DV Cams: Agent Winckler, Agent az3456
Digital Photgraphy: Agent Todd, Agent Spacedani
Mission Inspired by: Agent Lee
Featuring: DMartin, JMartin, Todd, Keech, Sklaren, Kula, Rainswept, Winckler, Arnheiter, Harms, Roche, Camper, Arnold, Blumenthal, Appel, Sheldon, Jesster, Berrebbi, Tudor,Leonard, Montague, Thomas, Ronen, Skinner, Raichel, Loncaric, Katina, DeSmet, Mullaney, Calhoun, Gerdts, Tyne, Murphy, Lee, Rosen, Scherer, Adner, az3456, Cicci, Gwendy, Lathan, German


IE Agents gather at De La Guarda, our meeting point






Our target

IE Agents begin to take over the stations

Agents Adner, JMartin, and DMartin in the 1, 2, and 3 spots.

Agents Arnheiter and Sklaren

Agent Mullaney mans station 5

Agent Winckler roams the store with his hidden-cam bag

Agent Lathan “listens” at a broken station

Agent Todd gives the signal

Phase 1 begins

Numbers 16 – 35

Agents Arnold, Camper, Roche, and Blumenthal

Agents Skinner, Murphy, Montague, and Rosen

Stations 36 – 39, located on a column next to the wall



Megastore staff members begin to arrive

A crowd beings to gather

Phase 2 begins

Customers watch the dance

The crowd grows

The dance continues

The two customers in the middle eventually followed IE Agents outside (see photo below)

Customer tries to figure out what is going on

Agent Loncaric leaves her station

The remaining agents continue to dance

Megastore employees inform shoppers that they were not involved
Megastore guy: They were all just standing there.
Cop: What were they doing?
Megastore guy: Just standing, and then they all danced.
Cop: Did they say anything?
Megastore guy: No.
Pause
Cop: Why are we here?

