In the past ten years, American Idol has gone from a glorified karaoke competition to a weekly spectacle that continues to rival Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour. I turned to Cutting Edge alum and Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini for some expert insight into the evolution of Fox’s search for a superstar.

Syd: What would you consider to be the biggest changes that Idol has undergone over the past ten years?

Justin: The biggest change (and most obvious) is the production value. The basic principal has stayed the same. The show finds amazing singers from “Anytown, USA,” puts them through the toughest test of their entertainment lives, and lets America choose who it feels is the very best. The bells and whistles have all been placed around that over the years. For example, there is now a bigger stage with more lights, a huge orchestra, iTunes downloads of the contestants’ latest performance, bigger and longer national tours, and the new judges. But the beauty for me will always be that the show doesn’t work without the talent and the perseverance of the performers who give their all week in and week out.

Syd: What is the effect of this change?

Justin: Ha! More for the kids to do each week! Seriously, they work like mad doing interviews, recordings for iTunes, learning multiple songs, and flying around here and there. It was crazy my year. Now, it’s just insane. But they manage to make it work, and I’m amazed by them.

Syd: Do you miss any aspects of the show that have been changed since season one?

Justin: I love how [the format] has grown and changed; however, I miss the impact that the first season had on everyone from the performers to people all over the world who got to be a part of it’s magic.

So there you go. According to Cutting Edge’s resident expert, the show’s increased production value has created the American Idol with which we are familiar today. What do you think have been some of the major changes to the Idol format since season one? Do you miss the simplicity of Idol at its beginning or prefer the extravaganza and celebrity mentors that flow across our television screens on Wednesday and Thursday nights?

Thank you to Justin for taking the time to answer my questions.

~Sydney Fenkell

More on Justin Guarini and Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.JustinGuarini.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Many articles have been loaded to this blog that pertain to one particular cast member who has risen above the rest. It is no secret that the cast member who has made the most permanent impact on Cutting Edge Entertainment is our American Idol himself, Justin Guarini. Everyone knows the rough-outline of Justin’s story; he joins the cast of CEE as a just another face wanting to entertain at events, later auditioning for some “unknown” reality TV program and finishes second to another budding superstar, then fades –as most assume- into obscurity. However, it’s never that simple and it’s always more uplifting than assumptions allow.

After the conclusion of his run on American Idol and the subsequent public-thrashing of his movie with fellow alum Kelly Clarkson, Justin stayed true to his goals and continued to work at perfecting his craft. As a host for the TV Guide Network’s coverage of The Oscars, The Grammys and The Emmys, Justin was still in the public eye while keeping his eyes on projects that truly spoke to him. In keeping with that theme Justin returned to one of his first loves, the stage, for a run in several Broadway shows – with a few stops at some local venues, as well, for a role in my favorite show.

Widely known as the show that revived Broadway, at least for a new generation, “Rent” became a staple for the reinvention of the “rock musical”. The Tony-winning musical (1996; Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical) spent over twelve years –and 5,124 performances- at one of Broadway’s most underrated houses, the Nederlander Theater. Known as the only working theater south of 42nd street in New York, the Nederlander was the launching pad –excluding its run at the New York Theater Workshop- for a landmark show that “speaks to Generation X the way that the musical Hair spoke to baby boomers”.

After successfully appearing on Broadway in “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and in Green Day’s “American Idiot”, Justin tackled a role that not only required the pipes to rule a stage, but also the emotion to portray a powerful, yet tragic character. The role of Roger is one of conflict and pain, but one that reaches for the positive ending even if that conclusion is tough to see. The play follows Roger and his friends (Mark, the filmmaker; Mimi, the exotic dancer and Roger’s new love interest ; Tom, a philosopher anarchist; Angel, the drag queen percussionist with a heart of gold; Maureen, the performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend; Joanne, the lawyer and Maureen’s current girlfriend; and Benny, Mark and Roger’s landlord, ex-roommate and hypocrite) as they struggle to survive in New York’s East Village while dealing with love, drugs, the onset of the AIDS epidemic and the relationships that develop between them.

