High-school sophomore Ricky Smith has been collecting up to $15,000 an event in cover charges for hosting drug- and alcohol-free teen dance parties throughout the city.
Called “Lost Generation,” the series of parent-friendly parties attracts up to 500 teens from elite Manhattan public and private schools to lofts and clubs for a night of nonstop, juvenile booty-shaking.
“My goal was to monopolize the teen party business in New York City,” said Smith, who organized five megaparties this year.
Each party — advertised on Facebook and by individual promoters he recruited in dozens of schools — is staffed with professional bouncers who have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to booze, dope or fisticuffs.
“It’s like walking into a club — usually a lot of house music and popular music you’d hear on the radio,” he said. “Lots of dancing and, yes, fist-pumping.”
Music is provided by aspiring teen deejays.
Some older teens scoff at the whole concept, but for Smith, a sophomore at the Professional Performing Arts School, it just means better business to focus on 14- to 15-year-olds.
They like it, he said, because older teens aren’t around to intimidate them and parents, especially girls’ parents, feel it’s a safer environment.
Ricky said he doesn’t see a career in the club or party promotion business.
“I want to work in math or science, my strong subjects,” he said.
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