2 shoppers head outside to try to follow agents

Agents regroup back in the park
AGENT REPORTS
Agent Lee
The concept for this event started several weeks ago when I was at the Virgin Megastore at a listening station. I was checking out the new Metalica album and the person a few listening posts away from me was listening to Santana’s Shaman album and singing along with “The Game Of Love” song. I just thought it was funny, someone unashamedly singing aloud in a public space like that. So I mentioned to Agents Todd later that evening that it might be fun to grab control of all the listening stations and have everybody singing whatever was in their station. Just one big loud cacophony of people singing whatever.
He agreed that the listening posts could prove to be an interesting “theatre space” to operate in, but he’d have to get back to me.
I met up with my IE contact again on the morning of July 13th, at approximately 0500 hours underneath a Gristides supermarket in Chelsea. He informed me of his choreographed dance concept and gave me choice then and there, in or out. How could I say no to a choreographed dance routine?
So that’s how the concept got rolling.
As to the day of the event: my strategy was to arrive at my listening station early and really get into whatever album I was assigned. (station 19: Global Underground: Toronto. This album features the DJ/Mixer duo of Deep Dish, whom I know. Ali and Sharam have done mixes for the band I manage.) So I was the second or third operative to “plug in” to my listening station. I brought a copy of the New York Times’ weekend Business Day section to help pass the time while the other agents got into position. It seems like it took forever, but I guess it probably was only 20 minutes or so.
One alarming thing happened. It seemed like everyone was getting pretty well plugged in when I had a tap on my shoulder. I turned and a woman was looking at me very crossly. I took my headphones off and she asked if she could listen too. She was holding copies of the Norah Jones and George Benson CDs in her hand, so I guessed she wasn’t going to be listening to my Deep Dish buddies for very long. So I stepped aside and let her listen for a minute. Glancing around it seemed EVERYONE was ready to go except me… so that was stressful. But as I guessed, she put the headphones down after about 45 seconds. “Are you going to get it? Those guys are friends of mine,” I said. “No,” she said, “I was just wanted to listen to something and all the stations are taken and you were just reading the paper.” I replied, “The DJs on that album are friends of mine. I want to listen to the whole album. I’m sorry to make you wait,” and I plugged back in as she walked away.
The 180 and robot pose segment was very cool. It was my favorite moment really. I just focused in on the cover of the Atari’s album that was directly across from my listening post. I had turned the sound down on my listening station, but I could still hear the music playing. I was concerned because the DJ on the storewide sound-system who had been playing pretty jammin’ house music suddenly shifted to slow ballads. I forget now which songs, but it was definitely in the 80-84 beats per minute range. Slow.
The choreographed movement started and I immediately jumped in. I synced up with the agents on my left and right pretty well I think. (Agent Appel with Coldplay’s first album and Agent Thomas with the aforementioned Metalica.) I admit, I did not really register people’s reactions to us as I was “In The Zone.” I just tried to focus on the movements and keeping up with the group. I trooped through it til the break up signal was given. I kept going until agent Appel pealed off and headed out.
I decided too many of us were making for the main exit so I crossed over and exited through the café. And rather than directly head to the rendezvous point I picked up a Grande No Whip Mocha Frappachino at Starbucks.
Agent Leonard
“I don’t know WHAT’s going on, but it’s NOT going to end well,” exclaimed one patron as we were standing in a row staring, expressionless, into the store with earphones on.
At one point a touristy-looking dad kind of pushed his two daughters over toward us while we were dancing saying, “Go on, you can do it to if you want to!”
Someone looked at me on the end of the line with my big purse on my shoulder and said to the person next to him, “Look at her, she must have just joined in!”
Agent DMartin
My only interaction with anybody in the store was when I exited and a suburban dressed father touched my shoulder and said: “Hey, what was that all about?” in the tone of voice you use with an 8-year old soccer player who’s picking the grass rather than running after the ball. But I was a robot and kept on walking, betraying no emotion. The mystery only deepened for this poor father.
Agent German
When the agents turned around: I overheard the following comments from patrons of the Megastore: “What are they doing? What’s going on?”
Then the choreography started with a beautiful fanning of arms. A customer said:
“This must be that…Performance Art…New York is so crazy!”
I then heard the Megastore staff comment: “When did they come in? I didn’t even see them…”
One of the staff members was alerted to go downstairs – I subsequently learned this probably was to cancel any music that was coming thru the headphones. One bearded staff member was watching and laughing as he commented: “Anything can happen in this city!”
Agent Montague
