On a snowy October 29th, the staff of Cutting Edge Entertainment and I took off to KatManDu in Trenton, NJ, with one goal in mind, “Rock Out Morgan’s Bat Mitzvah”. Just like when we do weddings, we meet all of our mitzvah clients a few weeks prior to the party. We go over all the different party details as well as hang out and get to know each other. During this meeting, I sat with Morgan and her family and we went over the timeline, music, games, dances, and all the requests for the party. Being able to know all this information before the party made my job a piece of cake. The Bat Mitzvah was an amazing time; both the kids and adults crowded the dance floor once they finished eating, and danced until the night was over.

When I met with the family about their daughter Morgan’s Bat Mitzvah, I began anticipating DJing once again at KatManDu. Being a full time professional DJ, I have worked many Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, corporate events, proms, sweet sixteens, and even bars and nightclubs in the area. One place I worked at for many years was KatManDu and had an unforgettable experience working there. As I mentioned in previous blog posts, I really pride myself on being able to DJ many different types of parties. No matter the event I feel confident with my hard work and music knowledge I can make the party fun and memorable.

The staff at KatManDu did a great job, as I knew they would from my past experience. It is a great place to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or sweet sixteen, and I look forward to being back there again soon. I also worked with the crew from Hy Paul Studios. It was about seventeen years ago when Alfie, Barnett, and others from their staff were shooting my Bar Mitzvah. I thank them for letting me feature some pictures from the affair and can’t wait to work another party with them. Lastly I am very grateful that Morgan’s family let me be apart of her Bat Mitzvah day. I had a lot of fun working and getting to know their family, especially Mom-Mom (who is an incredible dancer).

From the entire staff of Cutting Edge Entertainment, Congratulations to Morgan and the entire family!!

-Richie

Images courtesy of Hy Paul Studios

KatManDu

Cutting Edge Entertainment
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
MC, DJ and Dancers
Philadelphia

Elegance, excitement and energy… These are the words that pop into my head when thinking of Nick’s Bar Mitzvah – of which I had the honor of MCing this past September. The family’s backyard in Abington was transformed into a castle of tents and staging by EventQuip, decorated in fall colors throughout. The picnic-style tables were set in a ‘Maine’ theme (as in the State), including lobsters, clams, and even some fishing nets. The decor and theme were so detailed; it felt as if we were on a movie set. After Nick finished his ceremony, for which we provided sound and was also held in the tent structure, the area was cleared so that my staff and I could prepare the space for the party.

Nick and his friends were ushered to another tent for the pre-party, with fun activities like Dance, Dance Revolution, Rockband, Wii games and photo favors. As music played in the background, the kids enjoyed soda from the bar, and elaborate spread of snacks (including sushi!), and fun with their friends. As the main tent was being prepared, the adults enjoyed cocktail in another tent, complete with a custom bar.

Then it was time for the party to really blast off. After a few minutes of dancing, the guests found their seats and I introduced the family, who were all greeted with thundering applause. Nick walked in dressed to the nines, complete with a matching fedora, as the crowd erupted. After a unique candle lighting – designed by Nick himself – the party kicked off and we never looked back. The kids danced all night long, not to be out done by the adults, who rocked long into the early morning hours.

Nick and his friends donned their shades and danced on stage with the dancers, Grandpa sang Sinatra on the microphone, one cousin showed off his break dancing skills, and Nick even took a place alongside our percussionist, Eric, and played the drums to the beat of Cutting Edge Entertainment’s DJ Brian. As the kids filtered out at midnight, some of the little ones could even falling asleep in their seats from partying so hard.

As the party went into overtime (always a good sign of serious party people) the adults stayed on the dance floor and jammed out to some 80′s and classic rock until the wee morning hours. Each and every guest left that night with tired feet and a smile the size of Texas. Thank you to my co-MC Marc and my entire staff for an outstanding performance. Also, special thanks to Jen Angelo, who put the whole shebang together, and Photographer Susan Beard who provided these amazing images.

Mazel Tov and thank you to Nick and his family!

~Tony A.

Images courtesy of Susan Beard Design

Event design by Jennifer Angelo

Tenting by EventQuip

Cutting Edge Entertainment
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
MC, DJ and Dancers
Philadelphia

Guest post by Kenn Dranoff

Typically the last thing done for your affair, and often times – aside from parental budget imposed upon them – one item of all the things that has to be done that the child has the most control of.  In essence, they get to pick a product and make a design that they like.

