New York City Subway Entrance Turned Into Fake Apple Store With Line for iPhone X

[MacRumors]

Improv Everywhere recently turned a New York City subway station entrance into a fake Apple Store, complete with both fake employees and customers lined up for the iPhone X. It shared the entire act on YouTube today.

Photo: Arin Sang-urai via Improv Everyhwere​

The improv group started by affixing a large Apple logo to a glass elevator at the corner of East 23rd Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan, which actually leads down to trains on the Lexington Avenue Line.

Next, they had 50 fake customers line up along the sidewalk. Fake employees, wearing blue shirts with Apple logos, stood near the entrance to the elevator and cheered as people went down to the trains.

The whole scene attracted the attention of many onlookers, who were told a new Apple Store was opening in the subway station since Apple's iconic glass cube store on nearby Fifth Avenue is (actually) undergoing renovations.

The fake employees even tried to convince people to line up for the iPhone X. To make the act look more convincing, some of the fake customers came out of the elevator holding white bags while acting excited.

Photo: Arin Sang-urai via Improv Everyhwere​

Many people that walked by were confused by what they were seeing, with some individuals stopping for interviews with fake camera crews. A few people even joined the queue for the iPhone X, as Improv Everywhere explains in a blog post.

A few people who believed us actually got in line to wait, hoping to get their hands on the iPhone X early. We were worried this might happen, and we really didn't want to waste anyone's time. So our Apple employees would tell people that we'd run out of phones, and only the first 50 people in line would get one.

The improv act looks to have occurred a few weeks ago, based on a Reddit discussion full of confused New Yorkers.

"Anyone know what Apple event is going on at the 23rd street 6 train stop in NYC?" one user wrote. "Walked by and there was a long line for the subway elevator, and Apple employees lined up welcoming people into it one at a time."

"Just spoke to one of the employees, looks like they're doing a silent iPhone X release to advertise the new store," another user replied.

In actuality, of course, the iPhone X doesn't launch until this Friday. Many actual customers are already starting to line up at stores around the world for a chance to purchase the device on a first come, first served basis.

The improv act was the idea of Josh Berger, Deanna Director, and Maggie McClurken, and directed by Improv Everywhere's Charlie Todd.

Article Link: New York City Subway Entrance Turned Into Fake Apple Store With Line for iPhone X

 

[Tucom]

Well, they really got taken for a ride....

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I like improv everywhere. Funny, creative people.

 

[ssl0408]

There was a thread about this on reddit and I believe it ended up on a Macrumors thread.

 

[prymitywista]

Pretty cool

 

[840quadra]

As someone who has (in the past) waited in line at various apple locations for product releases, I see humor in this. Hopefully others who have, and Apple themselves do too!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Good stuff and quite appropriate because just like the Apple Store, the NYC subway trains are often a few minutes late to the indignation of customers.

 

[GadgetBen]

Some people just get lucky I guess

 

[IJ Reilly]

What a brilliant idea. Warping our reality, someone has to do it.

 

[djeeyore25]

I break into applause every time the 6 train actually gets me to my destination.

 

[Crow KC]

Brilliant! It would be hilarious to see how many people could be duped, if only for a few minutes.

 

[MH01]

Good on them, good laugh

 

[Moi Ici]

Cute...

 

[mochatins]

Great execution and nice germ of an idea here, but if you're going to go to the trouble of setting up a "prank" like this,

1. give people a "nudge nudge, wink wink" hope of figuring out it's not the real deal, that something's not quite right here, perhaps with the apple logo leaf going in the wrong direction; and,
2. have something to say! There was no satire here, no commentary, no sendup; nor was it a tribute... just a reproduction of a simultaneously exciting and sad consumerist tradition.

 

[kaneda]

This is dumbest **** ever!

 

[borgqueenx]

haha thats a good prank, its quite obvious to apple fans though that they wouldnt make a elevator-only a entrance to the store.

 

[Xavier]

Haha, thanks for the laugh!

 

[CaptMarvel]

Good stuff. The simpler things.

 

[alia]

I don't know why this is hilarious to me, but it is!

 

[iTurbo]

Haha good laughs. I finally upgraded to an iP7 from a 3GS and don't foresee me getting another new phone for at least 3 years.

 

[michaelant]

Props to them. That is petty funny.

 

[Darryl.Jenks]

Superlative example that nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. Apple understands this, and that's why the nonsense about shortages is a great marketing tool. Look how many people actually think getting one of these three days before the tool in the cubicle down the hall is somehow important or something to celebrate. Pathetic, but many people fall for it every single time.

 

[JM]

I have always felt like there something wrong with the clapping tunnel for someone who just purchased something. It gives me an icky feeling.

Like, making consumerism a religion and worshipping the process of buying an Apple product.

Excitement is cool and fun, but.... the clap tunnel. It feels like it's. A message of: "buy this product and you will be happy and people will love you." Icky.

 

[Rogifan]

Is this supposed to be clever or funny?

 

[RightMACatU]

And with a crowd of employees applauding you on the way out... The worst way of dealing with any individuals with a mental illness