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

My Name is Wayne Gustafson and I’ve been performing as a bandleader for Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs in the Philadelphia area for almost three decades.  In all those years I’ve seen both trends as well as entertainers come and go, yet some things I’ve found I can always depend on.

One day in the fall of 1995, after ending my tenure with The Entertainment Group, I was scheduling my musicians and dancers for upcoming events.  Speaking with my lead dancer, she informed me that she was retiring from the mitzvah dancing business.  I was disappointed, but more than that, unsure of where to start looking for a replacement.

Not ten minutes later, I answered a phone call from Craig Sumsky, who introduced himself as the owner of Cutting Edge Entertainment, and was calling to offer the services of the dancers from his company for my Bat and Bar Mitzvah clients.  He told me how well they work with bands at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and . . .

“Stop”, I said.  “I’m sold”.

He went on to say how well they are trained, and . . .

“Stop”, I said.  “I’m sold”.

He also added that they were very experienced with working with kids, and . . .

“Stop”, I said.  “I’m sold”.

You get the point, I was a motivated buyer.  But after all these years, I am still very fortunate to have a great relationship with Cutting Edge.  I have had the privilege of working with many different artists – Alison, Justin, Monica, Pedro, Regina, Kelly, Shoshana and Tony just to name a few.  Throughout the years there has always been one constant;  every single dancer has been the consummate professional.  They are overly prepared, energetic, enthusiastic, and extremely easy to work with.  It’s no wonder that every party that I do with them is a huge success.

So I look ahead to a bright future of many great parties with Cutting Edge Entertainment, and yes Craig, I’m still sold!

Wayne Gustafson
The Untouchables
www.wayneron.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

What can one say about a place where so many different and creative minds come together?

Cutting Edge Entertainment is a mad house of energy, talent, and personality.  It’s really become so much more than just a place of business to me, it is my extended family.  If you ask the average person how many jobs and different places of employment they’ve had over their high school and college years, it’s common that you’ll hear anywhere from four to five different answers. This is completely different at Cutting Edge… great people stick around.

To be honest, Cutting Edge isn’t really just a job to me… it’s an experience. When I was first hired (almost a decade ago), and I heard how many years some people had been with the company, I was kinda like  “These guys are a little nuts! Why have they been doing this for so long?  Don’t they have real jobs?”  It didn’t take me long to figure out what was really going on.

That thought was quickly replaced with the understanding that C.E.E. is a place where you can do some serious growing, both professionally and personally.  I have been fortunate to have been with Cutting Edge Entertainment for seven years now, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my time here.  Starting out as a dancer, I learned from some of the most talented and unique people I have ever had the opportunity of meeting, not to mention working beside.

Now as I make my transition into the world of being an MC, I’m excited knowing there is so much more I will be exposed to and learn from being with this company.

Cutting Edge Entertainment a very cohesive unit, learning from one another’s strengths in an environment that is conducive to success.  Much of what makes this a great company to work for is what makes it such an outstanding company to hire.  Folks who are excited about what the do and the organization they represent are the kind of folks I work with, it’s just a great formula to succeed.

-Nate Jones

Photos by Jean Valentin Photography – www.jean-valentin.com

Become a fan of Cutting Edge on Facebook
www.facebook.com/CuttingEdgeEntertainment

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Having been in business since 1992, Cutting Edge Entertainment has come in contact with a great many photographers. One of our favorites for many years has been Joel Perlish. Joel has an uncanny knack for capturing our staff in motion, while at the same time never missing a moment of the action on the dance floor.

I recently reconnected with Joel, who was kind enough to provide us with a couple of photos he took a few years back. These photos have been hanging in our office for several years now, but we never had the digital copies of them so as to show them off here on our blog. Joel was happy to provide them, and found the specific photos I requested within moments of my asking for them even though they were taken almost four years ago. Quite impressive.

The first is a photo of C.E.E. dancer Regina (now in her second year of law school), and the second photo is Kelly (now a middle school phys-ed teacher).