If handled correctly, this should be one of the less stressful parts of planning the affair.  I always recommend starting the process about six to eight weeks prior to the affair. This allows time to finalize the design and product, leaving you to just wait for the rsvp’s to come in.  For those clients wanting to start earlier (six months to a year) I would highly suggest waiting, as the childs’ tastes, hobbies ,and interests – all of which go in to the making of the design – often change as they mature from the age of twelve to thirteen.

Try to find a party favor supplier with their own art department versus just one that uses clip art, or, where you are limited to using their pre-selected designs. Kids like their design to look original, or to reflect something about themselves. It’s also important to find a supplier with many years of experience as certain things change. Today for example, girls like to wear their tees cut smaller (but their hoodies oversized) with a  thinner softer material like you would see in Old Navy or American Eagle, whereas just a few years ago everyone was wearing heavier oversized cotton tees. Sweatshirts are very popular, but they must be hoodies or zip hoodies. A crewneck sweatshirt would be a waste of your money. Keep in mind, in the case of a Bat Mitzvah, not to make the design too “girly” or to use feminine colors in the product or the ink colors. The boys may never wear it, and again you would be wasting your money.

As far as giving them out, there are lots of ways, one being to put the favor in a gift bag – available at any dollar store – putting each child/guest’s name on the bag and leaving it on a table for when they leave. This will avoid any chaos when giving out the favors during the affair.  Or, if it is something you might want them to wear at the affair, you could give them out at the beginning of the affair in a similar way.

Remember to carefully proof the final design. Nothing is more embarassing  than having the wrong date or a misspelled word! Just deal with a company that has been around for a while, don’t be afraid to ask questions or to see a sample if you are unsure about anything. The party favor is a fun item so enjoy and Mazel Tov with your affair!

Kenn Dranoff
Mr. D’s Tees
888-343-8337

www.mrdstees.com

We have been using Mr. D’s Tees for well over a decade now.  They are a fantastic company, and not only do they deliver a high quality product, but they own their own screen printers, and don’t ‘send out’ their orders to be done off premises.  Additionally, they stand behind their work.  Highly recommended!!

Craig
Cutting Edge Entertainment

Cutting Edge Entertainment
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
MC, DJ and Dancers
Philadelphia

On November 5th, 2011, I had the opportunity to perform as the DJ/MC at the Bat Mitzvah of one of the coolest girls of all time, Nikki. I first met Nikki and her family over a year ago at our office, where we were able to go over all of the different options for her party. At first Nikki was shy, but over time she opened up and let her awesomeness out. I started off my DJ career working mainly on Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and although it seems like I’ve been doing a lot of weddings, it’s always nice to go back to my DJ roots. One of my favorite parts of doing Mitzvahs is the opportunity to be out there interacting with the crowd. The high energy from my staff of DJ and dancers did a great job of everyone into a party mode.

Nikki and her parents expressed to me before the party that they wanted as much dancing time as possible, including abbreviating the candle lighting. Back in the day when I was becoming a Bar Mitzvah, it was common to have lengthy candle lighting, inviting up family and friends – one at a time – to light the candles on the cake. The down side to having this, is that it would take somewhere around forty minutes to complete this ceremony. There has been a trend over the past few years to shorten the candle lighting to only three candles; one candle would represent the past, the next would be the present, and the final candle is the future. This saved us a lot of time, which we utilized later on the dance floor.

The affair was held at Maggios’ in Southampton, Pennsylvania. We have worked at this venue many times in the past and as always, Bette and the entire staff did a fantastic job. I also am happy to be able to feature the pictures from the party courtesy of J.D. Higgins Art & Photography. My staff also did a great job, and I am very grateful to have such a talented team of DJs and dancers with me.

However, a Bat Mitzvah can not be legendary without a totally awesome Bat Mitzvah girl, and Nikki was all that and more! Her smile was infectious and quickly spread to all her friends and family. We not only had the kids dancing, but Nikki’s mom, dad, big sister, and even big brother got out there and busted out some dance moves. I had an amazing time working with the entire Harvey family. Mazel Tov!!

-Richie

Images courtesy of J.D. Higgins Photography

Maggio’s

Cutting Edge Entertainment
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
MC, DJ and Dancers
Philadelphia

On Saturday Afternoon, November 12 of 2011, the Cutting Edge team and I had the absolute pleasure of being the DJ entertainment for Cally’s Bat Mitzvah party. First, it’s important to say that Cally and her parents were awesome to work with. The fun really began at the planning meeting, where everyone was laughing and having fun picking songs and games for the party. Cally’s parents – Marcy and Ross – were so laid back and so enthusiastic, that that feeling trickled down to Cally and her brother, and everyone seemed psyched even before the party started.