Being a self-professed “Rent-head” –no, I have not slept outside for tickets in NY or have followed the actors around, but I do know the lyrics to every song and get choked up, every time, during Tom’s reprisal of “I’ll Cover You” during the funeral scene- I struggled to wrap my head around the thought of someone I knew playing the role of one of my favorite stage characters. It was not difficult to imagine Justin playing the role, but this would be the fourth different Roger in my fourth different viewing of the show. His true “star-power” was showcased throughout the performance as he transitioned from a soul lost within his own world and to the wide-eyed dreamer who rediscovers his art and his heart within a new love.

Attending a show within a smaller setting -the Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, NJ – is unlike seeing a performance in New York or downtown Philadelphia, bringing a fresh perspective on the stage itself. This permits an intimacy that is not provided during a large theater setting. The ability to get closer to the actors makes the emotion easier to grasp and allows you to enter the experience and not just watch it. It was a great experience, especially for a first timer –Alicja, who attended the show with me had not seen it previously. Despite the afternoon performance –on a dreary day, no less- and the minimal crowd, which was alluded to during “Maureen’s Performance”, the cast did not falter and presented the show as it was meant to be.

Thank you to the cast and crew for a marvelous performance.

Congratulations, Justin, on making Roger your own. Jonathan Larson would be proud. I know your family at Cutting Edge is.

No Day but Today…

~Brian

More on Justin Guarini and Cutting Edge Entertainment

www.JustinGuarini.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

This blog, along with several others by our event brethren, has recently been inundated with articles relating to the “relationship” between an event entertainer and their client. In the grand scheme this is the most important part of planning an event or private reception – an event will not reach its’ potential if the client and entertainer are not on the same page. The priority of the entertainer is to satisfy the needs of the client, as well as push the event to the next level. Once the planning part is complete, the weight lays solely on the entertainer and his/her staff. The one fact that cannot be ignored is that any multi-faceted event requires two skills that are often ignored in a landscape flowing with “individuals”; the skills are simple, they’re called “communication” and “teamwork”.

A few recent entries to this blog have served as inspiration for what follows, beginning with an article by Tony Donato detailing what a client should expect from their DJ:

http://www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2011/05/02/the-philadelphia-dj-what-you-should-expect

That was soon was followed by Craig’s article about the unwavering communication between the client and the DJ:

http://www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2011/05/18/the-dj-and-the-client-in-perfect-harmony

This is the final chapter in a “trilogy of thought” that deals with the process of planning and executing a memorable evening.

The private event entertainment industry is a victim of the “too many cooks in the kitchen syndrome”; simply put, between the MC, DJ, Photographer, Videographer, Caterer, Decorator, Planner, or any other event vendor involved in the project, it can a handful keeping everyone on the same page. Each person working an event has a responsibility to perform at the highest level, but the results are in direct relation to the other variables. A photographer needs to capture specific moments that will be cherished for years after the event, but they cannot freeze that moment properly if the subject of that image is not prepared for it. In order to be sure that each moment has the chance to be perfect, it is the duty of the staff to coordinate in advance. As an entertainer I am aware that we are – typically – one of the final stops during the planning process; however, we may be the most vital part of the event.

Much of the staff at Cutting Edge Entertainment have been involved in event entertainment for over a decade; many of whom have been tasked with every aspect of event entertainment (MC, DJ, Dancer, Salesperson, Manager, Technical and/or Sound Engineer or lighting designer) at some point of their tenure in the industry, myself included. Having been blessed with the opportunity to work on each facet has given me a respect and rounded knowledge of the responsibilities for each team member. It is said that a “team” is only as strong as its weakest link; however, it’s the responsibility of the team itself to know, and therefore capitalize on each others individual strengths. The determining factor of a successful event may hinge on the ability of the team to streamline the requests of the client. Luckily, the staff at Cutting Edge prides itself on not just our customer service, but our team communication. This begins with the camaraderie that develops between each member of the team; this was never more apparent than on March 28, 2011 during our most recent photo shoot.

