October of 2011 was a packed month of weddings, with one of my favorites being the wedding of Leigh Ann and Kurt, with the reception held at the Radisson in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I first met Leigh Ann a couple months prior to the wedding at our office, and after spending some time getting to know one another, and going over the details of her dream wedding, she decided that Cutting Edge Entertainment was a good fit. Leigh Ann is one of those people who is just so sweet and genuine that I wanted to do everything in my DJ power to give her the best reception possible. A few weeks before the wedding, I met with both Kurt and Leigh Ann, and we had a great time going over all of the details for the party. We spent nearly two hours going over a time line and listening to lots of music to select a perfect grand entrance song. I had a great time and was super psyched to be a part of this celebration.

The day of the wedding had finally arrived and myself and DJ Michael got to the reception site about two hours before the start time. I feel it’s important to get there early to set up, sound check, coordinate with the other event professionals (maitre d’, photographer, party planner, etc), and also give myself a chance to get settled in before guests arrive. This also gave us plenty of time to set up up-lighting, which created a soft purple glow in the room. I provided music for cocktail hour, dinner, and of course, dancing. The crowd was so much fun, and all of the guests – both young and old – made their way out to the dance floor to have a good time. The staff at the Radisson did a superb job, accommodating all of the guests and making sure the flow of the party went smoothly. I also got to work with photographer Chrissy K, along with her assistant Lisa, who did a great job.

A few weeks after the wedding Leigh Ann and Kurt posted the following testimonial on Wedding Wire.

We hired Richie  as our DJ for our wedding and we can’t say enough good things about Richie and Cutting Edge! Richie did an amazing job. He was professional, flexible and was also available to meet to discuss the wedding anytime. Since the wedding so many of our guests have told us how much they loved the DJ. Richie really interacted well with our guests, allowing them to have an amazing time. We would highly recommend Cutting Edge and especially Richie!

Thanks so much for the kind words. Congratulations to you both and I look forward to keeping in touch.

-Richie

Images courtesy of Chrissy K Photography

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

This past September was perhaps the busiest month of my DJ career. Many of the blog posts I have written over the last few weeks have been weddings we have done at Cairnwood Mansion, as it seems we are providing a DJ for a wedding there almost every weekend at this point… so I hope you guys are ready for one more post about a rocking Cairnwood wedding. Stephanie and Steve were a couple I met at a Cairnwood Open House, so they were Cairnwood from the get-go. A few weeks after our initial contact, they made an appointment to meet at our office in Huntingdon Valley. I encourage all clients to meet one of or DJ staff in person, before they make a decision on whether they would like to book Cutting Edge Entertainment. Some companies will show you pictures, reviews, even video, however nothing compares with actually meeting your potential DJ face to face. After sitting down with Stephanie and Steve for about an hour, we just clicked, and they chose me to DJ their wedding… The rest is history.

This wedding was a lot of fun for me to do, and I know I say that often, but it’s true – perhaps of all the wedding I DJ, but Stephanie and Steve’s guests truly came ready to party. After dinner concluded it was party time, and this crowd was ready to go. I played everything from “Your Love” by the Outfield to “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO. It was an awesome party, but of course it could not have been as good if not for the superb team I worked with. First there was Terri and the crew from Robert Fair Caterers, who did an amazing job (as always) providing a five star meal. I also got a chance to work with photographer Ryan Schwartz who was kind enough to let us feature his photos from the wedding. However, like all weddings the most important ingredient to a fun wedding is an awesome bride and groom. Stephanie and Steve were perfect, their high energy really propelled the celebration to a whole other level.

To the both of you, I wish you all the best, and thank you again for the opportunity to work with you and help create a great event.

~Richie

The bride and groom were nice enough to write the following review on my performance on Wedding Wire, and allow me to share it here on our blog.

