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Amplified Youth

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In the dark space, rainbow flashes of light dance on the floor and walls. The music surges through the brick walls of Bliss Nightclub. The music is clear—an instant energy vibrates through the place. Past the bar is the source of the amplified music: the DJ booth, plus a set of big speakers that sits in the far right of the club.Teenagers dance to the loud music booming from the big speakers. This night is hosted by Amplified Entertainment. They are a mobile entertainment company that covers all sorts of events. They host club nights and all-age concerts with local hip-hop and rap artists for the 18-and-over crowd. They also cover weddings, birthday parties, community events and teach dance lessons. amplified-entertainment-032_web1Ken Allen, Amplified’s 35-year-old manager, is nestled toward the back of the club with some of his staff members. He is a versatile person with a versatile business. His hoodie and jeans evidence his down-to-earth persona and how he talks to his staff members as if they were family or close friends. He doesn’t talk down to them. Amplified thrives because of the people Allen reaches out to. People that experience the fun atmosphere and friendly staff of Amplified events spread the word to their friends and family. Every Wednesday night, Amplified can be found at NV50 in Carson City, Nev., pumping music for the 18-and-over crowd. Allen saw Reno as littered with casinos and with plenty of entertainment for adults. To Allen, the youth were suffering from not having something safe and fun. “I took it upon myself to do it for the kids and create a safe atmosphere,” says Allen. “Kids already know how I am about fights at my events: lights go on and music goes off. They know I’m serious.” Amplified used to have club nights called “Club Hypnotiq” at different locations. The mobile club began at Greckos Pizza on Oddie Boulevard and then moved to Greenbrae Lanes in Sparks. Allen struggled for Amplified’s last location, Stoneys on South Wells Avenue, because the owner thought there would be potential for trouble. But Allen wanted to invite the Reno police and have them there. “What we do is legit and we don’t have anything to hide,” he says. Allen took the safety of everyone seriously. Even though it was expensive to hire security guards, he did so anyway. Fights would break out, but Allen hopped on-stage, grabbed a microphone and stopped the event. People usually stopped fighting after they realized that they stopped the party and a multitude of angry glares were sent their way. O.D. Felipe, 19, is a regular at Amplified events. Felipe says that if it weren’t for Ken booking events to go to, people would go to house parties and get into illegal activities. “When I go to an Amplified event I know my money is well spent,” says Felipe. “I’ve known Ken since I was about 16 and without him, I don’t know what would happen. People would be doing dangerous things.” Jackie Zomoza, 20, also goes to Amplified events regularly. She’s known Allen for four years and knows that he cares about the Reno youth. “Ken is awesome and he cares about appealing to everyone,” says Zomoza. “He wants to attract people to the club rather than have them out on the streets. He creates a safe environment.” Zomoza says that there wouldn’t be much to do in Reno without Amplified. They offer a variety of music, a safe place to go and raffle off prizes for booty-shaking contests. If Amplified hosts a themed party, then typically there are contests for the best-dressed person. In this way, Allen’s vision of an entertainment company that compacts everything into one package came true. “My heart’s here, I like it, but I still want to go to other cities,” says Allen. “I thought I would move to Sacramento, but I like Reno. I got a lot of love in this city.”