First impressions count — big time. All it takes is one thing to turn someone off.

Anyone reading the news last week may have received a poor first impression of the Natchez Convention Center. Imagine the potential ramifications of an incident early Saturday morning outside the center.

A 23-year-old woman was shot and two men were arrested, one charged with drug possession, another with aggravated assault.

The crimes occurred following a rap music concert Friday evening at the city-owned convention center.

The incident conjures up a serious question: Is this the kind of attraction we should be booking at the public building?

Some people may immediately cry foul calling the suggestion discrimination or even racism. It’s not. The same problems could easily have occurred if the concert had been by an all-white country band.

But in this case, it was a rap concert. The music genre has become infamous riding the backs of thug-like “stars” some of whose lyrics denigrate women and openly revel in lawbreaking.

The city’s residents have invested millions of tax dollars into the convention center, and the investment needs to be cared for a bit more carefully.

The question for city leaders, however, isn’t whether or not you like rap music or whether or not you condone some of its questionable lyrics.

The question is: should the convention center play host to attractions that may be likely to bring negative attention to our city?

Better care should be used in how the building is rented and how much security is provided. Too much is at risk — lives and first impressions.