Richie is exactly what couples look for in a DJ; motivated, accommodating, professional and personable. From start to finish, Richie was an absolute Ace in terms of coordination and planning. At no point did we have to chase Richie about details, if anything he was consistently following-up with us. Our wedding was at Cairnwood Mansion, in Bryn Athyn, PA, and not only is Richie highly recommend by the venue, but demonstrated working knowledge of the layout. We had full control over the music played, which provided a wide variety of music and excluded anything that we didn’t want to hear (line dances or heavy rap music). In addition, Richie gauged the audience on the dance floor and adjusted accordingly, essentially achieving exactly what we wanted, a fun environment with a great mix of music and keeping everyone on the dance floor. An absolute pleasure to do business with, I would recommend Richie in a heartbeat.

Images courtesy of Ryan Schwartz

Cairnwood

Robert Fair Caterers

This summer, I was the DJ at so many Cairnwood Mansion weddings that I think I’ve lost count.  It’s definitely one of my favorite venues at which to DJ not only because the folks there are awesome, but, admittedly, because it is only a few minutes drive from our office. I have been there many times either for weddings or attending their open house, where I meet potential brides and grooms checking out the venue.  In fact, it was at an open house when I met an amazing mother of a bride to be, Judie. Judie shared with me all about her daughter and soon to be son in law, and promised that this was going to be one of the most fun weddings of all time.  After a few phone calls and a meeting they decided I was the right DJ for the job.  I highly encourage all future brides and grooms  to meet their DJ in person before making a decision to book a DJ.  Sure you can view our website and read reviews online, but in my opinion the best way to know if a DJ is right for you is by meeting him or her in person.  For m,e I prefer meeting brides and grooms, because I like to get to know them, listen to what they envision for the reception, and of course find out what kind of music they like.

Lindsay and Justin were one of the most fun and easy going couples I have worked with. Getting to know them was more like making new friends then working with a client, and as it turned out we had so much in common. Their wedding was one of the highlights of my summer, and by the pictures featured here you can tell this was one great crowd.   Of course when I DJ a wedding I consider it a team effort, and the wedding can not be successful unless all of the wedding professionals work in sync. The caterers for the wedding were Jamie Hollander Catering, where the father of the bride – Mark – is a Chef. Allure West Studios did an awesome job capturing the images of the event. Natalie and Jung are a superstar husband and wife team that do great work.  Finally, a successful wedding can’t be complete without the bride and groom, and Lindsay and Justin were perfect.

A few weeks after their wedding Lindsay posted the following review of my performance on Wedding Wire.com

Richie did an absolutely amazing job and my husband and I could not be happier!! He is very professional and personable. We went through a time line before hand, so we knew exactly what to expect on the day, and things couldn’t have gone any smoother than they did. He is extremely patient and helped us pick out all of our songs – from the entrance song, to the last dance. The dance floor was packed the whole night and people were fighting to keep their spot on the dance floor. He played a variety of songs, including all of our requests. All my guests were raving at how much fun they had due to Richie and his amazing DJing skills!!! I would highly recommend working with Richie at Cutting Edge DJs.

Thank you, and congratulations to Justin and Lindsay.

~Richie

Images courtesy of Allure West Studios

Cairnwood

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

In June of 2011 I had my first opportunity to DJ a wedding at The Manor House at Prophecy Creek, located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. This is a new and unique venue which is perfect for all types of events, particularly weddings. I’ve been spending my Tuesday nights at Prophecy Creek for their Open Houses, meeting with future brides and grooms just beginning the planning stages of their weddings and touring the venue. The property is being run by Robert Fair Catering, and they’ve done an extraordinary job renovating the Manor House and beautifying the landscaping, which looks truly breathtaking. I’ve worked with Robert Fair Catering many times at other venues and I am very happy to have such a good working relationship with their whole staff. Terri does a great job working together with her clients to make certain they have an amazing event, while her husband Kerry can be found in the kitchen, putting together the mouth-watering meal. Their entire staff truly do an amazing job accommodating the guests and seeing to every detail.

