Ep. 75: He Ignored the Experts—and Built America's #1 Party Band | Dennis Smith

Summary

🎙️ Interesting Humans Podcast Ep. 75: He Ignored the Experts—and Built America's #1 Party Band | Dennis Smith
Host: Jeff Hopeck
Date: June 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features Dennis Smith, founding member and bandleader of the renowned "Party on the Moon" Band, celebrated as America's number one party band. Host Jeff Hopeck—former Secret Service officer—invites Dennis to share his unconventional journey, lessons learned, and leadership philosophies in a format built around four core questions: his personal journey, the best advice received, his biggest mistake, and the life lessons he most wants to pass on. The episode’s theme centers on the creative process, collaboration, risk-taking, and the importance of separating one’s identity from one’s work.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dennis Smith's Unconventional Journey (02:28-07:15)

• Early Inspiration

  • At age 11, Dennis was captivated by hearing a neighborhood rock band in rehearsal, witnessing firsthand the creative collaborative process.
  • He describes how this formative experience—seeing a band break down a record and strive collectively towards a unified sound—ignited his passion for collaboration and music-making.

• Turning Passion Into Profession

  • He started young as a drummer, later moving to guitar, forming bands, and even signing record and publishing deals—without ever becoming a typical "rock star."
  • Eventually, Dennis resolved to assemble the best event and party band possible, ignoring industry experts who warned “14-piece bands don’t make it.”
  • Quote:
    “Everybody said, ‘no, you're crazy. 14 piece bands don't make it. They're not going to be a thing.’ And you took that advice, but you didn't completely listen to it. You went your own way and forged something that is so special and so unique.”
    — Jeff Hopeck (01:44)

• Defining the Mission

  • The power of collective collaboration was Dennis’s core motivation—“the power of the collective collaboration”—versus any single musical goal.
  • Quote:
    “What attracted me musically, I thought it was great. But the biggest thing…was the power of the collective collaboration… I was seeing the creative process unfold in real time.”
    — Dennis Smith (05:19)

2. The Best Piece of Advice (07:15-11:57)

• Learning From Robert Fritz
  • A friend recommended Robert Fritz’s book, The Path of Least Resistance, centering on understanding the creative process as a concrete skill—not just a mindset.
  • Experiencing Fritz’s workshop was a game changer; Dennis learned to use structures (current reality vs. vision) to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to go.
  • Quote:
    “To create was a skill—not a mindset or a belief system. It was a skill, right?... I could take the same concepts and create my relationships, money, work, family. And it just, it changed everything.”
    — Dennis Smith (08:50)
• The Tension-Resolution System
  • Uses golf as a metaphor: the vision (the hole), the current reality (the ball’s position), and all actions to resolve that tension, paralleling the creative process.

3. Biggest Mistake or Regret (11:58-13:24)

• Separating Work From Identity
  • Dennis’s biggest regret: not learning sooner that what one creates does not define who they are.
  • Quote:
    “What we create is separate from what it says about us. It's not about our identity… I'm the same person before we created Party on the Moon than I am now.”
    — Dennis Smith (12:10)
  • This belief, learned through Fritz, freed him from seeking outside approval, allowing him to take more creative risks.

4. Life Lesson & Philosophy (13:24-20:36)

• Personal Freedom
  • Dennis’s highest value is personal freedom—the right to think and act independently, not tethered to others’ opinions.
  • Quote:
    “It's none of my business what you think of me. Because in reality, I have no control over what you think of me.”
    — Dennis Smith (14:20)
• Notable Teaching Moment
  • Dennis shares an anecdote mentoring a high school marching band collaborating with his group. He transforms the students' anxiety about audience judgment by reminding them they can’t control others’ opinions—so they might as well perform for themselves.
  • Quote:
    “You have no control over what people think of you. You don't get a vote. So if you don't have control what people think of you, then why would you want to try to do anything to make them like you?...Which means that you can just be yourself.”
    — Dennis Smith (16:49)
  • The story’s impact: the students' orientation “flipped,” and they gave a show-stopping performance—returning year after year, even after graduation, noting it was the best advice they’d received.
• Intrinsic Motivation in Creating
  • Dennis only commits to projects he would do regardless of success or external reward, focusing on “creating for its own sake.”
  • Quote:
    “If I was not gonna be a success, and if it was not gonna bring in income, would I still want to do it?... I'm creating art for art's sake.”
    — Dennis Smith (19:50)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creative Collaboration:
  “The thing that attracted to me musically…I watched them do this and it just blew me away…they were taking action steps, working together in harmony for the same goal.”
  — Dennis Smith (04:13)
• On Learning the Creative Process Is a Skill:
  “To create was a skill, not a mindset or a belief system. It was a skill, right?”
  — Dennis Smith (08:38)
• On Performance Anxiety:
  “Are you worried that people are going to like you?...let me tell you something, I said. And I told him this story. I said, you have no control over what people think of you.”
  — Dennis Smith (16:45)
• On Personal Freedom and Approval:
  “It's none of my business what you think of me... My preference would be that you would like me...but I don't get a vote.”
  — Dennis Smith (14:20-14:46)
• On Motivation:
  “Would I still want to do it? And if I can answer yes, then I'm on the right track because I don't have anything up my sleeve. I'm creating art for art's sake. I'm creating for its own sake.”
  — Dennis Smith (19:55)

