Kevin Smart
Interview & Article by Brittany Ormiston
The brilliant and multi-faceted Kevin Smart is making waves in the music industry through his role at Big Plan Holdings (BPH) as Vice President of Business Development. His recent ground-breaking accomplishment was being heavily involved in the opening of JBJ’s Bar and Restaurant in downtown Nashville. Kevin worked alongside other members of the BPH team to bring the visions of Jon Bon Jovi and the company to life. The early stages of development began four years ago with the venue opening its doors on June 8th 2024. The response since the opening has been nothing but positive. “...We [BPH] feel really good about making a statement on Broadway,” shares Kevin. The five-story venue has been packed with visitors eager to experience the undeniable exhilaration of rock ‘n’ roll mixed with the nostalgia of country music.
Kevin “wears many hats” at BPH, and he did not hesitate to lend a hand in countless aspects of the bar’s grand opening. His main focus was capital raising for the 90 million dollar development, and also assisted the hospitality team from an operational standpoint. He was a part of the marketing team who managed the creative aspects of the project, such as logo design and formulating the restaurant menus. Working closely with Jon Bon Jovi and the rest of the BPH team to ensure all ideas aligned was a high priority. Kevin’s true diligence in the last few years certainly has not gone unnoticed. His ability to build such a monumental project from the ground up while being an effective team player is very admirable.
Since becoming a part of BPH in 2021, Kevin has welcomed collaboration and explored opportunities to “pursue his interest in business.” A mutual friend introduced him to the Joseph family (founders and owners of BPH) who extended the offer to consult for their music publishing company that was still in the early stages. He received this news a few weeks before moving from Nashville to Los Angeles, and he was all in. With almost 10 years of experience in the music industry as a professional musician, Kevin was then able to continue pursuing his love for music and touring while stepping into the business world at BPH. To further assist with “building out the company,” he utilized his skill set in graphic design to design the studio in Nashville for BPH that would eventually house producers and writers. Due to his involvement in the music industry, he quickly moved up to the family office level to focus on other ventures including investing and operating. “It’s been cool that over the past three years or so to see them [the family] and us [BPH] build out this whole conglomerate of businesses and investments,” explains Kevin.
Outside of BPH, Kevin has always been a musician at his very core. After going through the motions and unable to find true joy in sports, Kevin joined his first band at the age of 12. With musical influences from both of his parents and artists such as Blink-182 and Green Day, he became dedicated to perfecting the art of playing drums. He started touring with artist Jake Miller at 17 years old to set his career in motion. While on tour, his curiosity and eagerness to learn led him to observing photographers while they were editing on Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. He slowly developed the skills for graphic design to which he utilized to build websites, design tour flyers, and merchandise for the bands he was a part of and came in contact with. Present day, Kevin is BPH’s go-to when it comes to managing websites, graphics for social media, and more. “I’ve always been a curious person. I’ve always loved branding, and putting together the pieces and conveying a message,” Kevin explains further.
Kevin plans to continue his dual-career path as a touring musician, songwriter, and producer while networking and building connections with other professionals for BPH. “[While touring] I try to take it as an opportunity to expand our network whether it be meeting new entrepreneurs, or meeting with potential or existing investors,” states Kevin. He is very intentional with his time while on the road, and works tirelessly to “bridge the gap between music and venture.” Kevin has countless upcoming projects on the music front including filming and creating promo with friend and musician Devin Kennedy, and traveling back to China with Jake Miller. As far as business goes, he will be a part of BPH’s active investment with Milk and Honey (music management and sports agency) and exploring the potential of other celebrity-branded bar concepts in Nashville. Throughout his entire life, Kevin has stepped out of his comfort zone and been brave enough to take risks in the music industry and beyond. His determination and enthusiasm to learn and succeed has created a significant ripple effect, and greatly inspired those around him. “Never give up on your dream. There are going to be so many roadblocks and so many things that will tell you to stop…Usually right around your biggest roadblock is a breakthrough.” - Kevin Smart
