This is a something we haven’t posted in a while….It’s a fun little Q&A with some of the wedding professionals we get to work with .
We think it’s really important for the couples we work with to not only know the work and pricing of the people we work with but to know a little about them…
So, here’s an interview with did with our friend, Craig Sumsky of Cutting Edge Entertainment
Name: Craig Sumsky
Title: Director and Musicologist
Business Name: Cutting Edge Entertainment
Years in Business: Since 1992 (that would be 20!)
Mark: Craig, how did you get started in your industry?
Craig: I'm not actually sure. Started out as a Roller-Skating Rink DJ as a kid and somehow it morphed into full scale events. I would never have anticipated this becoming a career, just an insatiable love for music that seems unquenchable.
Mark:What is the highlight of your career so far?
Craig: So far… I suppose working with so many talented and creative people – both within my company as well as other industry professionals. I suppose the highlight is more the ongoing journey, speckled with uncountable highlights along the way.
Mark: What’s the best job you’ve ever had?
Craig: When I was a teenager, I worked at WaldenBooks at the mall. I'm an avid reader, so you can probably imagine that I spent most of my money on books (at a discount of course). If I had to choose any other line of work, I suppose it would be something where I was around books. Coincidentally, I've applied to work at Barnes & Noble several times just to pick up some part-time hours for fun… I've never gotten a callback.
Mark: Tell us something about you that most people wouldn’t know.
Craig: I'm a Beatles fan. {LOL, really Craig?}
Mark: What is one common mistake you see brides make in regard to your services?
Craig: This is an interesting question. I'm a firm believer that a wedding should be customized to the vision of the bride and groom, particularly pertaining to decor, cuisine and floral choices, along with color scheme (matching brides maid dresses to napkins and lighting, etc). When it comes to a DJ or Band, I always find it perplexing that in some instances a bride or groom will hire a DJ because they saw what he did at another wedding, and loved it. Then, they will micro-manage the music selection to the point that the DJ is literally unable to achieve what he did at the wedding that the bride and groom saw him at. This situation also applies to when a DJ (or Band) comes highly recommended. It is very important to make certain that the bride and grooms requests are played, but if the DJ was highly recommended, and/or he was "seen in action", it's best the couple let him do what he does, which earned their business in the first place.
Mark: What is your favorite food?
Craig: There are so many, as I am a closet foodie, but if I had to choose one, I'd have to say shrimp, particularly the chilled cocktail variety.
Mark: What is your favorite restaurant?
Craig: Don't really have one, as I'm not the type to frequent a restaurant. One of my absolute favorites is Oishi, a sushi spot in Newtown, PA, but I couldn't tell you the last time I ate there. I will say they have the best sushi I've ever had… and I've had lots of sushi.
Mark: Do you have any pets?
Craig: Two cats; Eliza and Henry (both names a literary reference from the book/play Pygmalion).
Mark: What is your favorite thing to do on your day off?
Craig: Listen to music, or read books about music (sad but true).
Mark: What’s the best advice you would give to couples planning their wedding?
Craig: Remember – you are planning one day. Don't forget to take time to plan a marriage, which will last the rest of your lives.
Mark: Tell us anything else about you you’d like to share with half the free world…
Craig: Well Mark, being that I didn't know your blog had a captive audience that included half of the free world, I'm a bit unprepared. I suppose one of most interesting tidbits I could share with your readers is how when you first launched your wedding planning business, that the first event professional you reached out to was me. Kind of an honor seeing how far you've come professionally.
Thanks Craig, you're too, too funny
Mark: Any awards, honors or charitable endeavors you’d like to plug?
Craig: The World Wildlife Fund – www.worldwildlife.org – or any other organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered species, and/or animal shelters for domesticated animals.
Thanks Craig, I'm really thrilled we got to do this interview!
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