The wedding for Kyle and Yoomi, just happened to be the second ever wedding at the new venue. The ceremony was held on the property, and we were happy to provide a microphone for the officiant and the vows. Sometimes, when having your ceremony outside, it is nice to have a microphone to guarantee everything is heard by all attendees. Following the ceremony we provided music for the cocktail hour, but were very concious of the volume of our music. Of course we want people to hear the music we are playing, but, at the same time, we don’t want people shouting at each other as they are trying to mix and mingle. Once cocktail hour was over, guests headed in to the Great Room, where we introduced the parents, bridal party, and our bride and groom. Once we introduced Kyle and Yoomi into the room, we had them begin their first dance. After these formalities, the two hundred plus guest headed to the Terrace to enjoy their dinner, after which the dancing began.

A few weeks after their wedding Kyle was kind enough to post the following review about his experience with Cutting Edge Entertainment on Wedding Wire.

Richie is FANTASTIC!!!! I was a bit worried at first, because its our wedding and we wanted it to be perfect, but we realized that everything cant always go as planned, but let me tell you that Richie and his crew really impressed me, and went above and beyond our expectations. They were prompt and ready to go about an hour and a half before the ceremony, Richie went over all the plans he had for our guests that night. He was more than a DJ, and really brought the wedding to life. It was really kind of him to be respectful to come ask me if he can do an activity. He asked me even though it was an awesome idea. I’m happy to say that Richie was a professional through the whole process, and even called me after the wedding to thank me for using his services, which in our day and age, is really thoughtful and considerate. Thank you Richie for your time and service!

I really enjoyed working with Kyle and Yoomi as their wedding DJ, and I look forward to keeping in touch with them.

-Richie

Images Courtesy of Jenny Yang

The Manor House at Prophecy Creek

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Last week, Vanessa and Matt whose wedding we provided the DJ services for – and our DJ Rich posted a blog about titled “A Bride, a Groom, and a Philadelphia Wedding” - wrote a glowing review on the wedding website WeddingWire about how happy they were not only with the DJ’s performance, but, well, with everything. First and foremost, I would like to thank Vanessa and Matt for writing such a glowing review, which acknowledges the job we did for all to see, and subsequently helps us to gain future business. I think it’s also important to note that, like they said in the review, this IS the way to get future business – by making the customers wants and needs the only priority, and not future business itself. With Matt and Vanessa’s permission, we have re-posted the review here on our blog to share with our readers, and also to point out a few specific points of note that I found quite surprising.

I [Matt] highly recommend Cutting Edge and DJ/MC Richie who made sure the party atmosphere of our wedding night was just as successful as the ceremony. Not only did he ensure everything went smoothly, but he did it with class and a whole lot of fun. The planning process, in particular, was where Cutting Edge set themselves apart from other vendors.

First off, we were able to get two DJ’s (Richie who acted mostly as MC and another young man who was sort of like an apprentice and I hadn’t met until the day of the wedding) plus uplighting for close to the price of what other vendors were charging for a single DJ. We found this to be a vital reason for the success of the evening, as Richie was able to spend time coordinating with the catering staff, making announcements and doing more “directing” than just standing behind a CD mixer. He was interactive with the crowd without being overbearing. The worst thing I could imagine is a DJ trying to “steal the show” at a wedding… and I’ve seen it plenty of times at other people’s affairs. Thankfully, Richie knew how to strike the right balance, while maintaining the right level of energy. While the price may have been a tad higher, we found it to be the biggest “bang for your buck” as far as the difference goes (you know, like $100 more in flowers adds very little value, $100 more in food gets you one more plate, while $100 more in DJ costs gets you a smoother operation that also LOOKS more upscale)

As for the lighting, the Cutting Edge options provided just what we needed for a fraction of the cost of “lighting designers.”  To each their own but I couldn’t imagine spending more on lights than my videographer, which some lighting “artists” wanted to charge me.  Cutting Edge added it in for very little extra cost and Richie and his crew were even able to install them at first in the ceremony space with a simple white light and then transfer them to the reception room, where the same lights produced vibrant blues, amber, etc. There were many color options all in the same light because they use LED, which also has the benefit of being energy efficient & cool to the touch (good for little kids) and reduces the chance of a fire in the middle of your wedding.  Seriously!

