Social Media is to PR as Dalton is to "Roadhouse"

The public relations industry is not in the best shape these days. PR professionals are using lazy, automated and disingenuous tactics to achieve their goals. Fortunately, over the past year public relations professionals have taken to social media to further their practices or establish themselves within a growing medium. Social media is rapidly becoming the frontier for amazing public relations development. Mainly because it calls everyone on their b.s.

Roadhouse is a movie from 1989 starring the immortal Patrick Swayze. It combines philosophy, action and a coherent message into one of the greatest cable movies of all time. Essentially, Dalton (Swayze) is a bouncer at a seedy roadside bar who protects a small town in Missouri from the corrupt businessman Brad Wesley.

How do the two relate? Simple: Apply the characters to real life figures in social media/PR and you will begin to see the remarkable similarities.

Rachel Kay = Dr. Elizabeth Clay

Rachel is a lot like Dr. Elizabeth. She's strong, savvy and sassy. She also has an apparent love for "fur babies" so she definitely likes to take care of people. Level-headed and always open to giving advice Rachel is your go to gal. She also knows her craft and runs her own agency out in San Diego. She'd probably stitch up your company's PR strategy just like Dr. Elizabeth stitched up Dalton's back. (Plus their last names rhyme)

Danny Brown = Cody

Danny isn't blind like Cody despite what that hat might suggest. But he is a fantastic muse and explorer of social media concepts and how they apply to PR. His blog posts are easy going, smooth and leave you with a good taste in your mouth. Plus I think he can tear it up just like Cody does at The Double Deuce.

Jeremiah Owyang = Frank Tilghman

As an analyst Jeremiah has access to a wealth of information and case studies. When Jeremiah sees the best he'll write about them and inform his audience/clients. He's a great talent evaluator, just like Frank the owner of The Double Deuce. Frank found Dalton and Jeremiah finds social media people and trends as they happen.

Brian Solis = Wade Garrett

Brian is the original master. His knowledge base and tactician like style for applying case studies is legendary. In this sense he's exactly like Wade Garrett. Who taught Dalton all his tricks? It was Wade. If you want to learn how to effectively practice PR in new media (and in old media) read Brian's entire blog (a few times). Your brain will thank you and so will your clients.

Rupert Murdoch = Brad Wesley

Who else could be the bad guy in this tale? With his bashing of Google and the consolidation of his media empire Rupert Murdoch has created a more virulent Brad Wesley. Of course I think Rupert has slightly higher aspirations/ambitions. But then again, if he lived in a small town in Missouri...couldn't you picture him doing this?

Jimmy and Wesley's Gang = The Bad Pitchers on Richard Laermer's The Bad Pitch Blog

Every bad guy needs a group of thugs for protection and general mischief making. Every good guy needs them for comic relief and to look badass kicking them in slow motion. The Bad Pitch blog takes pitches made by some truly brain dead PR people and publishes them for our entertainment. The thugs of Roadhouse are no different only they get less press.

Gary Vaynerchuk  = James Dalton

Who else did you think it was going to be? Gary uses a take no prisoners attitude and exudes his passion with an infectious and extraordinary enthusiasm. I also would not be that surprised if Gary would beat the tar out of someone in order to defend something he was passionate about. He certainly doesn't take any crap. Dalton doesn't either and goes that extra mile to ensure the safety and comfort of those around them. He's passionate about kicking ass. That's Gary/Dalton in a nutshell.

tagged as dalton social media, patrick swayze is immortal, pr social media, public relations in social media, roadhouse public relations, roadhouse social media