This week I had the opportunity to speak with local musician and guitarist Nick Smith. While some people chase fame, Nick Smith simply looks for the next opportunity to play another song. "I'm just going where things lead," he told me. "I'm not really chasing anything. I'm just enjoying where I'm at." That outlook seems to have served him well.
As I listened to Nick talk about his journey, I quickly realized music wasn't something he stumbled into. Music found him. It wasn't long before he picked one up himself, and from that moment on, he was hooked. Around the age of 11 or 12, he became fascinated watching his older brother play guitar. It wasn't long before he picked one up himself, and from that moment on, he was hooked. "I'd listen to a song repeatedly until I had it memorized." Hour after hour, song after song, he learned by ear, building the skills that would eventually become his career.
His musical tastes were shaped largely by the music of the '90s, with the Goo Goo Dolls standing out as one of his biggest influences, although when asked if there was one artist he'd love to share the stage with, his answer came without a moment's hesitation. "Billy Joel, hands down."
Nick's first audience wasn't in a bar or on a festival stage, it was in church. Around the age of 14, he began playing guitar during services, and with each performance, his confidence and love for entertaining continued to grow.
About six years later, he worked up the nerve to approach the owner of The Fox and Hound, a small Eastside bar, and simply asked for a chance to perform. To his surprise, they said yes. That one opportunity became the first of countless performances and marked the beginning of the path that would eventually lead him to a full-time career in music.
Nick performs throughout Evansville and the surrounding Tri-State, most often as a solo act, although he is often joined by his percussion sidekick, Dave, on bongos. Being a successful musician is about much more than playing great songs. Before the first note is ever heard, there are songs to learn, venues to contact, schedules to coordinate, equipment to maintain, and countless behind-the-scenes responsibilities that turn a passion into a profession.
Like many working musicians, Nick has experienced the challenges that come with a competitive live music market. With a limited number of venues booking live entertainment and more talented musicians seeking those opportunities, securing performance dates requires persistence, consistency, and building strong connections.
If you ask him what people can expect at one of his shows, the answer is simple, “Something for everyone.” His performances span decades and include classics from the 50s to today's hits. Rather than following the same set list night after night, Nick watches the crowd and lets the audience help shape the evening. Personally, his heart still belongs to the music of the 90s but admits Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" remains one of his favorite songs to perform.
Beyond the planning, preparation, and business side of being a musician, there are moments that remind Nick exactly why he chose this path. The unexpected interactions, the connections with audiences, and the memories created during a performance are what make live music so special.
Of course, live music comes with its share of memorable moments. Nick laughed as he recalled one audience member who wasn't ready for the night to end. After the show, the man actually followed him out to his car, asking (actually shouting) for him to keep playing. Then there was the gentleman who wasn't impressed with Nick's version of "Sweet Caroline." He told Nick that he didn’t play it right. Nick laughed, "I just handed him my guitar and said, “Here you go, have at it.”
Our conversation soon turned to one of the toughest parts of being a musician, promoting yourself. Nick offered a perspective that might surprise some younger artists. "Social media is fine and can help, but the real promotion happens when you get out there, face to face. playing, meeting people, making connections, and letting word of mouth do its thing. This is how I've built my career."
"Spend time learning your instrument, get in front of people, sit in on Jams, play for open-mic nights, and take any opportunity to get on stage. As a musician, you have to be willing to fail, learn from it, and keep going." ~ Nick Smith
From teaching himself guitar to making music his full-time career, Nick Smith has built something meaningful, not just for himself, but for the people who spend an evening singing along with him. By the end of our conversation, it was easy to see why Nick's calendar stays so full. His story isn't one of overnight success, it’s one of patience, persistence, and saying yes to opportunities as they come along.
Thank you, Nick Smith, for taking the time to share your story with Coffee, Laughs and Chats. Your journey is a reminder that success is built one performance, one connection, and one song at a time. We look forward to seeing where the music takes you next.
To follow Nick's upcoming performances, events, and latest news, visit his Facebook page at Facebook.com/NickSmithEvansville.
For booking inquiries, contact Nick at NickSmithEvansville@gmail.com or 812-204-5183.
Nick Smith was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. He attended Reitz High School before studying Public Relations and Marketing at the University of Southern Indiana. Today, he and his wife are raising four energetic children, ages 6, 7, 10, and 11. With a family to support, making the decision to leave a full-time sales career to pursue music full time was a leap of faith. "It wasn't a decision I took lightly," but as it turned out, it's a decision I haven't regretted."
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