About Matt.

There seems to be a generalized hate towards Matt Bongiovi and his comments not only in this forum but on the Bon Jovi world. I won't say I haven't insulted him because I'd be lying, BUT everyone here seems to reffer to him as the "PR guy" and when you go to his Twitter, it doesn't say anything on the bio about that. He doesn't even publicies himself as a Backstage representative or as a band's crew, there only says: "Life is an adventure. Work hard play harder".

Today I saw a lot of people insulting the guy and I started thinking: the fact that a guy related to the band has a Twitter account makes him the PR? I don't think so, for Public Relations the band has their own Facebook and Twitter account.

Maybe what's missing is a real PR team than could adress this issues for the band via the official accounts.

Or Matt did say "I'm the PR guy" and I missed that? This is a serious question

You are right, he has no business being the mouth piece of the band. On the one hand to be able to talk to someone on the inside and get a response but on the other it's not like it's his job to give out info.

Pretty much everyone involved with the band is getting harassed on twitter by people wanting more info with Richie.

Agree, everyone has been harassed, not only Matt but Ava, Luke Ebbin, even Hugh's wife!

I think it's clear by now that this band does not have a PR team.

As for Matt, he has said his personal Twitter account is just that.

However, he also makes PR-like statements on behalf of --(or to the detriment to, depending on your POV) --the band. So he comes off as sort of an 'unofficial' PR rep.

As a student of communications myself -- (and as someone who considered a career in PR for awhile, but ended up being fundamentally too introverted for it) -- this whole fiasco has been a lesson that college textbooks should showcase as how to *not* handle crisis management. Seriously: A whole chapter should be dedicated to how incorrectly this has been handled. It's not entirely Matt's fault, but the fact the comments he makes on his personal Twitter account have substituted for an official PR presence is messed up. You'd think someone as business-savvy as Jon tends to be would have hired a PR team; they can spin this any way they want, but at least it would be consistent messaging.

Agree. Maybe you should write that chapter, maybe someday students all over the world will be reading it

Lol yeah, I might just do that, and then I could include some choice commentary from the 'No Richie on this leg of the tour' thread as an example of what happens when there is no official PR presence to steer the story.

On the other hand, reading that might well turn a room full of future PR execs into screenwriting majors. xD

You could ilustrate the book with Rolo's pictures, lol.

Matt loves it. It gives him a sense of importance to speak for the band while at the same time remind people it's his personal account so he can state his opinions freely.

@MatthewBongiovi: @23866mar they have to vent to someone and since I'm the one who communicates with people.... Well I get the haters. Doesn't bother me

And let's not forget the whole no signs at shows deal. Matt tweeted no signs, richie says on google chat he loves signs and to sneak them it. Matt speaks to richie and richie suddenly retracts his statement and said never mind, no signs.

The problem is communication within the band needs to occur so that Matt or whoever can communicate consistent shit to us.

I could play devil’s advocate with this...

On one side you have annoying Bon Jovi fans who ask stupid questions, of which, I could only imagine how annoying that must get after a certain point in time.

On the flip side, he is nothing more than a brother to a famous rock star. He has no real talent and should consider himself blessed to get through life with no real career of his own. Security? Seriously? He's 5'11 and 210lb of fat. If Jon got the looks, he got the other rest.

He should cherish what he has!

My biggest issue with Matt is that he tries to play it both ways. He's gathered following because of who he is, and hops on that soap box to spout his quasi-official opinions about the band, and interact with his "fans" and "haters", but he'll then break out the "personal" account argument when it's convenient.