The Songwriters Composers Music Conference (SCMC), based out of Washington D.C. and coming to Tacoma Feb. 4, bills itself as a nationally-travelling event designed for unsigned artists, bands, songwriters, producers and independent labels. The SCMC says it offers lessons for success in the music business along with a chance for aspiring musicians, songwriters and producers to show off their skills in front of a crowd of prominent music industry "artists & repertoire" (A&R) representatives and major label types. Admission to the conference, which bills itself as open to anyone but seems most geared toward hip-hop, is $25, which includes an itinerary full of music business-related instruction. But the SCMC also promotes $300 and $500 packages promising private one-on-one meetings with the SCMC A&R panel and a chance to perform at the SCMC showcase in front of the A&R panel and the major labels in attendance. The SCMC website - scmcmusicconference.com - says of the $500 "VIP All Access" offer, "This package was created for artists, producers, independent labels, and managers who are looking to take their careers to the next step."

Larry Johnson, an A&R rep with The 15 Second Music Group out of New York, has been involved with the SCMC for over a year, telling the Volcano he's been an A&R panelist at conferences like the one coming to Tacoma's Marriot Hotel Feb. 4 about once a month during that time. Johnson, according to promotion, will be joined in Tacoma for the SCMC by Shawn Barron, a director of A&R with Atlantic Records who was nominated in Billboard.biz's "30 Under 30" music executives list in 2011 and is currently working with 16-year-old Diggy Simmons, Taira Daniel of Lisa Davis Music Management, DJ Smallz of Southern Smoke mixtape fame, media executive and producer Raymond Scott (better known by the stage name Benzino) and actor Omar Gooding, perhaps best known his roles on Hanging with Mr. Cooper and Nickelodeon's Wild and Crazy Kids.

Johnson says the SCMC offers those serious about taking the next step in the music industry valuable insight and a rare opportunity.

"A lot of people don't know how to utilize their resources," says Johnson of what the SCMC can potentially offer a conference attendee. In addition to advice on how to build a brand in the music industry, Johnson says the SCMC is, at its root, a paid-for chance for hopeful performers, songwriters and producers to momentarily gain the complete attention of real movers and shakers in the music business - Johnson cites Barron and Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre's record label, who he says will also have representatives in Tacoma for the SCMC.

"These A&R's are who they are and they are giving opportunities," says Johnson.

When asked for specific examples of artists the SCMC has helped succeed in the music industry, Johnson mentions a 15-year-old singer named Jharee, who he says was discovered by Konvict Muzik during a July 2011 SCMC event in Greensboro, N.C., as well as the band 3 Quarters Dead, who Jackson says got to "sit down" with Atlantic A&R consultant Jeff Blue thanks to the SCMC. Blue is linked to acts like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Korn.

Jharee's Facebook and ReverbNation page, however, list the young artist as affiliated with X-Ray Music Group, an online A&R service that's unaffiliated with SCMC and also marketed as a tool to help aspiring artists get signed by a label. 3 Quarters Dead is listed as "unsigned" on Facebook, and is also working with an A&R service other than one affiliated with SCMC, A&R Select out of California, apparently in hopes of landing a record deal.

For some within Tacoma's tight-knit, historically DIY music scene, offers and advertisements like the ones made by SCMC raise red flags of concern. Longtime "anti pay-to-play" activist Bon Von Wheelie (Bonnie Henderson), drummer of the Tacoma band Girl Trouble, is one of those people. Von Wheelie's activism against those she views as preying on the naiveté of young artists has been documented in the Volcano before, most notably her nearly-two-year legal battle with Ohio-based Gorilla Entertainment. She instantly bristles when anyone offers to sell aspiring bands a chance at fame and fortune.

"If you are really going to spend $300 to $500 to be seen by some industry people, I expect results," says Von Wheelie.

"This money could be better spent on anything else, including putting out a CD," Von Wheelie continues. "This kind of event is for people who play music in order to ‘make it.' That's not the way it's done. You'll never get anywhere if you are doing this to ‘make it.'

"Neko Case is a good example of how this really works. First you have to be good. Then you work your ass off and meet other musicians and network. After you've done that for some years, that's when major labels are interested," says Von Wheelie. "They are not going around to discover somebody who just got out of their garage with their first song."

As is the case in much of life, the truth of the SCMC - whether it's a potential jackpot opportunity for aspiring performers and songwriters or a well-orchestrated machine taking advantage of unknowing artists - is likely in the eye of the beholder. For some, a chance to audition in front of purportedly well-connected A&R reps may easily be worth $300 or $500. Others, especially in a town like Tacoma, may call BS.

In the end, both may have a point.