I anticipated having to wait in line for our stations, but I’m not sure I anticipated other customers having to wait in line once we had control. I enjoyed watching customers wait a good 10 minutes for their desired stations. Then, it was cool to see their reactions when we all turned around. Some were delighted, some confused, others just plain scared.
A highlight of my experience: After we had all turned to face forward, an old man turned to his wife and said, “I bet they’re giving away free tee-shirts.”
Agent Lathan
My quads and glutes are very sore this morning from the ‘bend down’ segment of the dance. Although I do not perform this move very often, I committed to it with great gusto.
Agent Kula
When I grow up, I want to be able to dance like Agent Lathan. Some might say he’s got no rhythm, but I disagree: the reason he always seemed to be two moves ahead of the rest of us is that he’s just got TOO MUCH rhythm.
Agent Tyne
After “peeling off” and walking away trying to act as natural as possible, a young woman stops me in hysterics saying, “Wait! Just tell me why.” I turn around and say, “Why what?” “Why? Why This? Please just tell me why you did it.” I apologetically say, “I’m not sure what you mean. Sorry.” As I turn around I hear her plead one last time, “Please”. As I left her in bepuzzlement I headed out the door past the gathering of staff and security and got several smiles and head-nods. I think they got it.
Agent Loncaric
I had a blast with this mission. At first I was worried I’d be assigned a booth that was broken or just bad TeeNick music. Instead at random I stood at booth 28th which was Grammy Winner Nora Jones. This just happened to be an album I’d been curious to give a good listen too, apparently others felt this way too. Right as I stepped up to the station, a girl stood right behind me patiently waiting for me to finish so that she could listen too. Four songs go by in my headset as I’m waiting for the mission to begin, and there she was still waiting for me to wrap up my sampling of the CD. I started feeling a little bad so I just acted like I didn’t see her and kept gazing into the distance pensively taking in my Nora Jones…a little sad at times, thinking fond memories at other times rocking back and forth to the mellow songs. Finally as we faced forward preparing for the dance the girl busted out laughing. She finally gave up, and moved on… no Nora for her that day – but what a great dance!
Agent Murphy
For the first time in history, the listening stations have created a security concern.
Agent Adner
I felt a lot of pressure by being in listening post 1. At first it was only because I thought I would screw up the dancing part, but once we entered the store I worried that I would be one of the people approached by onlookers and security.
Oddly enough none of that happened.
When I reached my listening station I saw a “Temporarily out of order” sign on it. So I went to station #3 to hold Agent DMartin’s spot for him until he arrived. When he did, I returned to #1 (Beyonce) and moved the sign to the side so that I wouldn’t be questioned why I was listening at a broken booth.
I was really upset that Agent JMartin in station #2 had a working machine and was able to listen to Radiohead’s “Hail to the Thief”. I had to settle for bopping my head to the music playing for the store. It wasn’t until the next day that Agent Scherer told me that at some point security turned off the music in all of the machines.
We took over all of the listening stations relatively quickly, and it wasn’t long before Agent Todd gave the signal for us to stand at attention. I had a hard time not smiling, for what felt like the 10 minutes we stood still, but it became easier as I practiced the dance steps in my head.
Once the dancing started I was really into it. There was some confusion as to which way to turn the first two times, but afterward things went smoothly. I liked seeing “the wave” that formed from my side of the line going a little bit slower than the other one.
I could have gone dancing for a lot longer, but I saw Agent Todd give me the signal to leave, continued for a few more seconds, replaced my headphones, put back the sign, and headed for the door. Once again I was sure that someone would stop me and ask what was going on, but everyone was still mesmerized so I was able to slip out easily.
I walked west on 14th street, then north along Union Sq. west until I ran into Agent DMartin just north of the fountain where Circle Line Tour Mission took place. We shared our mission experiences and headed back to the rendezvous point.
Agent Sklaren
I was near the front of the store, at listening station 8, in close proximity to both the door and main cash registers. Listening station 8 was home to Ashanti’s new album. Sadly, my station was broken. It seemed as if nobody really noticed most of the agents until we all turned around, stony faced, looking out…then came the snowball effect. First a couple of customers stopped, wondering what was going on. Soon, a customer alerted a sales clerk to our strange presence–she started laughing and pointing, and called over some of her coworkers. A manager then came over, furrowed his brow, and walked away. Finally, security guards with walkie-talkies came over and eyed us suspiciously. I don’t think they knew whether we were part of the protests going on that day in Union Square or part of an elaborate shoplifting scheme or what, but they seemed a bit concerned. Those of us in the front of the store got the brunt of their attention. One even walked over to one of our Agents (I believe Agent Mullaney) and asked him what was going on. Almost everyone relaxed when we started dancing…
