The Mac Observer

Microsoft Dances Its Way Into Shoppers’ Hearts

November 17th, 2009 at 11:12 AM - News by Jeff Gamet

It looks like Microsoft may have a thing or two it can teach Apple about making an impression on customers through interpretive dance -- or at least the electric slide. The company's Mission Viejo store staff recently got its groove-thing on in attempted to ramp up its coolness factor with a choreographed dance routine for customers.

The entire floor staff in the Microsoft Store broke into dance for over four and a half minutes while several customers watched. The routine looked to be an attempt to show customers how cool and fun Microsoft stores are, although most of the customers appeared to either ignore the employees or offer up looks of confusion. A few shoppers joined in and danced with the staff, too.

Microsoft hasn't said if dance numbers will become routine in its stores, but that isn't stopping us from hoping their next production will be an interpretive song and dance number set to Guys and Dolls.

[Thanks to Engadget for the heads up.]

22 Observer Comments

For the record: You won’t see the TMO staff performing choreographed dances in our offices. We don’t, however, have any problem going on stage with the Macworld All Stars for your listening pleasure every year at the Cirque du Mac party at Macworld Expo.

That is the most annoying thing I’ve ever seen.  They are trying to seem hip, yet it is just sad and stupid.

please make it stop

Maybe they were just bored out of their skull’s because nobody was buying anything and they don’t work at the ‘problem’ counter?

Did they all get into the routine, leaving customers to wait until they were done, or was it just the ones who did not have customers? If it was the former, that is bad salesmanship. Never walk away from a customer you are helping to do something else. If it was the latter, what does that say about how few customers they had in the store compared to the number of employees?

Could be worse, at least Ballmer wasn’t dancing with them. smile

To be fair a few years ago I danced Shake a Tail Feather with the Blues Brothers impersonators at the Universal Studios tour. I suppose a lot of tourists took video of that, but I have yet to see it on YouTube.

Next they’ll be serving quiche and singing happy birthday.

There is so little people in the store when compared to AppleStore, no wonder they have room to do the dance.

I wonder if they’ll be wearing “flair” next?

I think they do this every time they sell a premium version of Windows 7 or actually solve a problem at the guru bar or sell a computer that isn’t a netbook wink

On a more serious note, depending on the time of day it was, there weren’t a lot of people in the store. Would they be doing this if the store was busy? Is this a desperate attempt to try to attract attention and get more foot traffic into the store? Will they count the people who just came into the store to dance as part of their foot traffic? They would seem to have a lot of time on their hands to practice this. If things really aren’t busy, I wonder when we will hear about the layoffs? Will who gets retained be related to how good a dancer they are wink?

Neal

You’ve GOT to be friggin kidding me. Please tell me you wrote this article, tongue firmly planted in proverbial cheek. That is the tackiest, scariest event that’s likely happened in any tech store. I’d be tempted to dial 9-1-1 if I was anywhere nearby *that* sickly event. smile

There’s a 50s style hamburger diner joint called Johnny Rocket’s that used to do this. The staff would break into a 50s doo-wop dance/song thing every now and then, and I thought it was kind of cool. Of course, it kind of fit with the place and atmosphere instead of being a poor attempt at co-opting the flash mob idea.

If you consider “cool” or “hip” as successfully getting the soccer mom and retiree crowd to join in your line dance, then I guess they are wicked cool AND hip.

Is it just me or does the staff look like they are right out of Star Trek with their Yellow, Blue and Red shirts?  Watch out Red Shirts you know what’s coming!

“If you consider “cool” or “hip” as successfully getting the soccer mom and retiree crowd to join in your line dance, then I guess they are wicked cool AND hip.”

Retiree crowd! Hey I was retired when I danced at Universal Studios. smile

“Is it just me or does the staff look like they are right out of Star Trek with their Yellow, Blue and Red shirts?  Watch out Red Shirts you know what’s coming!”

The Apple Retail Store staff wear T-Shirts, usually all them wear the same colored ones though. They also do the clapping and cheering thing when we enter the store at grand opening, release a new OS or something.

They’re all doing the monkey dance!

Retiree crowd! Hey I was retired when I danced at Universal Studios.

No offense intended Harry, I’m not that far off myself.

No offense intended Harry, I’m not that far off myself.

No offense taken, this is all in fun.

When someone buy a computer system there, everyone of the employees start clapping and cheering.
now THAT is really embarrassing.

That is scary. This is the first microsoft store I have seen and I am amazed at the extent they have tried to duplicate an Apple store. Is there not one creative individual in that company? In addition I wonder how many windows users are going to say Apple is trying to copy microsoft with their stores.
I feel sorry for the the employees who are told to dance like they work at Coyote Ugly. Just sad.

   Actions johnsandiego said on November 17th, 2009 at 3:28 PM:

Looks like there are way more staff than customers. Maybe they just needed something to keep the staff from suffering a terminal case of boredom.

Page 1 of 2 pages  1 2 >
Login. Need an account? Register here.



Auto-login on future visits

Show my name in the online users list

Forgot your password?


Post A Comment

Name:

Email: (will not be displayed)

  Your Comments

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

What is the sum of 4 and 9?

 

Recent Headlines - Updated February 9th

Tue, 3:28 PM
News - Google Lowers Nexus One “Equipment Recovery Fee” to $150
2:27 PM
Deal Brothers - Refurbished 13” MacBook 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo:  $749
1:31 PM
Jeff Gamet's Blog - Macworld Expo: It’s Our Show, Not Apple’s
10:38 AM
Quick Look Review - Texas Tea for the iPhone and iPod touch
10:25 AM
News - Apple Rolls Out Aperture 3 Video Tutorials
10:00 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Backing Up Your iPhoto Library
9:35 AM
Product News - Notebook, iThoughts Add TextExpander touch Support
9:00 AM
Hidden Dimensions - The Killer Surprises Waiting for Steve Ballmer
8:50 AM
Product News - Aperture 3 Adds Faces Support, More [Updated]
8:30 AM
TMO Quick Tip - Fixing iPhone and MobileMe Sync Headaches
8:12 AM
News - Apple Store Offline, Rumors Point to New Laptops
8:00 AM
TMO Appearances - TMO’s Bryan Chaffin and the Atomic Love Bombs Perform During Macworld Expo
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $196.71. Change: +2.59.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

TMO Express

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday. Find out more!

Top Deals From DealBrothers.com

Recent Features

Support The Mac Observer

We noticed you may be running AdBlock on your computer. It takes real money to run this site and to deliver the news, tips, and opinions you love to read.

If you wish to block the ads that pay for the creation of our content, we ask that you instead support TMO Directly, either with a $5 monthly recurring contribution, or a one-time donation of any amount of your choice. Thanks!

Subscribe with Paypal Donate with Paypal