Music conference rocks Penn Tower Hotel

The Penn Tower Hotel was both jammed and jamming over the weekend as more than 500 bands packed the building's 21 floors for the Philadelphia Music Conference. For four days, the hotel's professional atmosphere was transformed into one of raucous excitement, with dredlocked musicians replacing the usual business suit-clad clientele. The groups, ranging from classical and gospel to rap and rock, gathered at the University to make connections, to learn about the industry and just to socialize. "The 1995 Conference was the best year ever because of all the divergent musical groups that came together in this city," said Kenith Bay of K.B. Productions. "It was a harmonizing event in more ways than one." Participants were given the chance to learn from and personally meet record agents, production managers and producers from New York and Los Angeles, as well as the Philadelphia area, who were present to observe one of the largest gatherings on the East Coast. "The music scene in Philadelphia is up and coming. New York better look out," said La Mia Bentley, a singer and flute player from Chester, Pa. During the four days, from Wednesday to Sunday last week, similar music conventions were also being held in locations around the world. Musicians paid $125 for an admission ticket, while it cost industry representatives $150. Both also had to pay the normal Penn Tower room rates. The conference this year was entitled "The Hippo" because of the corresponding Japanese calendar year. "We also called it that because of how cool the purple hippo looks on our advertisements," said Conference Executive Staffer Elif Sajar. Many respected artists and speakers were present to give seminars for attendees -- including a keynote address by Nirvana's Krist Novoselic. "We learned an incredible amount of information here," said Vincent Long from the group Black Source. "I feel like we can tackle anything now." His group left the conference with a contract from an L.A. record label. During the festivities, 420 shows were performed by visiting bands at 31 different clubs in the Philadelphia area. The visitors said they also enjoyed spending time in the city. "I learned a lot from the program and the city," said Paul Rozmus, a drummer from Poland. "It is even better than the 'City of Brotherly Love' advertisement. It was definitely worth the trip." About 75 people from Philadelphia volunteered for the conference, mostly as sound and lighting technicians. "It feels good to help bring all these musicians to my city," said Ed Hill, a lighting volunteer from Philadelphia. The Hippo Conference concluded Sunday with a block party for the entire city at 2nd and Chestnut streets. "The only way this gathering can be improved is to have it expanded next year," said Sly Skinner, a guitar player from Richmond, Va. The event was sponsored by Disc Makers.