At the party, held at The William Penn Inn, the mood was electric. Often times, afternoon parties – or luncheons – for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah can have a different groove than an evening event, but not in the case of this Bat Mitzvah. From the minute (literally the minute) Cally and her friends came in the room, they were dancing non-stop. Of course, the adults quickly followed, and The William Penn Inn rocked from the beginning to the end of the Bat Mitzvah as if the guests had battery packs filled with energy. Grandparents, parents and kids alike were rocking out on the dance floor to everything DJ Adam would play, and our dancers did a great job of getting everyone involved in everything from games, to a soul train line.

The staff at The William Penn Inn did a fantastic job of executing the time line, to serving great food. I found their staff to be almost as enthusiastic about their work as the guests were about partying… But perhaps the energy was just that contagious. Sergio, the photographer, also did a phenomenal job of capturing the action (as you can see in these photos), without being intrusive… He was just that good. All in all, it was a great day. Great guests, great team, great party.

Thanks again to Cally’s parents for being such fun clients to work with, and to Cally (and her friends), for being so darn cool. It was an honor to be your MC and to have you choose Cutting Edge to provide the DJ entertainment for the Bat Mitzvah. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Mazel Tov Cally

~Craig

Images courtesy of Photography by Sergio

The William Penn Inn

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

We couldn’t help but notice that the Google scribble on Tuesday, September 27th was a “Happy 13th Birthday”. We weren’t exactly sure if every September 27th Google posts a different birthday scribble (although it was less a scribble and more a photo), or if there was some specific significance to this birthday (we’ll have to check back next year to be sure). Then is dawned on us… “What if Google is Jewish?” Now that would make sense, as a Bar Mitzvah is observed on the thirteenth birthday.

But then we thought, “Well, maybe Google isn’t Jewish”, in which case it would be awfully silly to be wishing you a happy Bar Mitzvah, so we called a meeting of all of our top management in order to discuss the matter. After several hours of deliberation, it was decided that it was better to wish you a happy Bar Mitzvah and have you tell us you were not Jewish, than say nothing, in which case if it did turn out that you are Jewish, you might have been upset that we didn’t say anything.

Of course, the question was also raised “What if Google is a girl?”, in which case we should be we should be wishing you a happy Bat Mitzvah. Again we assembled our brightest executives, debating if Google were male, female, or perhaps no gender whatsoever (being that you’re essentially a search engine, and we don’t know too many search engines personally). Once again, after long hours of heated discussion, it was decided that you were likely genderless, and the more generic ‘Bar Mitzvah’ might be more appropriate.

At any rate, if you are Jewish, then Mazel Tov to you!  And if you’re not, well,
Happy Birthday Google!

With Love,

The Staff of Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

In an article published just over two years ago titled “What Is A DJ Supposed To Know?”, I expressed an opinion that inherently, first and foremost, a DJ is ‘supposed’ to know about music. Reading that article again with hindsight being 20/20, I can see that much of what I wrote in that article was fueled by my own personal opinion coupled with a great passion for music, specifically ‘popular’ music.

Although I still believe this to be true, admittedly, I acknowledge that a DJ must posses some additional skill sets in order to execute his duties as a DJ… Particularly the Mobile DJ. Stating the obvious, it would help if the DJ was familiar with and had a general understanding of acoustics, sound and amplification equipment, as well as emerging technologies and platforms on which play music. At the same time, there are some other extracurricular skill sets which might also enhance the Disc Jockey’s ability to do his or her job correctly, some of which I hope to cover here. To begin, I searched the term ‘Disc Jockey’, and came up with this definition:

A Disc Jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc referred to the Compact Disc, and has become the more common spelling. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.

There are several types of Disc Jockeys. Radio DJs or radio ‘personalities’ introduce and play music that is broadcast on AM, FM, shortwave, digital, or internet radio stations. Club DJs select and play music in bars, nightclubs, discothèques, at raves, or even in a stadium. Hip Hop Disc Jockeys select and play music using multiple turntables – often to back up one or more MCs. They may also do turntable scratching to create percussive sounds. In reggae, the DJ (deejay) is a vocalist who raps, “toasts”, or chats over pre-recorded rhythm tracks while the individual choosing and playing them is referred to as a selector. Mobile DJs travel with portable sound systems and play recorded music at a variety of events.