The biggest reason I recommend Richie & Cutting Edge is that they listened to us.  It was disturbing and shocking that certain competitors told us point blank “I won’t play the music the bride and groom want to hear, my job is not to listen to their desires, my job is to get people up and dancing so that guests will remember they had a good time and recommend me for future business.”  Umm, I get that this is a business and all but as a contracted vendor you are working for ME, not referrals. Heck, if I hired you to play polka all night long that’s what you would do because that’s why I’m paying you.  Fortunately, my wife and I have much better music tastes so it wasn’t an issue. And Richie was not only OPEN to playing songs we did want to hear, he made it FUN to talk about songs.  We had a meeting for I’d say an hour where we sat around in the office and played songs off iTunes and went over different options for “events” such as Father-Daughter Dance or Cake Cutting. Richie had recommendations, while we also brought in a very long list of songs we liked and hoped to hear (and a handful of “must plays”) It helped him understand our style more and cater his setlist to our tastes. We wanted a mix of everything from Motown to Oldies to Beatles to Funk to Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson to 80’s to modern danceable pop like Justin Timberlake, and he was knowledgeable about all of it. The most “alternative” song choice we had was entering to MGMT’s “Electric Feel.” Not only did Richie know the song right away, he had a few remixes as options. We felt comfortable immediately that Richie “got it” and were put at ease that our reception would have people dancing all night long. This, of course, turned out to be true.

I also want to point out how important it was to have certain songs NOT played (i.e. chicken dance, line dances, Celine Dion, etc) and again, Richie took this into consideration and guaranteed a “do not play” list while other DJ’s threatened to “play whatever THEY wanted.” Insane!

Acting as MC also meant that Richie went over (and adjusted) a “timeline” of events with us in advance, which as the detail-oriented wedding planner groom that I was, I found really important.  Of course it’s impossible to plan for everything at a wedding but having a meticulous schedule in advance made it feel more orchestrated than doing everything “on the fly”

One final note:  Cutting Edge’s policy as far as I understand is to dress professionally, and Richie & crew showed up in black tie… so that should put your mind at ease about DJ’s who wear jeans to formal events.

Overall, again, a big thumbs up for Cutting Edge and ask for Richie if he’s available!

Although as I said earlier that we could not have asked for a more amazing testimonial about our DJ service, I bolded a section which I found to be enlightening and somewhat disturbing at the same time. Here are my thoughts.

First, Matt, you are absolutely right, we are working for you, not for future business.  At your wedding – had you asked for it – we would have been happy to play polkas, or whatever else you both had wanted you to play.  That is our job.  Might I also add that the success of your wedding had a lot to do with the fact that you did have good taste in music, but in either case, the DJ should always play what the customer wants.  Period.

What I found disturbing was your bad experience with a DJ who told you otherwise.  Obviously, as a DJ myself, I don’t have the opportunity to interview too many Disc Jockeys, but I can imagine your frustration in that situation.  The analogy of a house painter comes to mind, who would have the audacity to tell you he will not paint the room the color you wish but instead will choose the color he feels is best.  Absurd.

I’m grateful you put this out there, as it is something we pride ourselves in and I’ve written a few blog posts about this very subject myself in the past.  That day was Matt and Vanessa’s day, their wedding day, and our job was to be your wedding DJ, play the music you preferred, and do the job the way you wanted it done.  That’s what we do at Cutting Edge.

Thank you again and again for your amazing testimonial.  We are grateful for the opportunity you gave us, and your recognition of the job we did.  We’re always happy to paint the colors you choose.

-Craig

Image Courtesy of Cindy Guessford

Other articles about doing what the customer wants

“The DJ and the Client in Perfect Harmony”

“Your Wedding DJ… Are They Listening To You?”