After we had performed the dance a couple of times, a little girl with pigtails peeked out from behind a CD kiosk and started dancing along with us. She also stuck her tongue out to see if she could break anyone’s concentration, but we were too plugged into the group groove to notice. When she realized that she wasn’t having any effect, she walked away.
Agent Gerdts
Five minutes after entry into the Virgin Megastore, I found myself waiting behind a Civilian occupying my booth #27, album titled Deep Sexy 2. Minutes later Agent Roche and Agent Camper take position at booths 23 and 24. Agent Roche exclaims “50 cent, alright!” Agent Camper begins to dance. Civilian at booth 27 turns around after five minutes and apologizes for keeping me waiting. I say, “No problem, I just really have been looking forward to hearing this!” Civilian leaves, and I continue on to groove to Deep Sexy 2 until Agent Todd gives the first high sign. As I pretend to enjoy Deep Sexy 2, another Civilian, a woman, is really staring down Agent Loncaric at booth 28, she’s been waiting to listen to the Norah Jones album for quite sometime. I try to make eye contact with lady Civilian as if to say, “I know, I had to wait awhile, too,” but was unsuccessful.
Agent Todd gives the first high sign, and we all stand straight out. People look at me and try to get a reaction, but I just stare straight ahead. I hear one man say to his child, “Let’s find mommy and make sure she doesn’t get hypnotized.” Agent Todd gives second high sign, and we start moving. I see our camera guys swooping by, and one gets stopped by security. He claims he has nothing in his bag and is looking for a CD for his mom. As we go, more and more people and security accumulate. Agent Todd gives the last high sign, and we start to file off one by one. When its my turn to go, and I don’t have two people to take my movement off of anymore, I turn the wrong way, turn back forward, take off the earphones, and leave the store. Those people had no idea what hit them.
Agent Jesster
I knew once I saw the first few moves of the dance we were to do, I was in trouble. I’m not much of a dancer, especially when it comes to doing things in synch with others. So I begged for extra practice time before we got started.
When we got inside, I noticed my station (#35, all the way on the left) was occupied by someone, so I walked around the store for a bit. I didn’t know how to let him know I wanted his station, so I just started picking up the CDs around him, and kind of feigning interest in them. Eventually he left, and I got to the station, and began waiting for Agent Todd’s signal.
Once Agent Todd lifted the CD, slowly we all turned around and stopped what we doing. This got some customers’ immediate attention. I heard a lot of camera’s going off, although I wasn’t sure how many of them were ours, and how many of them belonged to strangers. I sort of glanced around, and I noticed no one was willing to make eye contact with me, which I guess made it easier for me to stand still and look completely robotic.
I definitely stumbled through the first few minutes of the dance. What made it difficult for all of us was dancing together to the very slow beat of the song that was on at the moment. There was a techno beat on when we walked in that would have been great. Pretty soon I got the hang of it. After a few more minutes, my lifelong lack of stretching and yoga started to show itself, as my muscles began to cramp. But in the face of muscle aches, and a little bit of thirstiness, I pressed on. When it came time for me to finish I walked just a few rows over and started looking at some CDs, and looking around no one seemed to care about me anymore. I cried a bit on the inside…
Agent Appel
I got stuck at an “out of service” listening station. There was a girl waiting behind me to use it for about five minutes while I stood there and pretended to listen to Coldplay. I was thinking about just letting her get on to see what kind of reaction I would get. “Oh…well it was working fine for me. I guess your ears are broken.” Eventually she got bored and walked away.
Agent Winckler
At one point well into the mission, I was approached by a Virgin Megastaffer who said, “You have to leave now.” I said, “why?” “You’re taking pictures, my boss talked to you, you have to go.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just here shopping.” “My boss talk to you, he told you no picture.” “Listen–no one’s talked to me, I’m just here buying a CD for my mother.”
Whereupon he strode away. I’m not sure if he even noticed the lens sticking out of my bag.
After taping the last dancer, Agent Leonard, I watched Agent Todd speaking to other bystanders as if he knew nothing about it, that sly devil. As he left, he walked right by the security guard who had hassled me. I taped it all.
Mission Accomplished.
Love your work! If you ever need a photographer, let me know.
Cheers!
As usual, another terrific mission! One of the hallmarks of these missions is to create a situation which is completely out of the normal, and for which people have no rational explanation. And to act the situation as if it is perfectly normal. That really throws people for a loop, and this mission is a classic example. Thanks for including a video on this one. Great stuff!
The complete “Spirit of Play” involved in this mission is astonishing. Keep doing silly, creative things like this, that get people to wake up and see their surroundings! It just proves that people (you guys) are basically good – silly, ridiculous, but good!
