The newest dance club offers weekend activities for people not old enough to drink alcohol.
Synergy, 416 W. Third St., is open to people 18 years and older on Thursday and Saturday nights and 16 years and older on Friday nights.
"We want to make it appropriate," Owner Eric Winters said. "We always want to have something to do for the kids. We're focusing on colleges because there's nothing for them to do. We have the biggest dance floor and stage in Williamsport. We have an upper and a lower dance floor, a projector screen and three flatscreens."
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ALYSSA MURPHY/Sun-Gazette
A patron of Synergy, Williamsport’s under-21 club, gives a disc jockey a request.
The television screens can show something different on each, such as movies, cable television like MTV and Spike TV, and music videos, all of which can be shown on the large projector screen near the dance floor.
Winters wanted to make a place for the under-21 crowd, especially the college students, to socialize.
"I wanted to benefit them," he said. "They can meet locals and college kids."
Fact Box
Synergy
416 W. Third St.
567-7274
Doors open at 9 p.m.
18 years and older
Thur. and Sat.
16 years and older
Fri.
The dance floor also has a large light show that is programmed to flash a variety of colors and shapes along with the beats of the music.
"All the lights are LED (light-emitting diodes)," Winters said. "The light show is insane. The whole room is a dance floor."
A variety of disc jockeys plays in the club week.
Every Thursday and Friday, DJ Ikon from Harrisburg plays. On Saturdays, the DJs rotate from different places.
Winters said in the future, he wants to get more famous acts. His ultimate goal is to host between 10 to 12 acts a year.
What Winters cares about most is making everyone is safe.
"Our biggest thing is safety," he said.
Even before people enter the building, several safety tests occur.
Everyone must adhere to the dress code, which bans bandanas, "do-rags," sunglasses, jerseys, plain white t-shirts, sleeveless shirts, sweatpants, mesh shorts, excessively baggy clothing and athletic wear.
"Dress to impress," Winters said.
Identification also is necessary to prove a person's age, even for 16-year-olds.
"It's a precaution," Winters said. "We don't want to mix 14- and 21-year-olds."
People must go through a metal detector to make sure they have no weapons, pepper spray or tools.
Anyone who appears or smells drunk or drugged will not be permitted access.
There also are cameras taping, outside and inside.
Inside the club, Rock Star energy drinks, Long Island pizza, chips and pretzels are for sale. Glow sticks also are available.
Winters said he decided to have Friday nights be 16 years and older so they can go to Synergy after the high school football games.
"They're already with their friends," he said. "They don't want to go home."
Even though no alcohol is permitted in the club, Winters said a "good number" of 21-year-olds still go. He said that when he asks them why, they say they don't need alcohol to have fun.
In the future, Winters wants the upstairs, as of now off-limits, to be used for private parties.
"We were inspired by Super Sweet Sixteen," Winters said.
Super Sweet Sixteen is a television show on MTV where teenagers celebrate - usually, lavishly - their birthday parties.
Also in the future, Winters wants to participate in First Friday by bringing in artists and musicians.
"We want to be involved in everything," he said.
Another future plan is to host an alternative lifestyle night for 18- to 20-year-olds in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He said that many people from Pittsburgh, State College and Harrisburg support the idea on Facebook.