It was a cool March evening as I arrived at the Northampton Valley Country Club in Bucks County for Asia’s Sweet 16, and it felt as if I was entering an exclusive nightclub – which makes sense as it was a club themed Sweet 16. Velvet ropes and carpet led the way into the room, but only if you were on the VIP list; if you weren’t on the list, I can promise that you missed out on a night that will not be forgotten.

I could feel the dance floor shaking beneath my feet. Maybe it was the vibrations from the sub-woofer, or all the people on the dance floor that night, but I could feel the floor moving under me. An elaborate lighting system draped the room in blues, reds and greens while on lookers reclined on couches and stools that glowed in synch with the lights. Cameras flashed as everyone entered from behind the velvet ropes. “Whoa,” I thought to myself, “this is the craziest Sweet Sixteen I have ever seen.”….I know what you’re thinking, ‘Tony, the music and lights must have gotten to your head finally. You’ve finally snapped. You’re at a club right?’ Wrong. I was a dancer at Asia’s Sweet Sixteen.  Think of MTV’s Super Sweet Sixteen, with the guest of honor not only being a gracious young lady, but also being the coolest person ever.

~Tony A. – Dancer

As Asia explained to me the idea of her club theme, she warned me that all her and her friends wanted to do was rock out. With help from my dancers Tony and Ashley, the floor was packed from start to finish. A DJ cannot ask for much more than a group who will dance all night long to every song that that was played.  Their enthusiasm and energy was contagious.

I have to give big props to the event planner, Renee, from All About Events. I have never had every aspect of the event go so smoothly. Renee was the glue that held all of us together. She allowed for my job to go flawlessly, and allowed for the host, hostess and our guest of honor to just party, without worrying about a thing. Renee, my cap goes of to you for coordinating an extraordinary party. You rock!  Also, it was great to work with photographer Erin Duffy, Eventions Productions provided the awesome lighting as well as Laura Eaton and her super-cool  Soiree Photo Lounge.  Working with such an amazing team truly made this a Super Sweet Sixteen.

A few days ago we received this thank you letter in the mail, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much this sort of testimonial means to me…

We had no previous interaction with Cutting Edge Entertainment. We had never attended a party where they provided the music, didn’t know anyone else that had used their services so we were going into Asia’s Sweet Sixteen party blind. Well, on Friday March 25, 2011 DJ Foltzy, Tony and Ashley opened our eyes to something WONDERFUL!

DJ Foltzy, Tony and Ashley were professional, friendly, made the family and friends feel comfortable, and kept everyone engaged. The team did an excellent job keeping people on the dance floor by playing the latest hits and interacting with guests to keep the smiles and laughter going. Because of the energy of DJ Foltzy, Tony and Ashley, the teens and the adults had a blast and Asia’s party will be a fond memory for all. The guests both teens and adults are still talking about how great this team was.
We cannot thank you enough for making this special occasion a night to remember.

Asia, Kim and Rob

On behalf of my staff, I want to thank you, Asia, and your family, for allowing us to be a part of your Super Sweet Sixteen. We appreciate all you did for us, and cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful crowd. It was a pleasure being your DJ and I am thrilled every one who attended the Sweet 16 had the night of their lives.

- DJ Foltzy

Images courtesy of Erin Duffy – www.erinduffyphotography.com

Soiree Photo Lounge

All About Events

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

There are events that just rock. There are events that get funky. Then there are events that are destined to rock, with a little funk rubbed into it. Plymouth Country Club was the scene of one wedding that rocked, rolled and got funky at the same time. Surrounded by friends and family, as well as one awesome MC/DJ combination, Patricia and Bob had an evening that will resonate for quite some time.

More often than not, the day of a wedding can be a stressful time for everyone involved. This is not referring to the family themselves, but to the staff of professionals that have been enlisted to create a “once-in-a-lifetime” set of moments. However, on November 6, 2010, stress did not even enter the equation. Armed with a solid production team and an even cooler group of guests, this party was headed for “classic” status.

