Over the past two years at Cutting Edge Entertainment, my outlook towards life has drastically changed. I attribute a lot of that change to DJ practices with Craig, Richie and the rest of the guys. Cutting Edge has been slowly influencing me since the day I walked in the door for the first time. Thanks to everyone at Cutting Edge Entertainment for that, especially and most importantly my Mom. My Mother was fairly persistent in getting me to agree to go to one of the DJ practices, and it’s a good thing she didn’t allow my “tunnel vision” to prevent me from getting in the way of what is perhaps the most influential thrill ride of my life so far.

The biggest change I have noticed in myself is that I’m more open minded. When I came to Cutting Edge I had the mindset that the music I liked was the “best” and all other genres of music were a waste of my time. Starting with Big Band like Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima. I used to despise “old boring music” but now I have a new-found respect and understanding of it, and now I really enjoy listening to Big Band and Jazz music. My other big revelation was dance music! Everything from Motown to Disco to today’s Pop. There is a lot of music that I was too closed minded to listen to, but Cutting Edge has changed that. Not only do I listen to broader types of music but I have noticed I am more open to new foods or different books.  Some people might say I am just growing up but I attribute a lot of my newer outlook to my lessons at Cutting Edge.

Perhaps the most important thing I have picked up from my time at Cutting Edge is problem solving. When Richie and Adam taught me to troubleshoot the systems they stressed that you must remain calm and take the logical approach. You start from the beginning and take your time so you don’t miss something important in your haste. Also I have learned that shortcuts rarely ever pay and more commonly bite you in the butt later. It may be easier to carelessly toss wires under the table but at the end of the night all you end up with is a giant mess.

Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. – Confucius

Cutting Edge is a dream job for me and this quote has only proven to be true. The only thing I can be sure that hasn’t changed since I came to Cutting Edge Entertainment is that I love music, and since Cutting Edge maybe I love it a little bit more.

Sincerely,

Jack Duggan
The Quiet One
a.k.a. DJ Summer School

Photo courtesy of David Difuntorum Photography – www.daviddifuntorum.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Cutting Edge Entertainment is talent personified. It is from within our hallowed studio that many of Philadelphia’s greatest entertainers continue to emerge. We brag because we can… we’re just that good. It isn’t really bragging though, it’s pride, coupled with a commitment to excellence that has no rival in the City of Philadelphia.

Someone once asked if I had moments of regret for choosing the name “Cutting Edge” for our company. If somehow we could have chosen another word that hadn’t such a connotation of what was new and avant-garde. I wondered if some other name would have lessened pressure of achievement and innovation, somehow making it alright to settle for mediocrity. Perhaps. But as it stands, the name is Cutting Edge, and so we are.

Lights and camera are concluded by action, almost as if to be the punctuation of the words which came before it. Action is what the entertainer brings to the table in any equation, and our approach to interactive entertainment is on both the micro and macro level. Practice makes perfect, and working often as well as a regular rehearsal schedule are a part of Cutting Edge Entertainment’s rigorous approach to event entertainment. The key word is “interactive”. Lights and cameras are important and integral parts of any production, but the performers are the catalyst that create the excitement.

If you were to ask our entertainment staff about the hard work they put in to training and rehearsal, it’s quite likely that they would have no idea what you were talking about. As Mary Poppins said, “In any job that must be done there is an element of fun… Find the fun and SNAP, the job’s a game”. The cast at Cutting Edge Entertainment is like one big spoonful of sugar, and they inject fun into everything they do.

Many thanks to Photographer Kevin York and NJ Blast Energy drinks for sponsoring or April 2010 rehearsal.

-Craig

Kevin York Photography – www.kevinyorkphotography.com

N.J. Blast Energy Drinks – www.njblast.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

My first meeting with photographer Jean Valentin was a brief one, and at first glance he had an Antonio Banderas thing going on, accent and all.  Later I would find out he wasn’t Spanish, although he still had that European charm (and sense of style).  My second meeting with him was at an industry event, and as it happens I was looking for a photographer to shoot a few of my staff and had not had very much luck.  Valentin offered his services and to be honest I hadn’t ever seen his work before.  Judging by the photo above, I think it speaks for itself.

As far as the cigar is concerned, again that was all Valentin.  “Long cigars, like Clint Eastwood” were his instructions of what I needed to bring.  I’m not a cigar smoker, but I think I pull it off fairly well with Valentin’s help.  Ironically the second (bottom) cigar photo is my favorite.

-Craig

These and more can be found on Jean Valentin’s blog -
http://www.jean-valentin.com/

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

After the event, I drove down the street to the gas station and filled my tank for $4.20 a gallon.  Let’s just say that didn’t leave me feeling very green.

Several weeks have past since attending that event - needless to say I have been doing lots of thinking – and after taking a closer look at my own company, I see lots of ways in which we are already going green…

Music- Slowly but surely (inevitably) we are moving from CD to all MP3.  Certainly CDs may continue to provide backup in case a hard-drive goes down, but less CDs still means less fuel, less space as well as less plastic & paper. 

Lighting – L.E.D. Technology (although more expensive) uses less energy, as a matter of fact in most cases a small fraction of the energy and more light.  The days of elaborate lighting rigs needing a generator for additional power will soon be a thing of the past, which avoids additional costs for generator rental and gasoline. 

Paper - I’m proud to say that 85% of our packages, proposals,  literature, contracts and just about every other correspondance that was once done on paper is now done through email. 

So what’s next?

Well, how about those party giveaways like leis, marracas, sunglasses, hats and inflatables (all plastic and rubber petroleum based products) which now have increased shipping fees due to current fuel prices.  Do we really need them?  I sure don’t, and I’m not even sure if they are essential to a party!  All of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah packages include them and I’d be happier than a pig in… well, let’s just say I would be more than willing to exclude the giveaways upon request for a fairly significant discount.

If you are interested in finding out how to “get more green” at your next event feel free to contact us at Cutting Edge Entertainment or one of the following people who were amongst the many  wedding professionals in attendance.

Karen Pecora (Wedding planner) –  http://karenpecora.com/

Mark Kingsdorf (Wedding Planner) – http://www.qohweddings.com/index.shtml

Vedika Webb (Pastry Chef) – http://www.lotuscakestudio.com/

Tim Sudall (Videographer) – http://www.videoone.tv/

Always remember the immortal words of Kermit… “It’s not easy bein’ green”

-Craig