Mel Cooke, Star Writer

When Teen Jam started at Club Afrodiziac, Portmore Town Centre, last Saturday, it marked more than the beginning of another party series for the summer when time hangs heavy on the hands of the youthful on holidays from school.

Held from early afternoon to what can be considered very early night, as far as partying hours go, Teen Jam is alcohol- and hardcore-song-free entertainment pitched at a younger audience, with some video gaming and talks on issues, especially relevant to their stage of life, in the mix.

Teen Jam is being held from 1 to 9 p.m. every Saturday during the summer, the series closing on September 5th. CD Master and Craig Mac will provide the music, with Poor and Boasy, Bragga Dat, Blass, Higher Tone and Bridgez among the slated performers.

properly monitored

The series' organiser, Hugh Stone, told THE PORTMORE STAR that he started Teen Jam "because I have been to a lot of parties and realised that our teens are not being properly monitored. They can drink and smoke and sometimes, especially the girls, get abused by the males. With Teen Jam, I am giving them some clean entertainment and allowing them to have all their exotic drinks 'virgin' style."

Not only will there be no alcohol available at the events, but Stone said "you can only purchase your drink in the club. You can't enter with a drink. Even if you buy it in there you can't leave and come back inside with it."

There will be guest performers between 5 and 7 p.m. each Saturday. Stone said he is going as far as vetting songs to be played and performed in order to ensure stipulated standards are adhered to.

He estimates that Afrodiziac can hold about 1,200 teens and he invites adults responsible for the partying teens to have a look and relate any concerns they might have.

mini workshops

Stone said, "It won't be just party." It will have some mini workshops for an hour or two and some agency will come in and speak of the problems that affect teens like abuse, peer pressure, pregnancy and a lot more." "Some days it will be a game arcade so the teens can just come in and play games and listen to good music. It will be something to educate, stimulate and to help guide them," he added.

Teens are invited to bring their friends and win $30,000 for back-to-school expenses but that doesn't mean they will get that money in their hands. It will go towards school supplies.

"I will ask for a booklist and where you will purchase your school stuff. What is left over will be given to you. Also, I want actual records so when next summer's Teen Jam comes around we can see how well spent that money was. This money will be given out just in time for back to school."

Stone also wants to give out weekly prizes as well as reward the school with the most Teen Jammers with computer donations.

"I am not looking a profit from it. I just want to see our teens get some guidance and show them they can have fun without the smoking and liquor," Stone told THE PORTMORE STAR.