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

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

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

Meet Your DJ

This is a topic I’ve wanted to touch on for several months now, and was unable to find to the words until reading a blog post by wedding marketing expert Andy Ebon titled “Bella Pictures Saga Continues: Next Exit, Bankruptcy Reorganization?”. In this particular blog post, Andy quotes a FAQ (frequently asked questions) from Bella Pictures – a large National photography studio with a less than stellar reputation. The particular language in the section of the FAQ reads like this;

Q: Why can’t I meet my photographer?

A: We do the selective in-person screening for you, which allows us to keep our prices affordable. You will review your photographer’s portfolio and talk with them on the phone, so you will know exactly what to expect.Rather than spending their time in meetings, we allow our photographers to focus on what they do best, which is beautifully capturing the unique, emotional story of your wedding day.

This was Mr. Ebon’s response to such nonsense;

There is no other wedding professional that is more important to meet than a photographer.  For all the images one can see and phone conversations one can have, nothing is more critical than the chemistry between the bride & groom and their photographer.  The FAQ statement is the worst kind of misdirection and double-talk.

I would agree with Mr. Ebon, and add that the wedding DJ is likely as important to meet with and know before the reception, which is why in the past year our DJ company has made a complete shift in our booking practices. Not only do we offer brides and grooms, as well as Bar and Bat Mitzvah clients the opportunity to meet their DJ/MC prior to the event, we encourage it.

The funny thing is, I can understand why Bella Pictures, or any other company would make this claim, and part of it is true – it allows them to keep their prices affordable. By taking choice away from you, the client, they – the company – are left with ultimate flexibility, both in scheduling and in budget. Now imagine buying shoes this way; “We pick your style of shoes for you, therefore we can keep the price down”. No thanks, I’ll pick my own shoes.

If you the customer – whether it be for a wedding or otherwise – allow someone else to make these important decisions for you, you are making a conscious choice to relinquish your power in exchange for the cheapest price. Additionally, I interpret what this company is saying is that they are better qualified to choose what is best for you than you are. As a consumer of goods and services myself, I find this flat-out insulting.

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten
– Benjamin Franklin

As a wedding and event DJ company, we run into the same sort of situation at times where we are selling against a company that offers a significantly lower price, with no guarantee of who the MC/DJ will be on the day of your event. They will claim that each DJ in their company is of a similar skill level, and therefore they do not assign a specific DJ personality until closer to the event.

Somewhere, somehow, if you want an unbelievably low price, there is always some sort of sacrifice or compromise.

At Cutting Edge Entertainment we offer both; Disc Jockeys of equally excellent skill level, and the opportunity to meet with that individual DJ prior to booking. As Mr. Ebon said about the client-photographer relationship, we believe the same to ring true of the DJ.  Any DJ company that denies you the opportunity to know who the DJ (or Photographer) will be the day of your event, does not have your best interests in mind.

-Craig

DJ Brain Illustration by Sean Gallo

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

It isn’t often that a DJ company can boast that it had the great honor and privilege to be the Bar Mitzvah DJ for the President of the United States of America, and to my knowledge, none has yet to date – but a future President of the United States? – now that’s a totally different story.

Meet Allen.  Allen’s Bar Mitzvah theme was just that… Presidential.  From the moment I first spoke to Allen’s mother while she was inquiring about Cutting Edge Entertainment performing as Bar Mitzvah DJ at Allen’s Bar Mitzvah, she couldn’t have spoken more highly of her son, and his aspirations to become Commander in Chief.   Upon meeting Allen for the first time I could clearly understand why.   Allen is an upstanding young man of character, mature beyond his years with a sense of humor and wit that simply amplified his charm. As far a Bar Mitzvah kids go, Allen was ‘the man’.

His Bar Mitzvah party was held in April of 2011, and I, Craig, presided as the MC to the President and all of his presidential guests, colleagues (his friends), and most significantly his family.  Now, all kidding aside, Allen’s parents couldn’t have been more perfect clients, and were a pleasure to work with throughout the planning process.  I was accompanied by DJ Steve (Foltzy) and his assistant Cameron, who achieved a fantastic mix of Russian and American popular music keeping the dance floor packed all evening.  I had Carl, our production manager, design the lighting for the reception held at Middletown Country Club in Bucks County, and Nate, Brittany and Jessica were the dancers who kept the kids and adults engaged in dancing and games all evening.