Patricia and Bob had a strong idea of what their perfect day would entail; the few minutes we spent together a few days prior to the event gave me a clear image of what that included. The phrase “elegant, but fun” is the best description I can offer. From the relaxed, yet rock-filled (including Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and Oasis), tempo of cocktail to the fist-pumping attitude of their Grand Introductions (Celebration by Kool & The Gang for the parents, “I Gotta Feeling” for Trish and Bob) it was obvious that this couple would let loose as soon as the situation arose.

The romance began as our Bride and Groom shared their first dance to You and Me by the Dave Matthews Band. As the evening wore on it steadily gained momentum through a set of Motown and R&B-infused rock (Mustang Sally and Land of 1,000 Dances by Wilson Pickett), into a funk-tastic set of 1970’s jams that included one of my personal faves, the Double Dutch Bus by Philadelphia’s own Frankie Smith. (I’m aware that Double Dutch Bus was actually released in 1981, but it still sounds like a 70’s funk song!)

During our final dance set DJ Joey T jumped back a few years to the mid-90’s for some old school hip-hop. Trish, Bob and all of their friends made a circle on the dance floor and belted the words to every song, including Poison by Bel Biv Devoe and Jump Around by House of Pain.

I want to thank the entire staff at Plymouth Country Club for all of their assistance in creating a perfect evening for Trish and Bob. Thank you, as well, to John Kellar for the amazing photos.  We received this note shortly after the wedding from the newlyweds…

We are so glad you [Brian] were the DJ for our wedding reception. You were great! You were professional, courteous and best of all, you rocked the house! Everyone has a great time. We have received so many compliments from our guests on how great the music was. We would recommend you to anyone! Thanks again for an awesome night!

Trish and Bob, best of luck on your journey together. I was honored to be part of your wedding day.

-Brian

Images courtesy of John Kellar Photography – www.johnkellarphotography.com

Plymouth Country Club

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Ever been at an event where it feels as if an energy is flowing from right under the floor, up through your feet and filling the entire room? Well on February 26th of 2011, during Dara’s Bat Mitzvah at the Westin in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, you could have harnessed some of that intensity and powered all of Philadelphia with it. From the moment of Dara’s entrance – which was accompanied by multiple aerials and back flips by our dancer Ron (whom Dara claims she could do better than) – the electricity throughout the party was palpable, and would get even the most steadfast wallflower’s heart pumping, with feet moving uncontrollably towards the dance floor.

This atmosphere was not only a credit to my awesome staff of DJs Steve and Joe, and Dancers Ron, Ashley and Brittany, but to the Giglio family and their friends. The dance floor was packed from the first song as we danced our way through the afternoon with Michael Jackson, KC & the Sunshine Band, Rick James, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Usher…and, of course, plenty of Justin Bieber – Dara’s future husband. During Music Trivia, all the kids stood up and sang every word to Justin Bieber’s “Baby”, complete with Dara’s trademark choreography. I even had my JB shoes on in just for the occasion! I’m still not sure who partied harder, the kids or the adults. I might have to review the tape to end the dispute. Dara breezed through her candle lighting ceremony cool as a cucumber, and the crowd was treated to a surprise montage created by her parents and older sister. There were plenty of games and prizes for the kids, and more dancing by everyone than Gene Kelly himself would have known what to do with.

We received this email at the office the week after the show:

The Giglio family just wanted to let you know that you did it again. Thanks to Cutting Edge our 2nd Bat Mitzvah was also a great success. Tony and his team were amazing. They took great care of us down to the last detail. The dance floor was full the entire time and the dancers kept the excitement going. Our family had a great time and our guests are still calling to tell us what a great time they had and how tired they were after dancing so much!! When it comes to entertainment Cutting Edge is the only call we have to make.

Thank You,
Susan, Jim, Jamie & Dara

I would like to thank Dave, Melanie, Tuwana and their staff at the Westin in Mt. Laurel who were phenomenal throughout the afternoon. A huge Mazel Tov to Dara and her family, Ya’ll are cooler than a polar bear’s toenails . Thank you for having my staff and me as part of your special day!

