The Rocky Horror Twitter Show – the Power of Social Media
So here I’ve been contemplating how to better illustrate the expediency and power social media has on our society, when a cursory scroll through my Facebook account led me to a few posts by some old friends from college. Back in the day, I’d take in an occasional midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show which, if you have seen it in the theater, is quite the event. A quick study of the movie tells you the story is really a bizarre comedy of errors: boy asks girl to marry him, boy and girl have car trouble on a spooky, rainy night, then seek refuge in a castle (yes, in the middle of the Midwest, or somesuch place) inhabited by all sorts of freaky people. Truly, it’s a rite of passage if you haven’t attended a live performance at the movie theater. But I’m digressing.
The catalyst of the events in the film happen once Brad Majors’ car breaks down. Now, imagine Brad and Janet living in the age of social media. Rather than just brood in the car for a few moments before venturing out into the night, Brad needs only to whip out his iPhone and get on Twitter:
@BradMajors – Dammit! Tire blew on Rt. 19 out of Denton. Signal too slow to pull up directory. Need a tow. Pls RT.
@Trannyboy – RT @BradMajors – Dammit! Tire blew on Rt. 19 out of Denton. Signal too slow to pull up directory. Need a tow. Pls RT.
@Kiwi1234 – RT @BradMajors – Dammit! Tire blew on Rt. 19 out of Denton. Signal too slow to pull up directory. Need a tow. Pls RT.
@EverettScott – @BradMajors, what are you doing out in this godawful weather?
@DentonMechanic – @BradMajors, do you know your exact location? We can send a truck out there.
@BradMajors – @EverettScott, hey, @JanetWeiss and I were coming out to see you! We have great news!
@BradMajors – @DentonMechanic, we’re about fifteen miles out of town, southwest. We passed a castle a few back, if that helps.
@Trannyboy – Hey, @BradMajors, if you can’t get a tow, we’re not far. Why don’t you stop over and get dry? We’re in the castle.
@EverettScott – @BradMajors, Damn, wish you’d have called first. I’m in my car, too, heading towards you.
@BradMajors – @EverettScott, really? Same road?
@DentonMechanic – @BradMajors, I dispatched a truck. Hang tight.
@EverettScott – Yes! I was heading out to the castle. I have some business to attend to with the owner.
@Riff_Raff RT @EverettScott – Yes! I was heading out to the castle. I have some business to attend to with the owner. You getting this, @FrankNFurter?
@BradMajors – Swell! Can you ride us to the garage when the tow gets here? @JanetWeiss says hi.
@FrankNFurter – @EverettScott, nothing to see here. Go help your little friends.
@BradMajors – @DentonMechanic, thanks!
@EverettScott – @BradMajors, on my way!
@Riff_Raff – Whoops, forget to #ff my peeps: @SisMagenta, @Columbia69
@EverettScott – @FrankNFurter, we’re not done yet. Not by a long shot. @GreaserEddie hasn’t tweeted in a long time. Know why?
@Chewbacca69 – Yeah, where’s @GreaserEddie been?
@FrankNFurter – Who?
@BradMajors – Gotta go, tow’s here. Thanks, everybody!
And there you have it. The power of Twitter can change the course of a film, and the way you do business.
Kathryn Lively is a social media specialist who assists clients with social media optimization and Virginia Beach social media.
Social Media | admin November 10, 2009
