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Tell us a little bit about yourself…

Who/ what inspired you to go into events?
After deciding I didn’t want to make working in theater my profession
and not loving touring with an originals band from college, a working
musician asked if I knew anything about weddings! My 21-year-old self
sure didn’t. But one party in (with a guest having a heart attack on the
dance floor-true story), I was hooked.

Tell us one thing we might not learn about you right away?
I went to an all-girl boarding school for high school, called Miss
Porter’s. Not because I was a bad kid-promise. It was an incredible
experience and a daunting one. Most kids don’t leave home at 13. But
it’s one I wouldn’t trade and those of us who have experienced it, sort
of feel like we are in a club that most others don’t get. I also am the
voice of a doll that farts when you pull her finger (and lots of other toys
you see at CVS and Halmark). I am NOT the farting sound!
 
What do you love the most about what you do?
The people, and that’s vendors and clients! How lucky are we? We get
to celebrate with folks at happy occasions. I love creating and
celebrating-it’s truly the best!

Where did you grow up?
I am a New Yorker. Born there and feel most at home there. The
accent is always under the surface and it will always be soda, NOT
pop! My family moved a bit, NY, Florida, Delaware, and NJ. But I have
lived in Chicago longer than anywhere else. Love calling it home.

What's your event gone wrong horror story?
We were performing at an outdoor event at a country club (with no ILEA
vendors, of course) under a tent full of holes with rain streaming down
where the band was supposed to set up. The power source was
completely under water and the client said to me, “who cares if your sound
man gets electrocuted, the show must go on!”. Yeah-that was a fun one.
There was also the one where my bass player’s car was “stolen” at the end
of the night by two guests that missed the shuttle to the after party. Need I
go on?

What made you interested in participating in ILEA? 
The people! I am so grateful to Nicole Zenner for bringing me into the fold
and introducing me to ILEA.

Connect directly with Becca Kaufman:
Instagram: @beatmixchicago
LinkedIn: Becca Kaufman
Facebook: BeatMix Music