-Tony A.

Images courtesy of Benjamin Kramer Photography

To learn more about MC/DJ Tony, click here:
DJ Tony A. : Southern Hospitality

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

While most brides worry and fret over all the planning details, I was really only concerned with getting a really good DJ to guarantee a really good party. My friends and I love to dance and party, and so I wanted to be reassured that we’d have someone who could deliver this. I had been to a good deal of weddings, and it was very apparent to me how much the DJ controls how good of a reception you will have.

We had the pleasure of meeting Cutting Edge Entertainment at a Bridal Show that I had attended, and I immediately felt connected with these guys. My husband and I set up an appointment to go and meet with them, and I remember being a little apprehensive about what to expect because this would be our first meeting with a DJ company. As soon as we got there, we felt incredibly welcomed, as if we were reuniting with long lost friends. All of the staff at Cutting Edge Entertainment were just so warm and friendly, and just very down to earth. They put us immediately at ease. Before I knew it, my husband is joining them in a game of Rock Band, and we’re making plans with them to come back for a photo shoot with them too! I didn’t even care about meeting with anyone else, because I knew that these guys were without a doubt the ones for the job.

We selected Pedro to be our MC and DJ, and he was excellent with communicating and getting back to us promptly with song selections and special requests. On the day of the wedding, he put on such a great show and had the dance floor packed the entire night! At one point, my husband went back behind the DJ turntables with Pedro and had the headset on and was pretending to be DJing our own wedding. Cutting Edge Entertainment provided us the greatest reception I could have ever dreamed of, and went far beyond any and all of my expectations. What was most rewarding was to hear over and over again from our guests how our wedding was “by far the most fun they’ve ever had at a wedding.” We wanted a wedding we’d never forget, and ones that our guests would remember and love, and Cutting Edge Entertainment gave us that and so much more. We’ll forever be thankful!

~Christina & Rod

I’m never really sure how to respond to such kind words.  Christina and Rod were great to work with, and I stress the word ‘with’.  They were active participants (as you can tell by the photo of the groom as guest DJ), and helped to make our job easy with their infectious energy and enthusiasm.  As always, the folks at Spring Mill in Bucks County were fantastic to work with, as well as the folks from Deja Vu Studio.  Christina… Rod… I wish you the best of luck and happiness, and thank you for your kind words.

-Pedro

Images courtesy of Deja Vu Studio – www.dejavustudio.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

On Saturday, November thirteenth, I had the privilege of presiding as the MC and DJ for Shara’s Bat Mitzvah at Shaare Shamayim Synagogue in Philadelphia. It was an amazing party if I do say so myself. I’ll get back to that in a minute.

For me, I consider it a stroke of luck to have even been a part of this event. Although Dean and Heather had booked with Cutting Edge to provide the DJ entertainment, I was not originally scheduled to be the MC for this event, but a few weeks prior I got to hang out with Shara’s Dad, Dean, he’s a great guy and we hit it off almost instantly. After kibitzing for a bit, and playing some Jewish geography I realized that I was acquainted with so many of Dean and Heathers friends and family… it was almost like they were extended family I’d never met. After leaving that night, I called Craig and said I would be the perfect person for this party. Next thing I knew, Craig made the call to Dean and the deed was done.

A few weeks later, I met with the entire family for a wrap up meeting and we all seemed to really hit it off. We began to formulate our plans for the evening as well as the songs and games that Shara was interested in. We chose our candle lighting songs and that was quite a bit of fun listening to mom, dad and Shara decide who would light candles. Shara and her mom won out on all of those decisions (but Dean sure did try). We talked about what they envisioned for their party and I assured them my staff and I would take care of everything.

I was very excited to be a part of this special day for many reasons.  First, the family was amazing, Next, I knew quite a bit of the people that were going to be there and I like entertaining when I know the guests, and finally, I like detailed setups and this one would not disappoint.