Team Cutting Edge gathered for an evening that would allow us to expand on our recent marketing explosion – namely, the outbreak of recent posts to the blog; as well as photos and videos on Facebook and YouTube. It was also an opportunity to bring the entire cast and crew together for a night of pizza, laughs and some great photo moments. Each type of event takes a different approach in regards to staffing – e.g.; a wedding will provide both an MC and a DJ (the first to coordinate and lead, the second to provide a constant ear on the audio quality), while a Bar/Bar Mitzvah may provide a MC, DJ, as well as several motivational dancers, a lighting technician and possibly a video simulcast operator – and many of the team members will perform at numerous events, over the course of a season, and never bump into one another. This is my favorite part of working with Cutting Edge; the people and the relationships that begin as strictly business, but turn into lifelong friendships.

The photo shoot itself was an “on-the-fly” production. We had a concept in mind, but the evening was quite organic. Everyone arrived ahead of schedule to begin their allotted tasks; the DJ’s and crew began to construct our biggest setup – including plasma displays and a full overhead light show – while the Dancer staff (cast) began costume changes and photo-appropriate make-up application. I volunteered to take the lead with the construction of the equipment to keep the evening flowing smoothly; it was made easier since our entire staff was in attendance. This was a chance to me to take charge, thereby flexing my directorial ‘muscles’, working a highly efficient and self-motivated team. It is also an opportunity for both staff and director alike to learn and become more accustomed to one another, our abilities and skill sets, thereby strengthening the team even more.

This is also the ideal opportunity for people to see both sides to someone’s personality. Speaking for myself, I tend to straddle the line between business and playful, (I am an entertainer after all). Basically, I will be “all business” one minute and “bouncing off the walls” the next. I believe the balance is necessary to being successful in this industry; we are required to be organized and “business-like” in our approach with clients, yet “fun and animated” during meetings and at the event.

Some would say that you have to be a little crazy to be in this business. I tend to agree with them.

It’s nice to have people around you that fit the same mold.

~Brian

Photo Images Courtesy of Nicole Leigh Photography

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, we hired a kid named Brian. At the time, Brian was around fifteen years old and although young, had all of the ingredients for the makings of a great Disc Jockey. He was technically inclined, having an understanding of sound, lighting and audio-visual equipment, but even more, he had a passion for music, which made him a virtual sponge (which he still is to this day) for learning new music, which – in my humble opinion – is one of the most important skills a DJ must possess. In addition to all of these DJ specific attributes, the kid was honest, dependable, responsible and a hard worker. As Brian grew up with our company, I was privileged to watch him evolve both as a DJ, and as a person, and although much of what made Brian Brian should be credited to his parents and his upbringing, I’m also convinced through years of working with young people that much of what they are comes from inside, and Brian’s got some great stuff inside.

Now the middle part of the story gets a bit blurry. Upon graduating High School, Brian went away to college. After graduating he moved back to Philadelphia, did some work for the Philadelphia Flyers – doing music for the games – and getting into some videography on the side. In time, Brian ended up still working as a DJ, but did it for another area company, and would not return to Cutting Edge Entertainment until 2010.

When Brian and I first sat down to discuss his returning to Cutting Edge as a MC/DJ. I asked to look at his music collection, and was wholly impressed. Then we put him on his first event, and I dropped in on him unannounced only to be impressed once again. He was confident on the microphone without being cheesy, spoke clearly and articulately, and best yet, had a packed dance floor. Shortly after, Brian authored a blog post here titled DJ Brian: Full Circle, which was 100% accurate… Brian had come full circle.

