Vendors I Love: SPEECHLESS MUSIC
photo by Ariff Daniels
I worked with Scott and his team on a wonderful wedding last fall. Needless to say the musicians or the DJ are super important to the ceremony. We work together to create a vibe, and I was so appreciative of all of the communication beforehand and then the ensemble’s beautiful work on the day. Super excited to shine a little light on SCOTT KULMAN and the musicians with SPEECHLESS MUSIC!
So first off, how is it best to address you? What’s your title?
I would say that my title is probably best labeled as "founder," and that we collectively here at SpeechLess Music are event producers. We're not an agency because we are all professional, performing musicians ourselves. But we're quite a bit more than "just players," because of all the coordination and logistics that go into what we do.
photo by Robert Berman
What was the path that led you to start SpeechLess?
I was performing in a bunch of other groups that I felt were mismanaged and I thought I could do things better. Oftentimes the ownership/management either weren't top-tier musicians or they were unorganized or both! I learned that their job wasn't as easy as I thought but I also feel confident saying that I have succeeded in doing things better!
What excites you about weddings?
If I'm being honest, it's music that excites me. Weddings are a vehicle for us to play for an engaged audience that's ready to party. I get excited by the beautiful places we get to perform. Sometimes I'll take an extra day (or more) to enjoy a location, especially when we do destination events.
photo by Studio Nouveau
What do you look for in a couple?
I love developing a true relationship with couples and I can honestly say that some of my friends are people that originated as clients. Fortunately we're in a position now where SpeechLess doesn't have to worry about demand, and that's had a huge impact on how we interact with our couples. I am way more strategic now. This means I am super lucky because we get to be selective and only work with kind, caring, cool people! I don't think there's any formula to what we look for in a couple. But if I had to say it would be people who are down to earth and love music.
What is the greatest compliment you’ve ever received?
We've had a lot of people tell us (and write in reviews) that SpeechLess was the best decision they made for their wedding. So that's huge.
We've had a number of wedding coordinators hire us for their own weddings, which to me is a giant compliment because they hear EVERY string, jazz, band, or DJ. And they chose us!
I'm also extremely flattered when couples take the time to handwrite thank you notes to us. We put a lot of effort and care into arranging special requests such as a first dance or ceremony processional piece. Folks will write us saying they'll remember that moment for the rest of their lives - that's humbling.
What do you desire for your business?
I'm working towards developing the business to be self-sustaining to the point that I'm completely obsolete. This way I can function as a consultant when needed. Then cherry pick where my energies go; in other words, just do the fun stuff!
What are you grateful for?
I'm grateful every time a new inquiry comes in because it means that music is still important to people, that they value it enough to pay for it. I'm especially grateful when our talent stands out to them. I'm grateful for the fact that I have a full-time job as a musician.
