# Anonymous Activity Clubs 3,500 New Yorkers Gather to Execute an 'Mp3 Experiment' By Omar Yusuf | Published 2011-07-26 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mp3-experiment References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5824438/watch-3500-silently-follow-instructions-from-the-same-mp3) & [improveverywhere](http://improveverywhere.com/2011/07/25/the-mp3-experiment-eight/) Divided into two groups according to shirt color (white or black), more than 3,500 [strangers assembled](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strangely) at Nelson Rockefeller Park yesterday to carry out what's called an 'Mp3 Experiment.' Despite being strangers, members of the crowd all shared one thing: They all visited the website of ImprovEverywhere, a performance art group, and downloaded an original MP3 file. The website instructed participants to show up on New York's Hudson shore at precisely 8:30pm and play the MP3 file, which includes instructions from a disembodied voice. The voice -- soft and encouraging -- told the strangers to perform activities like dancing, high-fiving and waving at one another. Finally, the Mp3 Experiment ended when the voice directed the now-friendly strangers to glow sticks and a [dance floor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sober-dance-party) at Nelson Rockefeller Park. To what end do these [anonymous gatherings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/group-chat-bar) work toward, you might ask? No one's sure, although social cohesion is a popular theory. They're incredibly fun, regardless, and they're becoming more and more common. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Anonymous Activity Clubs:** Creating opportunities for strangers to come together and participate in unique shared experiences. - **Mp3 Experiments:** Using technology to orchestrate coordinated activities and promote social interaction among large groups of people. - **Social Cohesion Through Shared Experiences:** Fostering a sense of community and connection through engaging and fun activities that bring strangers together. ### Where This Applies - **Event Planning and Entertainment:** Organizing and facilitating large-scale events where strangers can gather to participate in unique experiences. - **Technology and Audio:** Developing innovative ways to use technology and audio to coordinate and enhance group activities. - **Social and Community Development:** Finding new ways to promote social cohesion and strengthen community bonds through shared experiences and activities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Counter-Loneliness Social Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/friendship-corner.md) - [Friendly Fandom Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fans-have-more-friends.md) - [Communal Reading Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reading-rhythms.md) - [Retro Phone-Free Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/before-the-internet.md) - [Friend-Finding Dinners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timeleft.md) - [Phone-Free Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phonefree-festival.md) - [Album-Centric Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bandlab-x-d4vd.md) - [Club-Culture-Inspired Cheese Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheese-rave.md) - [Sizable Athletic Membership Parties](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-athletic-clubs.md)