My crew and I arrived that day about four hours before the party started so we could transform the room into everything that Shara and her family expected. We draped an area of the room and then added pink up lighting to add to the atmosphere and ambiance. We then had our effects lights, multiple stages and a percussionist to add a live feel to the music.

Finally, show-time had arrived. We danced all of the guests into the room and Shara and her friends and family packed the dance floor. My dancers and I could already tell it was going to be a great time. From the first song that we played until the final song of the evening people danced non-stop. Shara was truly in shock when her father surprised her with her Bat Mitzvah gift – backstage passes to meet Justin Bieber the next day – how awesome is that? The guests played along with Ben on percussion and all of the guests were involved with our dancers Ron, Louis, Q, Emily, Ashley, Brittany. DJ Foltzy did a great job of mixing it up with the music and as always Zack transformed the room into a nightclub. The icing on the cake was when Craig showed up and started spinning a few sets… He’s still got it.

From every aspect, it was a flawless party. The folks from Barclay Caterers were fantastic to work with as always. Our photographer was on top of the action for the entire party as you can see from some of these amazing photos. Thank you to Shara and her family for letting me be share in your special day. You guys are a great people and am looking forward to hanging out with you – as new friends – in the near future.

-Marc Mednick

To learn more about Marc, click here:
“Marc The Good”

A few weeks later, we received this email from Shara’s parents:

Before we started planning our daughter Shara’s Bat Mitzvah,  I naively thought;  you hire a DJ,  he shows up,  throws up a couple of speakers and plays his favorite mix of hit songs, people dance,  good times… done deal.

Boy, was I wrong….

Cutting Edge Entertainment not only impressed us with their incredible sound system and amazing light show. The entire staff was as attentive and as helpful as can be in the planning stages of our affair.  From the moment that I started planning with Craig, he put our minds at ease, that our guests would be entertained, from start to finish.

Our MC, Marc Mednick,  sat down with us about a week before and carefully interviewed Shara in regards to to exactly what music she wanted throughout the evening.  His attention to detail was incredible,  and we planned the entire play list according to Shara’s preferences.  Marc not only made us feel comfortable and relaxed in a time that was a little stressful for my wife Heather and I, but we left the meeting really pleased and surprised to see that Shara actually had fun visiting the Cutting Edge offices picking all of her favorite songs for the candle lighting, introductions and special dances…

When we arrived at the synagogue for the big day, and peeked into the ballroom, we couldn’t believe our eyes.  We went with a few upgrades from Cutting Edge – which didn’t cost us all that much extra – but were priceless enhancements.  The up lighting, pipe and drape and video screen provided a night club like atmosphere in a room that – quite frankly -  is normally pretty drab.  It was truly an extreme transformation!

From the start of the reception, Cutting Edge’s three female dancers provided a JOLT to the party with their infectious energy, they danced with the kids, and were equally engaging with our adult guests.  They naturally made everyone feel important.  Booty’s were shaking from the minute our guests entered the party, until the very last moment, because Ashley, Brittany and Emily were the catalysts! And the male dancers were like fireworks with their break dance moves, flips, and crazy antics.  Everyone was mesmerized by their incredible talent. The whole production was like sensory overload, and we were loving every minute of it… especially Shara!

No one had more fun than our daughter, and I’ll never forget the look on her face that evening; it was sheer joy.  Cutting Edge was solely responsible, because it was very obvious that they know just how to add each ingredient that is necessary to create an incredibly festive atmosphere, without losing it’s classic sense of elegance. Most importantly, Marc made our entire family (even little sister Laura) feel as if we were the center of the universe that evening.

We would formally like to thank to Craig, Marc and the entire staff at Cutting Edge.  We put Shara’s Bat Mitzvah in your hands, and you delivered in every way to provide a HOT party that was truly unforgettable for everyone that was there!

~Dean & Heather Rubenstein

Photos courtesy of Howard Karashoff – www.hkpphoto.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com