street sign indicating an intersection.
Another point. This requires work on the part of the attendees so the "entertain me, I'm here to be entertained" hanger-on won't get it and won't know where to go.
When the Party's over everyone is NOT at your house. øThis thing make take on a life of its own. Other people may start setting locations and telling people. You might slip away with a few friends and no one would know!
Issues
This idea requires people drive; with a potential for some to drink and drive. øSo does a static party in one place, unless you live there. Designated drivers, taxis, mass transit, share the ride, there are always means to get there without drinking and driving.
This idea requires some preplanning. øTrue, it is not the casual, "come over to my house for free beer" sort of party. øBut that style of party is in jeopardy; that's why you are looking for something else. The "beers in the backyard" party requires you reserve a keg, pick up the keg, return the keg etc. øMost of the planning can be done on the laptop and posted to the "Net.
People will need hardware to play. Cell phones will work just fine. Leave the next details on your answering machine for others to call in for. øIf only one person in a group has a laptop the info still gets passed along. Word of mouth at the location requires no hardware at all.
Set A should be reliable friends, they are the seeds the party grows from. øEach subsequent set is less reliable, more active in distributing the details, and less knowledgeable about what is planned. Perhaps some in Set A will start a Set Z to meet up in a later iteration.
You control the where and when, you control who and what Set, and when they get notified, – its your Party again!
Realistically I think this could be a hoot! Maybe you tell people beforehand so they can plan their social calendar, but just say details to be provided later.
Tell me what you think of the Flash Party idea; I'm curious if you think it might work.
- Ronald Robbins