The definition suggests that in each instance, aside from the playing of (and therefore knowledge of) music, there are ‘specialists’. Varied types of DJ for various applications, each possessing unique skill sets that lend to their specific responsibility or ‘type’ of DJing. Aside from the Reggae and Hip Hop varieties, I have personal experience in the other three roles; Club DJ, Radio DJ and Mobile DJ, the latter two requiring an additional skill set in common – the use of the microphone. The use of the microphone, and the ability to articulate correctly and properly while using it, is a learned skill, and something that naturally – like anything else – evolves and improves with time.

Further examining the Club DJ versus Radio DJ, I think it’s fair to assert that each has their strengths aside from music knowledge.  In most cases, the Club DJ has a much greater technical ability than the Radio DJ, but is often more fluent in a specific style or styles of music (ergo a Club DJ at a disco club might be more versed in 70s music than a Club DJ that specializes in House music).  The Club DJ can mix beats, blend and sometimes scratch or even re-mix on the fly, all of which are skills the Radio DJ has no need for.  The Radio DJ – or ‘personality’ – is often just that.  Unlike the Club, Mobile, Hip-Hop or Reggae DJ, the Radio Jock seldom even chooses the music which – unlike in the early days of Radio – is often pre-programmed.  The Radio DJ is more of the personality, making announcements, taking callers, introducing songs and chatting a bit about the tune or the artist before or after it is played, being careful not to talk over lyrics or leave what is known as ‘dead air’ (gaps between songs or commercials).  The proper use of the microphone and grasp of the English language is therefore essential to the Radio DJ, while possessing a general knowledge (less specialized than the Club DJ) of various musical genres.

The skilled professional Mobile DJ embodies all of these skills, or at least a lot of both.  Like the Club DJ, the Mobile DJ must chose the next song, and then the next, ‘reading’ or anticipating the reaction of the crowd, whereas the Mobile DJ must have a broader knowledge of music, as his audience is often more diverse than the genre-specific nightclub or radio station.  The Mobile DJ must also blend music to some degree, and although may not be the ‘mixologist’ that the Club DJ is, they often posses a sufficient degree of skill… enough to keep the party moving.  The experienced Mobile DJ is also comfortable with the microphone, having the ability to make necessary announcements articulately and with precision, although typically with less frequency than the Radio DJ.

Essentially, the Mobile DJ is more well rounded than the Club DJ or Radio DJ, and although you could certainly engage the services of a Club DJ to do your wedding, or a Radio DJ to play at your Sweet 16 party, both might have limitations in their abilities that the Mobile DJ has evolved beyond.  Not to be mistaken, I am not suggesting that the Mobile DJ is ‘better than’ the Club or Radio DJ, just better at what they do.  A Mobile DJ might be hard-put to make the transition from party to radio or club, but it’s more likely that the Club or Radio DJ would be harder-put to transition the other way.

To use an analogy: the Club DJ is the Ear Doctor, the Radio DJ is the Oral Surgeon, and the Mobile DJ… well, they’re more of the General Practitioner, able to cure what ails you with a well-rounded helping of musical love and care.

~Craig

‘DJ Brain’ illustration courtesy of Sean Gallo Designs

This was my second time working with Jeff and Marcy, the first being the Bar Mitzvah of their son Daniel, and this one, the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Leah. It is no coincidence that both events were held at Kat Man Du in Trenton, New Jersey, as the venue is unique, fun, and offers a beautiful view of the Delaware river (besides doing a stellar job).

As was before, Marcy and Jeff were a pleasure to work with, and Leah was a pure delight. She was an up-beat kid who not only had some great ideas when it came to planning the Bat Mitzvah, but came ready to party (and so did her friends!) Leah’s friends were fun, danced non-stop, and participated in every game and activity with super-enthusiasm. The adults were all about it as well, and were dancing almost as much as the kids (although, as adults do, they stopped to eat and drink every so often). DJ Adam and Cameron did a great job keeping the music pumping, while the kids climbed on the stage doing line dances and dance routines and just bursting with energy. Our dancers Stephanie and Nate did an awesome job of keeping everyone involved, coordinating with the DJ, and making sure even the little kids got lots of the party giveaways.

It was also great working with photographer Mike Schwartz, and Michael – head honcho over at Kat Man Du – who is the utmost professional and runs a tight operation. Kat Man Du is an operating nightclub that offers it’s venue for afternoon affairs before club hours start. I think kids really like it’s fun atmosphere, which makes it a great venue for Bat Mitzvahs, Bar Mitzvahs and Sweet 16 parties alike. Thanks to Michael and your amazing team at Kat Man Du.