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Important Timestamps

• Dennis’s early musical awakening: 02:28 – 06:00
• Discovering creative process through Robert Fritz: 07:27 – 11:57
• On separating identity from creation: 11:58 – 13:24
• High school band mentorship story: 15:45 – 19:18
• Discussion on intrinsic motivation: 19:21 – 20:36

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Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is honest, reflective, and deeply encouraging. Dennis’s humility and curiosity shine as he shares lessons on creativity, leadership, and being true to oneself. He offers invaluable guidance: free yourself from the need for approval; focus on process over outcome; seek collaboration; and pursue projects for their inherent meaning—not external validation.

If you’re a creative, a leader, or anyone navigating risk and self-doubt, Dennis Smith’s insights will inspire you to “play your ass off” and create boldly, regardless of what others may think.

Transcript

[A]

This is Interesting Humans podcast. My name is Jeff Hopeck, your host. Where we go past the highlight reel and into the moments that actually shape a life. The struggles, the mistakes, the pivots. Because the real lessons aren't found in success. They're found in everything it took to get there.

[B]

Hi, everyone.

[A]

I'm Jeff Hopeck, your host. Quick note before we get started this. This episode originally aired on my former podcast called 20 Minute MBA where I interviewed high level operators using the same four question format. Now I'm bringing the best of those conversations into Interesting Humans podcast as bonus episodes. So everything lives in one place. Today's guest is Dennis Smith, the founding member and bandleader of America's number one corporate and private party band. And what he's learned about leadership, performance and building something people just cannot stop talking about. Let's dive in. All right, folks, welcome to another episode here. I've Dennis Smith with me today, original founder of Party on the Moon Band. Amongst so many other cool things we're going to talk about today. It's a podcast where I ask the same four questions to people out there just doing incredible stuff in the business world. So the first is for five minutes, unpack your journey. We always think it's linear, but it's got a lot of. Lot of ins and out twists and turns. Second question, single best piece of advice you ever got. Third question, what is the biggest mistake you ever made? And then lastly, I want to hear from you, Dennis. What is the life lesson that you want to pass along? So I'm going to try to do this justice because it's true, truly remarkable what you built. And I'll never forget you explaining how everybody said, no, you're crazy. 14 piece bands don't make it. They're not going to be a thing. And. And you took that advice, but you didn't completely listen to it. You went your own way and forged something that is so special and so unique. And you mentioned you're playing with Kenny Chesney, you've played in front of and with Blake Shelton, and the list goes on and on and on. So I just. Brooks and Dunn, I think you said too, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just incredible. So let's get right into it. What was that journey like for you?

[B]

You know, When I was 11, when I was 11 years old, I was riding my bicycle in my neighborhood and I heard in the distance a rock band. First time I'd ever heard. I'd never been to a rock concert. I'd only heard electric guitars and drums on tv. Okay. And I'm hearing this sound and I'm drawn to it like a. Like a moth to flame. So I drive up to the house, I knock on the door, I wait for the music to stop. I knock on the door and a teenager comes to the door. He's 16 or 17. And I said, can I come in and listen? You know, he's looking down at me and he said, sure, you can. So I come in, I sit down, and in the room, it's probably about the size of this studio, is two guitar players, a bass player, a drummer and a singer. And they've got electric guitars and amps and drums. And I was blown away. And what they were doing was, they were doing, I think, a Yardbird song. And they put the record on the little 45 and they sat around the room and they listened to it, Right? And then they chatted about it for a second. Well, you know, I think that's an E chord or, you know, check out the way they went into the bridge. And so I'm watching this, right? And then they played it and it got closer to the vision that they were trying to create, which they wanted to sound it. They wanted to sound like the record.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And so I watched them do this and it just blew me away. And the thing about it, that looking back on it right now, what I realized is I was seeing the creative process unfold in front of me in the real time. That they had current reality, which was the record, and they had their vision of what they wanted it to sound like and they were taking action steps, working together in harmony for the same goal.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And at the end of the rehearsal, the, the band leader says, well, you know, I want you to be here Friday. You got to be here Friday night at six o'. Clock. Dad's going to load up all the equipment in the pickup truck. He's going to take us down to the high school gym and we'll be ready to play after the football game. And the pay is, I can't remember, 150 bucks, whatever it was. Now I'm watching all this as an 11 year old going, hol, man, what is this? And the thing that attracted to me musically, I thought it was great. But the biggest thing that attracted me about it was the power of the collective collaboration. You know, when Christ said this, where two or more are gathered, Right. I mean, you see it all through everything, but I was seeing it in real time. Yeah. Wow. So I left there and I decided two things. I wanted to do that, right. And it could have Been, you know, working on cars, or it could have been woodworking. But what I wanted was that experience and that. That creative power. So when I left there, I went, I want to learn how to do this. So I want to learn the creative process. I want to figure this out, and I want to create something of value. Because what these guys did was they worked together and they created something that was valuable enough for people to pay

