Crowd Control: DMX riot errupts at Indiana University.

Wednesday evening, a riot erupted during a DMX rap performance at the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Indiana University. According to the Indiana Daily Student, the fraternity made an agreement with campus police to end the concert by 9:30 due to a noise ordinance. Apparently, the rapper was supposed to arrive at 8:30 but arrived an hour late. After DMX played three songs, police escorted him off stage. Immediately after, the crowd began to shout profanities and rush the stage and police maced several students.

What is more interesting about Wednesday’s incident is that the concert was a charity event. According to MTV’s online newsroom, the concert was raising money for Children Uniting Nations, an organization that provides mentoring for at-risk kids. Lambda Chi Alpha should have done better research when they were picking a performer for the event. DMX is not the best role model for kids. On the rapper’s Web site it says, “It’s no secret that DMX is a troubled man. With his constant run-ins with the law putting his reckless behavior on the front page, it’s hard to remember that DMX’s fame used to be all about the music.”

This points out the importance of selecting a celebrity to represent your organization. It’s important that the celebrity comply with the values of the organization, and not act against them. Otherwise, the celebrity will decrease the organization’s credibility.

This is not the first time a DMX concert has gone out of control. In October 2006, fans began to throw water bottles on stage when there was technical difficulties. The rapper’s entourage threw items back, including a folding chair that hit a woman in the head. The woman had to go to the hospital, but didn’t receive any severe damages.

As a entertainment publicist, it is important to always have a contingency plan for your client. Particularly music performers who deal with large crowds need to be aware of the worst case scenario. If a crowd begins to get out of control, the performer needs an exit strategy. More importantly, the entertainer and his entourage should not instigate the crowd even more.

Being a publicist in the hip hop/rap world must be a tough gig. Drugs and violence are part of the culture. Depending on the client, this can create a job of constant damage control and crisis communication. On the other hand, going to jail might be something that would enhance an artist’s image, making the artist look tough. Of course, this all depends on how the story is spun.

Visit Perez Hilton to read the full statement DMX’s representative issued after Wednesday evening’s incident.

Should Larry Rudolph give Britney Spears a second chance?

This Tuesday, E! News reported that Britney Spears is working again with former manager Larry Rudolph, whom she had fired last year. TMZ reported that Spears had fired Rudolph for having a hand in her short stay in rehab. Rudolph was Spears manager from the pop star’s beginning success. His MySpace page reports that he discovered Spears in 1995, and managed her for the majority of her career.

Should Rudolph represent Spears again? Rudolph has his own reputation to look out for as well. The client-publicist relationship is a symbiotic one. Not only does the publicist represent the client, but the client also influences the publicist’s reputation. Spears’ own erratic behavior can make Rudolph look bad.

Spears’ unpredictable behavior escalated in 2007. It began last February when she shaved her own head at a Los Angeles hair salon after the stylists refused to do so. Last March, Spears checked out of rehab and mysteriously broke a tooth. The rest of 2007 consisted of a custody battle between Spears and her former husband Kevin Federline. The custody battle escalated this January when Spears was hospitalized after refusing to turn her children over to Federline.

Perhaps Rudolph is an old friend who wants to help Spears get her life back on track. Rudolph has a lot of work cut out for him, regardless of his reasons for representing her. So how can Rudolph help Spears create a new image for herself?

Below are a few ideas for redeeming the pop star’s reputation:

1. Encourage Spears to go to a mental rehabilitation facility for “rest.” Help her understand that it is not rehab, but a sort of resort spa that she is going to.

2. After six months rest, put Spears in a media training program. Here she can learn how to present herself to the media, and learn to communicate a clear message that she is back and healthy.

3. Place Spears on Oprah where she can talk about the pressure the media put her under. Fame can result in strange behavior.

4. Get Spears a personal trainer so she can get in shape.

5. Tell Spears to stop wearing wigs, so she can have a natural look.

6. Get Spears back in the studio for a real “come back” album.

The downside to representing celebrities is that they’re sometimes unpredictable. There is no guarantee that Spears will agree to what her manager wants. Rudolph must set guidelines for doing business with Spears, and state exactly what he expects from her as a client.