Ok, so here’s the idea…

What if you could promote your church at a crowded community event in a memorable, simple, and creative way that could potentially create conversations with prospects in the process?

Have your group create a spontaneous “stunt” in “flash mob” style at a public community event.

Here’s how it might look if you did this with a choir:

1. Director moves into position at the prearranged spot and gives the signal (blows a whistle, or something.)
2. Director begins directing and singing “Ah” on pitch.
3. “Flash Mob Choir” appears from all directions at once and crowds in front of director.
4. As choir members arrive on the spot, they join the director in the “Ah,” causing a grand swell of sound by the time all have arrived.
5. Director leads “flash mob choir” in a fast paced, well rehearsed, show stopping, “wow, that was cool,” kind of song. (Something like this or this would be better than something like this.)
6. When the song ends, the choir says in unison (also well rehearsed) who they are, their website, and a final encouraging word (like, “God bless you and have a great day!).
7. Flash mob choir then disperses back into the crowd.
8. All “flash mob choir” members carry information cards about their church to give to people who they interact with afterward.
9. The stunt is repeated at least one other time at the event if possible.

And if you don’t have a choir? Do something with your group that doesn’t require singing, like well rehearsed motion and sounds followed by the group all saying something together at once. Or maybe you could piece together a giant sign, or stage a large scale “ninja battle.” Well, ok, that might be too silly, but it should at least get you thinking.

The goal is to be memorable in a good way and create interest in your group, not cause an unnecessary disturbance to the event. It should create a “wow” type of moment that causes people to want know more about you. If it makes people laugh in a good way, that’s a plus. You want to have positive conversations with people afterwards, not have people run from you because you were too weird.

I think there are many possibilities here that I haven’t even come up with, yet. If your group is prepared, you could do this almost anywhere. A mall, a park, the parking lot after a baseball game, a beach, wherever.

As a disclaimer, I should remind you that it would be a good idea to discover if there are any rules for the event or laws that you would be breaking by trying this. Although it really only amounts to a group of people who get together under a tree and sing a song together or do something silly for a few minutes, then go on their way. There may be a fine line, here, but if you’re in doubt, check it out.

Basic rules of thumb:

• Do it well. If it’s bad, that’s what people will remember.
• Create a nice surprise. Move into and out of place quickly, so it appears “out of the blue.”
• Go for the “Wow.” This is not the time to be subtle. Go a little over the top and make it sparkle.
• Keep it short. 3 minutes could be too long.
• Fly without a net. Memorize what you perform; don’t use folders or notes.
• Create the connection. Be sure that people remember who you are, or it will just become an anonymous stunt.
• Serve at the event if possible. This way you will become a part of the event, the management will appreciate you, and you will have ongoing opportunities to interact with people. You remove the possible perception of being a party crasher.

Remember, I haven’t yet tried it, it is just an idea…

Any other thoughts out there about how and where you could utilize this?

When I was in college, the “concert choir” I was a part of went on a choir tour that took us through New York City. While there, we had a cool experience on the Staten Island Ferry.

It started when a group of guys we had never seen before got up in front of the room and started performing for the crowd. They did movements and sang in fun, tight harmonies. It was awesome.

Somehow they found out that we were a choir, so they asked us to “sing something.” Knowing that we had about 2 or 3 “show stopping” songs that we could pull out of a hat at any moment, our director quietly smiled at the opportunity and responded with a confident, “Sure, ok.”

When our 50 or so voice choir busted into those songs in that low ceiling room, jaws dropped all around. And when our first song came to an end, the crowd on the ferry literally went nuts with cheers and applause, and the leader of that other group responded with a loud, complimentary “expletive” that expressed his amazement.

Singing spontaneously on the Staten Island Ferry with the Statue of Liberty in clear view through the window for a crowd of strangers who were surprised and wowed with our performance is easily one of those memories that ranks as one of the coolest (of many 8) ) moments of my life.

I remember thinking how amazing it was that we could instantly create such a powerful moment, at any time and at any place, with no instruments, microphones, stage or place on someone’s program.

So the other day I had an idea.

I’ll tell you about it in part 2.