[A]

them to pay to see it.

[B]

I went, wow, really, dude? Wow, this is great. So I started playing in a band. I started as a drummer, then I switched to guitar, and then I started a band. And I had record deals and publishing deals and, you know, none of that. You know, I didn't become a rock star. And then I decided that I was going to put together the best party event band in the world. And everybody, as you said, said, it's a bad idea, but I used those. So I'm doing now what I saw those guys did when I was 11, which is I gathered a group of people together and we all wanted the same thing. We all agreed that we wanted the same thing. And I lead the band. I decide what it's going to be. Of course, I take input. And so I learned how to create and I learned how to work together with people. And that was. That was. So I'm here and I'm really. I feel really fortunate that that one event opened up a whole new world for me that up until that time, did not exist.

[A]

Advice. So you've had all these business ups and downs through the years learning. I would imagine you've had incredible advice and not so good advice. What do you think is the best piece of advice you ever got?

[B]

The best piece of advice I ever got was a good friend of mine recommended me, recommended that I read this book, said, I want you to read this book because I've always been about learning and exploring and everything. And he said, I want you to read this book by a guy named Robert Fritz. The name of the book is Path of the Path of Least Resistance. Sure, I'll read the Path. So I read it and I was blown away because what it was about was how the. It was about how the creative process works and developing the skill of the creative process. Right? And using current reality and vision and how to navigate that structure. Okay? So his concept is all around structure, you know, when structure gives rise to behavior. But structure is the thing, whether it's a movie or a piece of music or photography. These guys are master structuralists, the people that are good at it. And So I read the book and then I saw that he gave that he had a creating workshop that was like five weeks, one day a week. So I said, well, I'm going to take this. I mean, this is going to help my music a lot. Yeah, right, for sure. So I took the course and it was a game changer for me because what I. Because what I learned was, is that to create was a skill, not a mindset or a belief system. It was a skill, right? But so I went into it thinking, well, I'm going to learn about music because Robert's background, he's a composer, he's a film, he's a filmmaker, he's a world renowned author. But what I learned was, is I could take the same concepts and create my relationships, money, work, family. And it just, it changed everything, right? And what I. And the basics of it are, you've got the vision and you've got current reality as relates to that vision. You know, like let's say I weigh 200 pounds, that's what I weigh. And I want to weigh 150. That creates a tension, right? And it's physics, it's not belief. There's a difference between where you are and where you want to go. That sets up a tension resolution system, right? And Carson and I, my son, were playing golf the other day, right? And people are attracted to structure. Like great movies, right? Great music, and the masters know how to structure. And that's what I was learning. And Carson and I went golfing the other day and I said, you know the thing about golf that's so great? It's the ultimate tension resolution system at play right? Now. Think about it. You're on the tee, your vision is to go 400 yards, whatever it is, and you're taking action. Yeah, right. And you hit over here. So now current reality has changed. You're closer than you were, hopefully you were. Sometimes you're farther away, in my case, and you develop your skill and then you put the ball in and that's the resolution of the tension. It's almost like if I took a rubber band, it resolved itself and then we go to hole number two, and now we do the same thing. The biggest mistake I ever. Well, it wasn't my biggest mistake. Regret was, I wish that I had learned earlier how to separate. Not how to separate, but the truth that what I created is not a reflection of who I am. They're totally different.

[A]

You mean music wise?

[B]

Anything, anything. What we create is separate from what it says about us. It's not about our identity.

[A]

Wow. Okay.

[B]

Right. So when I create something, I'm the same person before we created Party on the moon than I am now. I'm still the same person. Right. I'm still the same person before I created this house.

[A]

Sure. How'd you learn that?

[B]

I learned it. It was part of Robert Fritz work. Right. Because we are separate from. We're separate from what we create.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

It's a powerful thing because what held me back was I was looking for approval from others.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely.

[B]

How do I look? Right. And when I took up golf, and I didn't take up golf until the kids were born, I knew I was going to suck. You're going to learn how to play golf. You're going to suck, man. I mean, I've never seen anybody, but I was okay with that because I knew that it wasn't about me. Right now. How many people will not do something brand new because they want to look good?