Last but certainly not least, thanks to Jeff and Marcy for being so much fun to work with, and really helping us to make this Bat Mitzvah a success.

And, of course, Mazel Tov to Leah. You and your friends rock!

-Craig

Images Courtesy of Mike Schwartz Photography

Kat Man Du

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

One of our favorite event venues in the city of Philadelphia is The Loews Hotel.  Located conveniently on Market Street in Center City Philadelphia, the Loews might be officially categorized as a five star hotel, but in our minds it’s a solid ten.  Over the course of the past few years we have had the pleasure of providing DJ and lighting services for countless weddings, bar and bat mitzvah parties, corporate events, college formals and just about any other type of social celebration you can think of, and we’ve come to fall head over heels in love with the Loews and it’s staff.  Not only is it a great place, but the folks there are great people who excel at customer service and, well, just being great.

The Loews Philadelphia has three amazing and unique event spaces; The Regency Ballroom, The Millennium Ballroom, and – as the Philadelphia Radio DJ used to say – “High atop the P.S.F.S. Building in Philadelphia” – the amazing 33rd floor. The Loews Philadelphia’s 33rd floor consists of three separate spaces; The Terrace, LeScaze and Howe, all blending into what one might call a single facility within itself.  It is the 33rd floor of The Loews – specifically Howe – which we chose to be the focus of our attention in this article.  With the help of Lisa Strickland, Senior Catering Manager at the Loews, as well as Photographer Kevin York and Event Filmmaker Cinemacake, we (Cutting Edge Entertainment) put together a photo and video shoot not only to feature the breathtaking views of this magnificent space, but how our L.E.D. up lighting could transform something great into something even greater.

There is really no need to elaborate on the atmosphere and ambiance lighting can add to a space, as the image from Kevin York and the video clip produced by CinemaCake speak for themselves.  We are proud to be a preferred vendor at The Loews Philadelphia, and are excited that in addition to our DJ services, our L.E.D. lighting can enhance and add to the already spectacular space with views of the Philadelphia skyline from every angle.

If you are looking for a diverse and unique space for your wedding reception, bar or bat mitzvah or any other type of event you can imagine, we suggest you take a close look at The Loews Philadelphia.  You won’t be disappointed.

Image courtesy of Kevin York Photography

Video courtesy of CinemaCake Filmmakers

Centerpieces provided by Carl Alan Floral Design

Lighting by Cutting Edge Entertainment

The Loews Hotel Philadelphia

When Jennifer first called us regarding her son Jacob’s up-coming Bar Mitzvah, I couldn’t have been more intrigued. Jennifer explained that she had found an awesome venue – which until then had been unknown to me – called ‘Rock and Roll After School’. After looking it up online (see links at the end of this story), I was totally stoked. Rock and Roll After School is actually just that, an ‘after school’ school where kids go to learn how to play instruments, and put together real rock bands. The place was totally thematic, and probably one of the most uniquely suited venues for a kids party that I’d ever come across (thanks to Jennifer… great find!). Kudos to cool clients!

Next, she explained that the Bar Mitzvah was to have a Philadelphia Phillies theme, and that instead of having stuffy entree-style food, they would be sticking with the theme and serving all sorts of Philadelphia baseball fare. Of course, normal baseball food was on the menu (Hot Dogs and Hamburgers), but with a Philadelphia twist.

Fast forward to the party… The decor was fantastic. It was decked out Philadelphia Phillies style, with Robert Ryan Caterers serving the food, while our dance staff acted as ticket takers – each guest being given Phillies ‘tickets’ as place cards. When the kids arrived, they were enthusiastic and so excited to participate in all of the games and activities that even our party staff were overwhelmed by their energy level. Jacob had great friends, and the adults were as participatory in what was going on as the kids were. The party was filled with smiling faces and heaps of fun, with great guests that just seemed to be enjoying every moment.

Although I wish I could take all the credit, I have to give huge props to Jennifer whose creative choice in venue and theme truly made the event unique. Additionally, I really have to thank Julian the Photographer for these amazing images. Julian really caught the event in motion in each photograph, and I look forward to working with him again soon. Lastly, if you are planning any sort of kids party in the near future, be sure to check out Rock and Roll After School in the Phoenixville Foundry in Phoenixville, PA. I predict this will be one of the hottest new kid venues to hold an event in the coming years.

Mazel Tov Jacob and your entire family. Thank you for choosing Cutting Edge and allowing us to provide the DJ entertainment for your Bar Mitzvah.

-Craig

Images courtesy of Julian Kornacki Photography

Rock and Roll After School

www.cuttingedgedjs.com