Hi Pat, Thanks for your comment! When I have trouble concentrating in a group setting, I bring along headphones and listen to music--that keeps annoying distractions and others' conversations at bay. Gatorfoam is easily cut with a sturdy utility knife. Just mark it with a pencil, use a long metal straight edge and cut. I sometimes do it in one pass, sometimes two. You'll want to have a few fresh razor blades handy as a dull blade won't work very well.