Original Blog Entry: Teenager raking in cash with parent-friendly parties

truesee — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:57:05 GMT

NY teen raking in cash with parent-friendly parties

CHUCK BENNETT

10:48 AM, November 8, 2010

This kid has something to fist-pump about.

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.

Still, his budding business, which is overseen by Smith's father, Donald, has had hiccups.

His planned Oct. 30 party in a Garment District loft was canceled at the last minute when he couldn't come up with the necessary $3,000 deposit and had trouble getting the proper permits.

Smith used his Facebook page to blame the adult who brokers space for events.

What happened next was a lesson for the 40-year-

old broker, who was barraged by hateful and threatening e-mails.

He finally had to threaten to call the cops before the lower Manhattan teen told his followers to back off.

I have a lot of admiration for him, and he has a lot of promise, the broker said. Ricky is a smart kid but, nevertheless, a kid still.

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.

LINK TO PHOTO : http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/biz_kid_ny_party_smarty_DqlMEl96qtlbwbDZhSP5zI#ixzz14jKi1zgL

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