A PLACE TO VERTI-GOGO; SANTA CLARITA TEENS GET A FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE CLUB OF OWN.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Creators of the new teen club Verti-Gogo want to make it clear that the Friday night dance center opening this week is for kids only.

So if you're a parent planning on checking out the joint before letting your kids hang out for a night, prepare to wear a bright yellow hard hat with the word ``Intruder'' written across the front and a vest with ``Don't worry - I'm leaving'' written on the back.

After all, creators Jay Schutz and Peter Goossens figure the area's 15,000-plus teens have waited long enough for a place of their own.

The partners decided to open the teen club when they discovered just how Santa Clarita Valley kids have fun on the weekends. They hang out at Kinko's Copies and play with the copy machines, they push each other around in grocery carts, they even cruise around from video store to video store, Schutz said.

Verti-Gogo, which will take over the roller rink and concourse of the Mountasia Family Fun Center at 21516 Golden Triangle Road every Friday night, will be the place where kids ages 13 to 18 can dance and socialize over soft drinks, Schutz said. Every week, the 15,000-square-foot club will feature a different theme and different variety of music, from '70s tunes to the latest club mixes.

``This will be a place where they can meet kids from other high schools and, hopefully, make new friends,'' Schutz said. ``It changes, it evolves, it's their club, they belong.''

And Schutz said parents can rest assured, safety is a priority. The club will have 12 security guards, double the recommended number.

In addition, the kids are required to sign a long list of rules, designed to avoid trouble.

The teens must bring their school identification cards and club membership cards to get in. They cannot wear hats, white T-shirts, cut-offs, oversized clothes, bandannas or anything that could be construed as gang attire. They must be Santa Clarita Valley residents. There is no smoking allowed, and drugs are not permitted on the premises. Purses will be inspected and pat-downs will be performed. And memberships may be revoked.

And since the membership procedure allows the owners to get the teen-agers' names and addresses, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will assess the list of names to make sure the members have not broken laws, Schutz said.

The new club has the support of city administrators, since it provides local teens with safe activities, city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said.

``One of the things the city really liked is that the board of directors is all teens,'' Ortiz said. ``We specifically support youth programs that keep them off the street. And this is a class act.''

The club will be open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., giving high school students a chance to attend football games and still have time to hang out at Verti-Gogo, Schutz said.

The yearly membership fee will be $20 until Oct. 24. After the third week, the fee goes up to $25. Members must pay an $8 entrance fee with every visit. During the first three weeks, nonmembers may visit the club for a $10 entrance fee. Membership will be required after the first three weeks.

As part of the membership fee, teens will receive a discount card that may be used at local businesses such as McDonald's, the Spectrum Club and the Soccer Center, Schutz said.

Teen-agers or parents seeking more information about the club may call [phone].

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PHOTO (color) Peter Goossens, left, and Jay Schutz, creators of Verti-Gogo, show off some of the handouts that will be distributed at the new club.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News