In the time that Brian has been back at C.E.E., he has quickly become one of our more requested Disc Jockey entertainers.  He is an organized and skilled wedding MC, and his affability makes him a team player, communicating and working well with other event professionals and making certain that the event runs as smoothly as possible. Brian truly cares about making things work, making clients happy and making an event as great as it can be, even pushing the limits to try to make them even greater.  I’m not only happy to have Brian back at Cutting Edge, but I am grateful.  He is a top-notch DJ, and a truly good guy, and we are lucky to have someone of his talents and skill level as part of our team.

-Craig

Photo by Kevin York – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

“For 50 minutes, they spin, move, dance and sweat…” were the exact words that Kara Seymour, editor of www.patch.com used to begin her article about my class. I smiled as my eyes moved over the rest of the publication. I had never heard anyone describe my class in such a dynamic way.

It is my second year of teaching break dancing/hip-hop at the N.A.C. (Newtown Athletic Club), in Newtown, PA. I also run a one week camp in the summertime that is an abbreviated version of the full session. My classes focus on teaching students what I have coined as the “Styles or Elements” of Hip-Hop. Instead of being a choreography heavy class, my classes focus on the different forms of dance that create the diverse category the world knows as hip-hop dance.
These techniques include breaking, popping, locking (yes they are two different disciplines), waving, gliding, tutting, krumping and many other aspects.

While all my classes have been extremely successful, the N.A.C. and I have found that the class that has drawn the most attention has been my all boys group. The lesson is open to boys ages 7 to 12. We have found that it offers these kids a unique setting. They don’t have to worry about being embarrassed in front of the girls, or whatever may restrain them from exploring dance for what it can be. The little guys learn from a male teacher (me!) and have the chance to learn that dancing can be “cool” as well. My director, Kim, always calls it “doing the boy stuff.”

This is what Kara wanted to check out last month. As Kara explained to me via email, “Patch aims to provide ‘hyper-local’ news content to communities under served by existing media.” Newtown, Pennsylvania happens to be one of those areas, and Patch.com has an entire section for the Bucks County town. Kara and her co-workers publish something new every day about the local community, whether it be about the schools, local government, community events, or the day-to-day social happenings in the area.

I was flattered and thrilled that my class had drawn so much positive interest, and we were more than excited to have Kara come to watch. She snapped some photos, as well as spoke to Kim and myself. I was also intrigued to learn of a website like Patch.com. Not only do they have a section for almost every town in the Bucks County area, but they also provide coverage to locales such as Abington, Bryn Mawr/Gladwyne, and West Chester. All you have to do is go to Patch.com, click on the state of Pennsylvania on the map, and find your neighborhood!

I would love to thank the Newtown Athletic Club for its continuous support of my classes, and Kara Seymour for her awesome article on the little guys, they loved it!

-Tony

To check out the article, click here

Image courtesy of Kara Seymour

For more info on my classes, check out the Newtown Athletic Club
www.newtownathletic.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Having been back, and, well, kind of in the thick of things here at Cutting Edge Entertainment for about six months now, I can’t help but take notice of all the changes that have taken place in the brief time I was gone.

I guess the first place to start is the office itself, specifically the conference room where we meet with all of our clients. Previously, we had a conference room with a nice flat screen TV and DVD player to play our “demo videos.” Today, in the conference room, we have WiFi and the lap top hooked straight into the flat panel TV so we can access an endless data base of all our music to help our clients choose the songs and create the perfect mix for their event.

Another pretty cool change in the office, which is one of my favorite changes, is the “game room.” Previously the room adjacent to the conference room was filled with classic arcade games like Centipede, Donkey Kong, Arkanoid and Space Invaders. It’s now been converted into a totally themed-out Beatles ‘Rock Band’ room, complete with multiple guitars, a bass guitar, drums, microphones, some thumping speakers, a flat panel TV and all sorts of nostalgic Beatles pictures and posters. Kids enjoy playing Rock Band, while their parents can talk with us in the conference room about the upcoming party. Honestly, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s fun for us as well. Whether just to blow off some steam and rock out at the end of the day, or after unloading equipment at the office after an event late at night on the weekend, it’s great for morale as well.