But back to Allen’s parents, I really must say that mom was great. She was organized, and had specific and creative ideas of what she wanted the Bar Mitzvah party to be like. Dad, whom I dealt with more directly regarding some of the requested Russian selections that were to be played, was insightful, and would sit in my office discussing with me not just music, but politics, the economy, and any other topic that came up.  Having such a learned and wise father and an intelligent and creative mother it’s no wonder that Allen is the man he is (not to mention the rest of his delightful family, particularly his grandparents), and may very likely reach for that office of offices someday.

So Allen, if you do run for office someday, know I’ll be watching, and you have my vote. In the meantime, Mazel Tov on your Bar Mitzvah.

-Craig

Image courtesy of Boris from Classic Photo and Video
www.classicphotoandvideo.com

Decor by The Party Decorator

Middletown Country Club

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

I haven’t chimed in with a blog post in a little while. In the month prior to what may prove our busiest month as a company in eighteen years of business, we have been busy as bees in preparation. Overhauling every sound system, overhauling our warehouse, auditioning new staff, meeting with wedding and bar/bat mitzvah clients some of whom are inquiring about our services and others – booked clients – meeting with us to do wrap-ups. Our office has been both electric and hectic, and now that September is gone, it’s game time.

This morning I picked up Pedro from the airport, came home, and was inspired to write in the hour I had to spare before I would need to hop in the shower, organize a few more things (like pack up the laptop I’m typing on right now), and head in to the office to meet Adam at 2:00pm to load up for our wedding.

Our DJ schedule is packed with bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, sweet 16s and Halloween parties, and we’re turning away clients at this point as we are booked… solid. Our dancer schedule is no different, with poor Nate having to work every weekend while Tony is away in Rome but don’t feel bad, Nate won’t be so poor when he gets his paycheck.

Although I’ll be back to posting more blog posts before too long, right now I’m just too busy.

We are just too busy.

Thank you to everyone, from the venues who recommend us, to the Philadelphia event industry professionals who refer us clients and invaluable endorsements, we are in your debt for helping us to turn survive to thrive.

But even more, I want to thank my staff. For late crazy hours and tireless dedication to success. Thanks to Pedro for kicking my ass, thanks to Carl for fixing my ass and to Marc for covering my ass this past year. Ironically the biggest thanks to Richie for ignoring my ass altogether and concentrating on more important things. Thanks to Shoshana for being a real leader to the sapling dancers and along with Tony and Nate’s help making us the crack team that we are.

And thanks to every staff member I didn’t name, you all busted your humps this year and you all deserve recognition, but it’ll just have to wait til busy season is over.

But now I need to get to my wedding, so again, thank you to everyone for helping us to stay so darned busy.

Humbly Yours,

-Craig

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

There seems to be a new trend in Philadelphia… band booking agencies selling DJ services.  I think it’s worth mentioning that – for the most part – I’m on pretty good terms with my competition, and by competition I mean both the area’s larger and more prominent Disc Jockey companies, as well as the independent DJ who operates single operation outfits.  Of all of these companies, only one offers an option for a live band or orchestra, and that’s because the owner is in the band.  Otherwise, DJ companies do offer percussionists, an occasional bassist and a keyboard player for cocktail… but DJ companies in Philadelphia don’t sell bands.

We don’t need to.

So why is it then that the larger band booking agencies in Philadelphia are all offering DJ and Disc Jockey services on their websites?

Could it be because they need to?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love… LOVE live bands, and I’m a DJ.  I have a great appreciation for live music and can clearly see why they have a place at weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs.  The energy created by live musicians is unique and exciting, and has a perception of sophistication and elegance.

So why is it then that these band agencies are scrambling to hire DJ entertainers of their own?

Personally, I don’t think they “need” to.  I think that they might think they need to … which could have to do with a lot of things.  The demand for quality and talented DJs hasn’t diminished in this economy, in fact it  has increased.  In speaking to my competitors, it seems that business is good, and the more reputable DJ companies seem to have weathered the storm of the recession.  Additionally, the DJ has become more and more popular in the past two decades . At a fraction of the cost of a band or orchestra, the DJ would understandably seem like an attractive alternative.

In trying to grasp this, I’ve looked at my own DJ company, as well as a handful of my competitors/colleagues in the Philadelphia area, and I have to give credit where credit is due. The DJ companies in my market, whom I compete with on a regular basis, have better DJs than the band companies.  They work more, doing their own events, they have more experience, a higher skill level and a better understanding of what it is to be a DJ than those that work for band booking agencies. The caliber of a DJ or MC working on his own or for a DJ company is reflected even more clearly in the fact that he or she doesn’t depend on the table scraps of a large band booking agency. Their skill, talent, and ability ensure that their calendar is full.

