Today we’d like to introduce you to Becca Kaufman.
Becca, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in New York and sang my whole life. Moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern University, I was pre-med for an entire week and then switched to theater much to my parents’ dismay (chemistry to costumes was not a big hit with them). Sophomore year, I began singing with my first band and I was immediately hooked. Our band toured following graduation and after a few months on the road, someone asked if I had given any thought to singing at weddings. Well, compared to my bar gigs, weddings were glamorous, sophisticated, and fun (and I could actually be paid)! Fast-forward a couple years, I sang with many prominent society bands, and you guessed it, at weddings. I loved working with the couples and finding ways to make their music a personal part of their wedding experience. It soon became clear I needed a band of my own, so the Becca Kaufman Orchestra or BKO, was born. In an effort to branch into the corporate world and create more bands to better suit our clients’ needs, I founded BeatMix Music. BeatMix Music is comprised of five in-house dance bands. In addition to our bands, we offer a myriad of services ranging from dance entertainers to special event hosts and emcees. Whether a client is set on a solo harp, a string quartet, a blue grass ensemble or a twenty-piece dance band, we strive to match each and every client with a customized and unparalleled music experience.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
BeatMix grew faster than I ever imagined, and by ‘fast’ I mean growing pains, mistakes and learning as you go. Being an entrepreneur is no easy feat. There were many elements of running my own business that I didn’t quite yet understand: taxes, workers’ compensation insurance (apparently, once you have a salaried employee you need workers’ comp-huh, who knew?). We’ve had months with events literally every day. I am constantly pulled between managing events onsite, performing and running a business. I am grateful for my incredible business partner, Mike Weber, who came on board three years ago. Slowly, but surely, we have added hands to assist with the administrative tasks and responsibilities that make our work possible. So, now we have an office manager, a sales and marketing specialist, a music librarian, and most importantly, our trusted professional musicians and trained sound personnel. I have to say, the best thing I have done is surround myself with people who are more knowledgeable about certain facets of my business than I am. There is tremendous strength in admitting what you don’t know, letting others take the reins and do what they do best.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with BeatMix Music – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Beginning with a simple goal to create custom music for special and corporate event experiences, BeatMix Music specializes in providing pitch-perfect entertainment. As a trusted Chicago brand, we pride ourselves in delivering unmatched musical experiences to our clients that echo the event feel. The professionalism and talent of our musicians do not go unnoticed. In fact, I think the musicianship we bring to the table and the customer care we embrace is what sets us apart. We work side-by-side with our fellow vendors to take client vision to the next level, exceeding all expectations. I am continually proud of the caliber and quality of events we are selected to participate in.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are fortunate enough to have hit our ten-year goal in under five years. Although we are a bit ahead of schedule, we are excited to continue curating magical music experiences for over 350 events this year. Our future plans include expanding into other markets to grow our brand, creating new ensembles and building a larger portfolio to offer our clientele.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3200 Doolittle Drive
Northbrook, IL 60062 - Website: beatmixmusic.com
- Phone: 847.892.4150
- Email: info@beatmixmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatmixchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beatmixchicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeatMixChicago
Image Credit:
Studio This Is Photography, Steve Zywica
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