Probably one of the biggest changes that I’ve noticed is the “digital world” of DJing really taking full form. With all the new advances in technology and digital DJ music programs, it didn’t take very long for the company to install it on most of our DJ systems. This new advancement allows a DJ to locate a song in a matter of seconds by simply typing in the name of the song, artist or album and mix it into the flow of the evening seamlessly from the computer through the mixer and out to the speakers. This is miles away from the way things used to be. Decades ago, you would sift through the dozens of milk crates filled with records (yes, records) to find the right song, pull it and make sure you have it at the correct speed (and on the correct side). The age of the compact disc made things a lot easier for the mobile DJ, but still required time to sift through the CDs for the right song. Looking back, it all seems so archaic.

All in all everything that has changed is what has kept Cutting Edge on the ‘Cutting Edge’ in the Philadelphia and Bucks County areas. Yet with all of these changes for the better, collectively they allow for an even more significant change; the ability to give the client the best party possible. Because in the end, isn’t that what really matters most, you and your guests having the time of your life… I think so.

Tony Donato
Networking Director
Cutting Edge Entertainment

To learn more about Tony, click here:
“Don’t Call It A Comeback”

Photo courtesy of Kevin York – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Hello Cutting Edge and all those who follow our blog out there! It’s been awhile since I have seen ya’ll, but from what I’ve been told it’s been quite a busy season, and I am sure ya’ll have been rocking out gigs all over Philly.

Rome has been the most incredible experience, and although I do miss entertaining, I’ve be so lucky to have an opportunity like the one I am living through at the moment.  I’m staying in an apartment complex that’s about a five minute walk from the walls of The Vatican in the Northwest part of Rome. I walk from my apartment to Temple’s Rome campus surrounded by the inviting smells of hand-made pasta and fresh meats from the open-air market around the corner.  As I’m sure some of ya’ll can imagine, it is very hard for me to make it to classes on time without taking a quick detour down a side street for a quick snack.  Although the “campus” here is only one building, it has all the amenities of Temple’s home campus in Philly as well as some different and unique things, like a vending machine that makes fresh caffés and cappuccinos!  Rome is such a striking city, because it has the metropolitan feel of New York, or any other modern city, but there is not one skyscraper in sight. Rome is all on about the same level, which allows for breathtaking views of the city from any of the legendary hills of Rome, with only the magnificent domes of the multiple basilicas surfacing above the city.

Every day is like a living breathing history lesson, as my classes take me to almost every significant location throughout the city, and it is still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that places such as the Coliseum, the Vatican Museums and the Roman Forum are now my classroom.  My professors are from various countries and walks of life, and have written textbooks or – in some cases – are themselves responsible for the discovery of some of these amazing pieces of history.

While this all seems like a lot, there is still time for fun! There are endless options for things to do, day or night, and I have been on the go trying to do it all.  Between clubs, bars, soccer matches, eating gelato, the theatre (which Italy is famous for Shoshana!), wine tasting, seeing the stores on Via del Corso, and even watching a dance show in the Roman Forum, I figure I’ll just sleep whenever I get back to Philadelphia.

I was also blessed, no pun intended, to witness a canonization at St. Peter’s in the Vatican.  I have been fortunate to touch my feet down in various places outside of Rome as well, including the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Naples, Venice, Paris, Greece, London, Oxford and Windsor.  I tried to have tea with the Queen while I was in England, but those guys in the big, furry hats wouldn’t let me in the palace…clearly they need a Cutting Edge party because they didn’t even crack a smile.

I still have time to do more, and I don’t plan on wasting a second.  Some of my favorite moments, however, are the little things that happen that make me feel as if I’ve made myself at home amidst this incredible culture. Whether it is carrying on a conversation in Italian, giving someone directions because they have mistaken me for a local, or having the owner of the restaurant near school give me free food and sit at my table with me (yes, I am in there almost every day).