If you are looking to hire a DJ, we would be more than happy to speak with you  (and as counter-productive as it  might seem for me to say this )  so would a dozen other DJ companies in Philadelphia.  Disc Jockey services specialize in DJ entertainment, it isn’t something secondary that we also sell, it is what we do.

If a client asks me about booking a band or orchestra (which they ask fairly often), I give them a recommendation.   I don’t want to be in the band business, and I don’t need to be.

Craig Sumsky
Director
Cutting Edge Entertainment

DJ Brain Illustration by Sean Gallo – seangallodesigns.wordpress.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

I was just a little girl (around ten years old) when I first “met” Cutting Edge Entertainment at my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, where I was carried into the room by one of the dancers (Pedro). Dancing since the age of three, I would have never thought I would be performing in front of people as a profession. At every party that my family would attend Cutting Edge Entertainment seemed to be the DJ company that everyone we knew was using. As I got older, Craig said to me one day at a party I was invited to, “When you’re older, I’d like you to come work for Cutting Edge”. As a child I never thought I would live up to his expectations, and would certainly never be like the dancers who were at my brother’s Bar Mitzvah.

As I now begin my third year as a Cutting Edge employee, I look back on when I started working here and being taught the ropes by one of the MCs, Shoshana, and  I realized that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, because Cutting Edge is a great place, with an environment that really allowed me to grow as a person.  Working at Cutting Edge I’ve learned so much about myself, and I’ve grown up from the quiet, shy girl I once was.  Before I got this job, I was afraid to stand up in front of a room full of people and talk.  Now, after working here all this time, I no longer have that fear. I even get on the microphone and talk to crowds of people, and I love it!

I learned that having a job that you love is not always about the money, it’s about enjoying what you do. Working for Cutting Edge parties I sometimes forget that it’s a job. I get so into the music and the kids that I feel like I am just hanging out with new friends and the time flies by. Everyone is extremely close and it’s like working with family. We’ve built a relationship as a team and everyone has taken me under their wing as one of their younger (sapling) dancers.

~Ashley

Photo by Kevin York – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

In all the years of being a professional disc jockey, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many different venues.  I took it upon myself to start writing blog posts on some of my favorite places to work.  There are a lot of great places to hold an event, and hopefully, in time, I’ll  get a chance write about them all.

This past Thursday afternoon, photographer Kevin York and I drove out to Horsham, Pennsylvania to visit the Manor House at Commonwealth.  Now I’ve had many opportunities to work at this venue which, in my opinion, is one of my personal favorites.  We at Cutting Edge Entertainment have entertained at Weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, and all sorts of other events at The Manor House, and they’ve all been a great success.  Naturally,  I like to say it’s because we’re amazing entertainers and DJs, and that probably has a lot to do with it, but looking back at the past parties I’ve done there, I have to say Commonwealth’s staff deserve much of the credit.  The people there friendly and accommodating, and they do a great job keeping their clients and guests happy.  It’s probably also important to point out that they do an outstanding job of coordinating with all of the other event professionals at the function.  At a party, it’s very important for the DJ to be in constant contact with all of the other professionals, particularly the kitchen.  The key to a great party is eliminating any lull or downtime,  while always keeping the guests occupied with either dancing, eating, or traditional party formalities.  In my opinion, even the slightest pause in the party time line can really throw things off, so it’s always best that to work together with all the professionals at the event to keep all attending entertained.

When Kevin and I went over to the Manor House at Commonwealth we learned some history of how the venue came to be.  This was originally a farmhouse built in 1709, however it was only a farmhouse.  It wasn’t until 1840 that the first expansion was made.  Then, in 1990 it became the Commonwealth’s Clubhouse for the golf course the surrounds it.  Finally in 1996, it changed to the Manor House.  At this time it began a host for affairs, and today it does approximately ninety-five weddings per year, along with Barand Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, Graduations, and Anniversary parties.

I’d to thank both Jennifer O’Neil and Cristy Peltzer, for giving myself and Kevin the tour around the house.  Jennifer and Cristy are a big part of the all star Catering Sales team at the Manor House at Commonwealth, and they’re really great people to work with. They honestly care about the service they deliver, and it really shows.

And last but not least, thanks to my partner in crime Kevin York, who took time out of his schedule to take some photographs of the venue.  We were very lucky to have such a beautiful day and the shots turned out great.

If you are looking for a unique and scenic venue, be sure to check out The Manor House… You won’t be disappointed.

-Richie Abrams

The Manor House at Commonwealth – www.commonwealthmanor.com

Kevin York Photography - www.kevinyorkphotography.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com