Hilarious!!! Makes me wish I lived in NY; alas I am stuck in CA. Keep up the good work!
I think this is great! Keep up the good work! I may have to try something like this in my area. *giggle*
A blast to watch the video of this… what’s the song that plays behind it? Kinda catchy.
Could you come to North Texas for some of these missions? We desperately need a humor supplement down here.
Probably my favourite mission so far.
—
Jon Aquino (Victoria BC Canada)
http://jonaquino.blogspot.com
The music definetly sounded like Modest Mouse, don’t know the song though.
The name of the song from the clip is “All Nite Diner” by Modest Mouse, great video by the way! I wish i could do something like that in my hometown.
The best had to be the policeman’s comments. I can imagine what was going thru his head…”So people were doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing, but you didn’t like HOW they were doing it?” Why am I here is right! This one was the best…I laughed so hard sitting at my computer my neighbors heard me. Thanks, keep up the great work of “spontaneous” disruptions.
My favorite thing about this mission, is the store customer that MUST know the reason behind all this. It is so delightful that they may never…. just going crazy with the doubt. oh, you guys are amazing. You make me laugh so much. Thanks for making my Chicago work day so much better
You guys are GREAT. Gave me an idea going to try in San Francisco !!!! Have fun thats what it’s all about, and keep them guessing !!! LOL LOL
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAH OMFG best conversation ever.
Megastore guy: They were all just standing there.
Cop: What were they doing?
Megastore guy: Just standing, and then they all danced.
Cop: Did they say anything?
Megastore guy: No.
Pause
Cop: Why are we here?
JUST STANDING AND THEN THEY ALL DANCED WHY ARE WE HERE? ROFLMAO
Brilliant!
You so crazy!
WOOOTZ…i love each and every one of you peoples. *kiss* xDDD
if that were a music video it would’ve been the best one I’ve ever seen
That’s ten times better than the fatboy slim "praise you" video.
This has to be one of my favorites just because of the cops reaction. omg lol. It’s great.
From my own perspective – you have some hits, and you have some misses. Just like any artist.
But man when you hit, it goes waaaay waaaay out. This was clearly a hit. I didn’t find it as moving as the stop-motion in "Home Depot" – but this was still outstanding. You all push the envelope, you put yourselves out there for your art. And I admit I have been sitting in front of your exhibition for as many hours as I’d spend at any fine-art exhibit.
Amazing performance art.
Great job! PLEASE keep the show going! You’re fantastic!
I do hope you bought that Jeff Buckley CD.
I love how I always miss these things! Never mind that it was a good few years ago…
Still, that must’ve been awesome to see in person..!
Lol!!! “Why are we here” y’know! ahahahahaaaaaa! =D Gods, New York must be so fun! Damn boring London!
I work at a Virgin Megastore and i would have loved to see this happen in my store.
Good work. Although I would’ve just have each one sneak one of those magnetized security strips and all leave at once. The security guards would be overwhelmed and upon searching a minority of you, wouldn’t be able to find any stolen items.
Haha, that’s hilarious. Such an original idea. Great stuff again :p
I don’t know. I like most of your work but this one seemed kind of lame to me. Very dull to watch on video for sure. Neither funny like circle tour or visually appealing like the window dancers. Anyway, blah.
If I were one of the dancers, I personally would’ve walked into the store an hour after leaving and act like I had no knowledge of the performance pulled off there.
Keira things like this happen in London lovely.
I’ve done the mass pillow fight at St Pauls Cathedral and the Silent Disco in Victoria station, which was utterly amazing, check youtube.
Myself and friends also had fun once with an Evening standard seller on the street. 12 of us got together and took turns to walk up, buy the paper, then walk away and come back from another direction and buy it again. The funniest part of it was we ended up with stacks of papers and literally couldn’t give them away. The people of London are suspicious folks.
Virgin Megastore employees need to learn to CHILL OUT. At a signing for +44 in San Francisco, they said no photos allowed but a girl asked if she could get one and they amiably agreed! Of course, Virgin employees began to try to quell the photo taking but I’m not sure if they did because they kept the meet and greet going at a boring, lame pace as if it was a burden to them!
I thought the mission was genius. I feel bad for the cop who had to waste his time coming into the store. That’s what the manager and security guards get for calling in when they had no real right to.
I live in a little town in Ohio. Stuff like that doesn’t happen here.
This one was CLASSIC. I really wish I lived in NYC!! *is still giggling*
The only time in my life i had the desire to be living in NY was when I discovered y’all.
I think when everyone turned around and stood still and stared straight ahead, if they all started to hum, softly at first, progressively getting louder, just one steady tone, like a meditation “ohm”, just rolling over and over into one long tone, people would freak and probably start running for the doors. It would be devastatingly cool.
Ah, must’ve been fun!
I heard today on TV that they are gonna close the megastore in April