Joel Perlish Photography – http://www.joelperlish.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

On August 29, 2009 the DJ and Dancer staff of Cutting Edge Entertainment had the honor of performing at Anna’s Bat Mitzvah at Reading Country Club (pronounced ‘redding’ for those non-Pennsylvanian’s out there) and we had a blast.  Anna and her family were a pleasure to work with, as were the country club staff, Photographer James Cucinotta and Reading C.C. Banquet Manager Jeffery Stauss.

Anna’s guests were awesome (special shout out to all the kids) and danced non-stop all night.  CO-MC Tony did a great job most of the event, with help from the dancers and DJ Foltzy.   The entire crowd came ready to party (and play cool games), including Anna’s parents, Cindy & George (a.k.a. G-1).

As you can probably tell from the photos,  Reading Country Club is an amazing facility, located in beautiful and scenic Reading Pennsylvania, about forty minutes outside Philadelphia.  Built in the 1920’s to be a golf country club, the ballroom – with an impressive vaulted ceiling and elegant balconies – offers seating for up to 250 guests very comfortably, while offering separate rooms just off the main ballroom for cocktails, a bar, and buffet or dessert.  There is also a spacious outdoor patio accessible from the ballroom that overlooks the golf course and countryside beyond.  I would highly recommend the facility for both bar & bat mitzvahs and weddings, and we look forward to working there again soon.

And of course… Happy Bat Mitzvah Anna!

Photos by James Cucinotta – www.cucinottaimages.com

Reading Country Club -  www.readingcountryclub.com

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

Recently, Cutting Edge carried out a long standing tradition that the company has held since its inception.  Holding the highly energetic and truly enjoyable event known as ‘dancer practice.’  These monthly rehearsals have been going on since the infancy of Cutting Edge Entertainment when the company was based in a small studio office and we would have to clear all the equipment to one side to make room, till today at our current location where we have a private dance studio with mirrored walls roll-out dance floors.

So what exactly is it that we do at ‘dancer practice’ you ask?  Well, it covers quite a bit, including dance routines, techniques in running games, acting/improvisation exercises, ‘Mingling 101′, stage presence, and even crowd psychology (yes, it really gets that deep).

Cutting Edge has always taken a multi-faceted approach when it comes to training our entertainment staff.  Throughout the years we’ve added some things to the practices while taking away others, but our goal has always remained the same . . . Training our staff to be as well prepared as possible to handle every imaginable personality, group or situation that they might encounter during an event.  Every party is different, and there is no set formula, so we have always felt that our staff should have the physical and mental tools necessary to react accordingly.  That is the reason we have always trained our dancers on so many levels .

Some people don’t understand why we include acting, improv, and psychology into our practices, after all, Isn’t a dancer just supposed to be a good dancer?  NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!  A dancer needs to be a dynamic, charismatic, and engaging individual at an event.  If all they are going to do is stand there and look pretty, we’re simply not interested.  Their energetic personalities become infectious during an event, influencing everyone around them and therefore catapulting the crowd (and the party) to a whole new level.  For that reason our dancers are requested to perform for other DJ companies and bands throughout the Philadelphia region.  The pros know where to go for great staff!

So hopefully this will peel back some of the mystery as to what happens during our dancer practices.  (By this point you should be able to understand why I prefer to call them ‘entertainers’)  Its a lot of fun and everyone always walks away learning something new that they didn’t know about themselves, pushing their skill set up one more notch.

If you are ever interested in stopping by to see what all the noise is about, let us know.  Till next time . . . Ciao!

-Pedro Coelho
Creative Director
Cutting Edge Entertainment

Photos by Eli Allen at Majestic Images – www.majesticimages.net

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

“Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned… something that’s got to be remembered.” ~Will Smith as Bagger Vance

Photographer Jean Valentin captures the style of Cutting Edge Entertainment’s Nate Jones with just the authentic swing that Bagger Vance was referring to in this nostalgic photo (above), depicting Nate sporting a stylish and classic Jazz 1930’s/1940’s look, with the Gramophone in the background.

“Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor” ~Kappa Alpha Psi Mantra

Nate, a Fraternity man at West Chester University and the current President of The Black & Latino Greek Council, has been an employee of Cutting Edge Entertainment since his days at Abington High School, where he served as his Senior Class President.  Nate is a born leader and gifted entertainer, having won the ‘Rookie Of The Year’ award his first year with Cutting Edge.

“Confidence is one of the key elements to becoming a great entertainer, and Nate oozes with confidence” ~Pedro Coelho, Creative Director/Cutting Edge Entertainment

It takes a confident man to wear pink, and of all the outfits Nate brought to the photo shoot, the smile on his face shows his response to the chiding, teasing and taunting remarks from his co-workers as Valentin took the pictures.  Nate is seldom bothered by such silliness, and like a true performer, laughs with them during a less serious moment seen in the photo above.

“If I were to choose three words that best describe Nate Jones, they would be style, professionalism, and intelligence.” ~Tony Azzaro, MC, DJ & Dancer/Cutting Edge Entertainment

Whether as a dancer, or an MC, Nate brings ‘it’ to every event.  He works a dance floor with the same strategic approach that a Superbowl Quarterback works a football field, entertaining and charming audiences as if it were second nature.  He also understands the legacy of Cutting Edge, and works hard to deliver the level of excellence expected of a CEE employee.  With hundreds of Philadelphia area events under his belt, from bar/bat mitzvahs to corporate events, Nate is a seasoned veteran and consummate professional.

The combination of Jean Valentin’s artistic eye, and Nate Jones sense of style (and extensive wardrobe) made for quite a photo shoot.  Thank you Valentin for these beautiful photos, and more we will be posting in the upcoming weeks.

Photos by Jean Valentin – http://www.jean-valentin.com/

Valentin on twitter

Nate on twitter

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

For an Entertainer, Hell hath no fury like a posse of sugar-crazed thirteen year-olds at a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

In a career that mirrors the best of roller coaster rides, I consider my time at Cutting Edge Entertainment as one of the definitive high points. It was here that I truly honed my skills as an entertainer, as opposed to just being a Vocalist/Musician (now, now… for all of you Vocalists and Musicians out there, no offense meant, much love to ya).

I believe it was my mother who first brought the ad in The Bucks County Courier Times to my attention which said something like “looking for young, energetic personalities,” and something about “having to be a good dancer.” I thought that it seemed right up my alley…and indeed it was.

After what can only be called an interesting social audition (we basically did a speed-dating-round-robin-get-to-know-you-social-chat-without-the-dating-part-conference), we moved on to the dance audition. It was kind of different, but certainly interesting as far as auditions go(Let’s just say Craig has a very unique style of auditioning, but in the context of the industry very effective).

I remember being a bit tentative about jumping in the middle of the dance circle we formed, but it really wasn’t anything more than what I’d done numerous times before through out my years in Junior & Senior High School. The fact that I’d gotten to know everyone made me forget about the usual fears, so in I went.

I came out an employee.

The Bar & Bat Mitzvah business can be the butt of jokes for the outsider (which I take liberties ribbing Craig about frequently) but inside the business there’s a serious amount of preparation and presentation that goes into each event. For just short of two years, I learned what it took to entertain people of all ages. From getting the whole crowd warmed-up and excited for the night’s events, charming the lovable Grandparents into getting up and on the dance floor, facing and conquering dreaded thirteen year-old gangs that could sense weakness as easily as they could surf the web, assisting and preparing the post-synagogue ceremony, and of course making the Bar/Bat Mitzvah feel like a million bucks.

All the while I danced, sang, played, told a few jokes (poor ones) and soaked up each moment. I learned where I could improve as well as role-modeled myself off of my amazing co-workers night after night.

As my tenure with Cutting Edge came to a close, I realized that my entire experience with the company was a proving ground, and was an integral part of the lifelong preparation I’ve been given for a life in the entertainment business. Now, I entertain across the nation, I have my own sketch comedy show at www.SketchedOutTV.com, and am working on my third studio album. Among all the feathers in my cap, though, my time with Cutting Edge stands out, as a pivotal point in my career helping pave the way for all I have done since, and – as always – a second family.