[A]

Oh, this is so helpful. Wow.

[B]

You see what I'm saying?

[A]

Helpful for me.

[B]

So I wish that I would have learned that because I would have taken a lot more chances.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Not. Not in a reckless way.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But I would have done a lot more. I would have done a lot more creating. So the number one lesson that I would would pass along is my highest value is personal freedom, that people are free to think and do what they want. And I don't give you that freedom. You already have it. Right. So as one of my teachers says, said to me, it's none of my business what you think of me now. Think about what I just said, it's none of my business what you think of me. Because in reality, I have no control over what you think of Think about me. My preference would be is that you would like me and, you know, people would like the band and people would want to work with me, but I don't get a vote. So I'm going to give you an example of how I work with this in real time. Because what I'm doing now in my work is I like to work with communities and companies on utilizing artists from that community in the. Work with us in the show. So we did a. We do a show. We do this show every year. And I started doing this probably eight years ago, nine years ago, where the first artist that we brought in was a high school marching band. Okay. From Kingsport, Tennessee. They just won the national marching band championship. I said, why don't we bring them in and let them be part of the show? Yeah, this would be cool. So we got 2,500 people in a conference center ballroom for the Chamber of Commerce. The doors swing open, and out of two doors come 120 marching band drummers. So we go to work. So I reach out to the. I reach out to the band director. I said, we're going to sound check at 2 o'. Clock. So have everybody there at 2 o'. Clock. And then we did a walkthrough. And they were going to march in, playing. They were going to go in front of the stage on the dance floor, and they were going to do two segments of music that were going to be about two or three minutes long, very short. And then they were going to play We Will Rock youk. And we were going to start and they were going to march out while we're playing and we were going to finish the song. That's how we were going to transition. So we went through the walkthrough. Right now, this is High School, 8th graders to 12th graders. And they'd never played with a rock group. And I could see it in their eyes. They were scared to death. Right. They were playing like this, you know, and you could just see they were terrified. So we went through the first run through and I gathered them all around. Right, right. And I said, how many of you are worried? Just about every hand went up. And the people that didn't raise their hand wanted to raise their hand. They just didn't want to let anybody know that they were worried. I said, are you worried that people are going to like you? So let me tell you something, I said. And I told him this story. I said, you have no control over what people think of you. You don't get a vote. So if you don't have control what people think of you, then why would you want to try to do anything to make them like you? Wow. Which means that you can just be yourself.

[A]

Sure. Special.

[B]

So this is what I want you to do. I want you to. Now that we know that you have no control over what they think. And let me also say that people, for the most part, I think, are predisposed to like you. I mean, I wouldn't say, jeff, let's go down to the bar, Maybe the band will suck. Yeah, we would never say that. I mean, we're going to show up. We want the band to be good.

[A]

Right.

[B]

People want to come to this party and they want to have a good time. So, you know they're already on your side.

[A]

Yeah, already on your side.

[B]

And I said, so what I want us to do is Run this again. And I want you to play that drum like it's the last friggin time you're ever gonna play this drum with a smile on your face and kick these people's face off. Yeah. And I'll tell you, when they did that walkthrough again, it was like their total orientation, their orientation toward what they were doing flipped.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Because they were in a different structure. They were. This is what. Where we are, this is what we want to do. Doesn't matter what people think. This is us. And they blew that room away. And they. And here's the thing, we've done it every year with them since. I mean, we've done it so long now that some of the kids that were in the band now are guests. And I've had them come and I've had them come up to me and say, that was the greatest advice I ever got. Really?

[A]

Wow, that's awesome.

[B]

So this is the thing that I think when I set out to create a project or do something to do this with you, I asked myself this question. If I was not gonna. If it was not gonna be a success and if it was not gonna bring in income, would I still want to do it? Now, that doesn't mean that we don't do things to work.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But if I was gonna do. If I was gonna take on this project, like Elm of the Christmas Play.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Would I still want to do it? And if I can answer yes, then I'm on the right track because I don't have anything up my sleeve. I'm creating art for art's sake. I'm creating for its own sake. We don't. I know you were telling me that you're coaching your kids baseball. You don't do that because you want payback. Right. It's clean. It's intention. Like when Christ said, when you give with your right hand, don't let your left hand know what the right's doing. That was what I was telling these kids. Play your ass off. Don't worry about what you're gonna get.

[A]

That's so cool. Thanks, man. I appreciate it. It's an awesome, awesome segment. Great nuggets. Some of them have helped me. I can't wait to go home and tell my kids. So thank you.

[B]

Keep up the work you're doing.

[A]

I appreciate it.

[B]

Yeah, thanks for taking time.