I can only hope that all these experiences here only help to make me a better person, as well as make me better at what I love to do; entertain others.   I do believe there is something to be said for seeing different places, cultures, and living in the midst of people who aren’t like yourself and, as some people say, “getting cultured”.  While I could possibly live in Italy for the rest of my life without a second thought, I’m also excited to return home. It will be nice to see my family and friends, sink my teeth into a hot cheese steak covered in Whiz, and watch some Eagles football. I’m also looking forward to returning to work as an MC, DJ and dancer at Cutting Edge, and I know that I’m already penciled in for December (thanks Craig).

Y’all better be ready for me.

Arrivederci mi amici!

Tony A.

To find out more about Tony, click here: DJ Tony: Southern Hospitality

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

I see life like a meandering line, ever changing its course and surprising us with the unexpected. In this case, the line has brought me full circle, back home to Cutting Edge Entertainment.

During my first go-around with Cutting Edge, I was known as “The Dancing DJ”, ever bouncing and fist pumping along with the crowd from behind the DJ booth. I love music, and as they say, if you love what you do for a living, is it really work? I consider myself lucky; not just because returning to Cutting Edge means I’ll get to spend my weekends laughing and working alongside some of my oldest friends, but because we get to share our love of music and fun with one another while making new friends along the way.

Musically, my tastes have changed little through the years. Before becoming a disc jockey I spent several years attending jazz dance classes as a way to exercise and expand my musical horizons, which then led to a love of musical theater and further my love of all things “pop”.

Beginning with the influence of artists like New Kids on The Block, and of course Michael Jackson (Billie Jean being the greatest pop song ever produced IMHO), my music experience evolved beyond mere notes and lyrics, or rhythms and melodies. It was the performance aspect that truly inspired me, it was what hooked me in, and hasn’t let go ever since.

But there was still that pop obsession…

My High School years led to *NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys, and was again not just about the tunes, but the costumes, choreography and concerts. The recent decade hasn’t fared much differently, adding Usher, Ne-Yo and Justin Timberlake’s solo career to the multitude of party-worthy entertainers whose songs I find myself revisiting at events and parties.

I try not to think of myself as an MC, or Master of Ceremonies, but rather as a guide leading my audience through a day that can often be as equally overwhelming as it is memorable and joyous. Your event experience is only enhanced by a DJ who – through the input of the client – can become part of the excitement while allowing the party to occur organically. Name a few songs and/or artists and they’ll become my “Rosetta Stone” to decoding your musical tastes. Your guests will dictate the energy and together, through the music, we will create a story that will last a lifetime. This is the theory I’ll use when helping you plan and execute your party. Every step is vital, every beat is crucial but EVERYTHING should be filled with fun and excitement. Working together with the client has proven a tried and true formula for the success of any event.

So… full circle and back at Cutting Edge Entertainment after almost half a decade. Here is where I stand today; here to entertain you, to laugh with you, to rock the party and share in the fun with you.

So, remember that meandering line I mentioned earlier? Was that marked at the end or was it only another beginning?

-Brian Lacivita

Photo by Kevin York – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Jordyn’s Record Hop was held at the Richboro Senior Center, which is of course, in Richboro, Bucks County Pennsylvania. The theme Jordyn and her parents came up with was “Club Jordyn”, kind of a kids nightclub. Along with other event professionals, it was our job to help accomplish this, particularly the “lights and DJ” aspects of the night club.

We invited photographer Erin Duffy to ride shotgun with us to create a sort of photo documentary of what goes into putting together one of our production events. To this end, all of the credit for pulling it off (on our end) goes to Carl, our Production Manager. Carl is sort of the unsung hero of Cutting Edge, and with the help of event planner Renee Grande and a crack Cutting Edge team, we transformed the room at the Richboro Senior Center.

Carl checks things out upon arrival.

The unload begins.

And continues…

So much stuff to unload.

