Here’s a neat way to draw attention without stripping down and eating body parts. In January, Improv Everywhere got 200 ordinary-looking people to invade New York’s Grand Central station and freeze on cue for five minutes.
It was pretty well-orchestrated. One guy went catatonic while picking up some papers he dropped. A couple froze mid-stride. A girl’s just-peeled banana never made its mark.
Surrounding bystanders totally COULD NOT DEAL. It was like witnessing the rapture. When everyone started moving again, witnesses applauded.
The stunt was recently ripped in an episode of Law & Order: SVU featuring Mo Rocca and Robin Williams. It’s not as good and it involves sheep for some odd reason.
One thing I can’t understand about the (actual) Grand Central freeze was if people were really all gaga about it, why didn’t anybody attempt the Slap, Shake or Cold Water Splash? It would have been understandable, given the insane circumstances, and one or all of those techniques usually gets me back in motion.