-Justin Guarini

Justin’s sketch comedy show – www.SketchedOutTV.com

Justin Guarini photo by Matt Beard

In March of 2002 Justin Guarini came to me asking for a few months off to go to California to be on a new reality television show.  Little did I know it would be his last request as an employee.  That June I went to Australia for a month, only to return to a media frenzy that not only will I never forget, but that turned Cutting Edge Entertainment upside down (in a good way) for quite some time after.  Who could have predicted that this unknown reality show (yes, American Idol) would have become what it is today.  Although Cutting Edge has had near misses on Idol since Justin, he will always be our number one.

-Craig

www.cuttingedgedjs.com

It all started with a small ad in the Bucks County Courier Times. The year was 1998. I was a freshman in high school. This was before craigslist was anything more than maybe an inventory of grocery items for some guy named Craig. When you were looking for a part time job, you had only word of mouth and the newspaper to rely on. A little box in the local classifieds beckoned, “Dancer Auditions”.  After assuring my horrified father, “No, daddy not that kind of dancing,…” I asked my mom if she could drive me to the Street Road Holiday Inn try outs for a company called Cutting Edge Entertainment.

They were looking for dancers with BIG personality, energy and enthusiasm.

I made it through the Cutting Edge Entertainment auditions and officially became a CE dancer. I’d come to find out that dancing was only a fraction of the job description. It was my job to make sure others’ special day was truly an EXPERIENCE. Not only was it gratifying to see the genuine smile of a kid who had a blast…but it was fun!

While at CE, I got the itch to try out for a second dance job. I started cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles my freshman year at Temple. I made Dean’s list and proved to my parents I could hack college so I figured it was time to take on an extracurricular activity. I missed dancing and again, it was a little ad in the Courier Times that tempted me. “There are 3.8 million women in the Greater Philadelphia Area…we’re looking for the Top 36.” I guess I’m a sucker for a challenge (or who says  newspapers are dead?!) I didn’t tell anyone I was auditioning, including my parents or Craig, until I made the final cuts and thought I actually had a chance. Subsequently, I made the most of my four years and had the time of my life; I became captain, did numerous national media appearances, performed at the SuperBowl, was fortunate enough to be chosen as the 2005 Pro Bowl cheerleader and experienced a domestic military tour.

Being a Cutting Edge dancer got me started on the right foot to working a room, starting a conversation with anyone and everyone, and exhibiting my enthusiasm unabashedly and with vigor! That helps when you’re entertaining 65,000 fans in a stadium or securing a client signing a check for a big sale. As a marketing and PR professional full time now, the skills I learned as a CE dancer come into play. Make people feel comfortable, genuinely enjoy the interaction (and they will too!), satisfactory communication, and…most all -have fun!

I’ve tapped CE for my consulting gigs too. We recently used CE studios for the background for a photoshoot for Me Phi magazine. It’s an internal cata-zine based out of the Scottsdale, AZ store Me Phi. NFLer Javon Walker and his best friend, owner Derek Bourque, run the unique east coast streetwear boutique in old town Scottsdale. Check out their blog: www.me-phi.com. We brought some very hot east coast flavor with models Maxim cover girl Ali Ciotto, LA Clippers dancer and Beyonce tour dancer Ashley Seldon , and up and comers Derilyn Devlin and Dana Schliep…check out the photos! Skratch Makaniks DJ Adam Bomb was gracious enough to show up and spare some time for photos (and fun). The 6 degrees of CE connection never ends…

From shimmying around the dance floor with the proud grandpop, to chatting up the tween girls on who likes who, to jumping around on the dance floor with the shy little boy (who an hour prior wouldn’t even leave his mother’s side or  crack a smile) marked my Cutting Edge Entertainment experience.

Yes, well that…and mini clown bikes paired with Rastafarri hats. It’s a CE signature. Don’t ask-just sign up!

Our team is truly a family and our job was really just to be make sure others enjoy the ride…and maybe make you do the Cotton Eyed Joe too.

-Monica Devlin

Follow Monica on Twitter – http://twitter.com/KestrelChick

www.cuttingedgedjs.com