As Carl diligently checks in all the lighting gear.

Nate, Adam and Carl take a short break while Marc calls his mom.

Carl screwing around (figuratively) as he picks out the screws and bolts that will connect the trussing structure.

Adam putting together the legs of the trussing structure, attaching the corner blocks.

And then it’s time to raise the structure.
Once the sides are up, both are bolted together.

Once the truss legs are raised, they are quickly secured together.
Here, Carl bolts together the unattached pieces while standing on a scaffold.
(the structure stands at eleven feet).

Adam is happy to see things looking up, while Marc realizes his laces are untied.

Nate, in a moment of confusion asks, “Wait, has anyone seen my iPhone?”
As Marc and Carl begin to hang the lighting from the truss.

Dancers Ashley and Emily arrive and greet Jordyn and her mom.

Carl takes command, giving instructions to the crew and telling Adam (the DJ) and Joe (the other DJ) to start hooking up the sound system.

Carl reading the instruction manual,
“Wait, okay, am I doing this right?”

Dancer Qadir.
Is he doing a flip, or falling off the truss?

Carl positioning lights, while DJ Adam tests the sound in the lit up DJ booth.

Photographer Scott Duretz snapping a few photos as the team finishes up while ladders, scaffolds and road cases are stowed away.

And finally “Club Jordyn” is ready for the guests to arrive.

Many hours of preparation go into the setup (and later, the tear down) of this sort of production.  Special thanks to our team: Carl and Marc on production, our DJ team Adam and Joe, and MC Nate on sound and production assistance and the event coordinator Renee Grande from Events By Monroe for making this all possible.

A very special thanks to photographer Erin Duffy, for helping us to create this play-by-play photo documentary and capturing these images that helped to tell the story of what goes into creating a Cutting Edge Entertainment DJ and lighting production.

To view the prequel to this  blog post, see “Jordyn’s Record Hop”.

Photos courtesy of Erin Duffy

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Okay so we all have the desire to want to look good and more importantly the desire for others to think that we look good, but with the fashion trends constantly changin and few things remaining constant, this can be a completely daunting task. These are the quick reflections of a young stylish adult.

Being a 22 year old soon-to-be college graduate I am often placed in a weird place in the world of fashion trends, the middle ground.  You don’t want to seem too old with your attire while at the same time you are well past the days of big name brands molesting the clothing you adorn. The best policy is to keep it clean and keep it simple.

With this hot and humid weather, a nice fitted pair of jeans and a classic sneaker is an option you can never lose with. Most of the time this is what I choose. Its clean classic and timeless.  Sperry’s (a brand of boat shoe) are also a must have in every closet for the summer season.

One of the most important things about clothing is that it must match your personality.  Before you are even given an opportunity to express yourself verbally, your appearance speaks volumes.  This is a very dangerous and powerful fact.  This allows a person to give off whatever impression they wish to simply by what they choose to wear.

The next is to make sure that your clothes are appropriate for you.  There is nothing worse than seeing someone who is wearing something that is completely too small for their body.  Smaller is not nessicarily sexier (women tend to violate this rule the most).  I love women with all my being but when I see a women who is a XL trying to fit into a Medium, the next thing i see is four people slyly TwitPic’ing her.

Lastly I greatly dislike this “skinny jeans” movement.  It’s a personal choice of course which is what I talked about earlier but I would be remiss if I didn’t sound off on this nonsense.  The worst part about this whole movement is that  I’ve never seen a guy wearing these ‘super skinny jeans’ walking with a girlfriend.  Bottom line, your jeans should not be as tight as the ones your girlfriend is wearing.

Just some kick reflections of a young stylish adult.

-Nate Jones

Nate is a dancer and MC with Cutting Edge Entertainment.  To learn a bit more about him, check out some of these posts on our blog.

Nate on Cutting Edge

Nate on Hip Hop

Nate Style

Photo courtesy of Erin Duffy

www.cuttingedgedjs.com