Daily Inspiration: Meet Russ (SmoreKC) Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Russ (SmoreKC) Hill.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
First and foremost, I’m a lifelong music lover and enthusiast. I played tuba in my high school marching band, and my closest friends were the theater and band kids. After school, we’d hang out and talk about the bands we were getting into — everything from Metallica and The Offspring to Korn, Pantera, ICP, and Eminem. It was all over the place, and I loved every bit of it. I also played guitar and was fascinated by big, heavy riffs.

Over the years, I was in a few bands, did some touring, and had the incredible opportunity to open for artists I really admired. But as time went on, life happened — I became a father and needed to stay closer to home. Money was tight, and keeping up with gear and travel wasn’t possible anymore. Eventually, I sold off most of my equipment and put that dream on pause.

Even though I couldn’t perform like before, I never lost my love for music. I started looking for new ways to stay connected to the scene — ways that would fit my new reality. I threw myself into learning: reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching YouTube videos about music production, running a venue, even owning a bar. I started dreaming again, making wishlists, and preparing, just in case an opportunity ever came along.

To stay close to the music world, I also took a job at Musician’s Friend, a music equipment supplier. I figured if I couldn’t be on stage, at least I could still be surrounded by music in some way.

Then, in 2022, the opportunity I had been waiting for finally arrived. My wife at the time and I were running a pop-up bookstore called Read Queer Books during the Third Friday Art Walks in the Englewood Arts District. Missouri was passing a wave of book ban laws, and my wife was determined to make sure people still had access to important queer stories and information. Through the bookstore, we got to know the local arts community, and someone mentioned that a new art center was being developed — with plans for a performing arts space that would host live music, drag shows, theater, and more.

I asked if there was any way I could help — and to my amazement, they gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I got to help plan and build an 80-person music and performance venue in Independence, Missouri, called Englewood Arts.

For the past two years, we’ve hosted live music, theater productions, drag shows, puppet performances, dance recitals, music ensembles, spoken word, poetry slams — you name it. So many wonderful parts of our community have come together to support the center and share their love for art, music, and connection.

Through this experience, I’ve fallen completely in love with being part of a community that values creativity and connection. It’s something I never really had growing up — I used to be a hardcore introvert who didn’t even like going outside! (Seriously — I laugh about it now.)

Building this space, and seeing people find joy, meaning, and expression there, has been one of the greatest gifts of my life!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges of working with a nonprofit is the lack of consistent funding. We don’t always have the resources to buy the newest or best equipment, or to bring in high-profile artists and big experiences. But we make do with what we have, and we do the best we can to create something meaningful and memorable for our community.

Another major challenge is promotion and marketing. We don’t have big budgets for advertising, and getting large turnouts in Independence is especially hard. Most of the major venues and audiences are based in Kansas City, and we’re constantly competing for attention against bigger, more established places. It’s tough, but we focus on building strong local connections and making each show count.

Even with all these hurdles, I believe in what we’re doing. It’s about heart, community, and perseverance — not just shiny equipment or big budgets. And honestly, sometimes the scrappiness makes the wins feel even sweeter.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, we’re doing shows about one or two nights a week at Englewood Arts. It’s not enough to be a full-time job yet, so I also work another job to help pay the bills — with the dream that one day, I’ll be able to transition into running the venue full-time.

I think what really sets me apart from a lot of other audio engineers or venues is the way I approach the artists and their experience. Having toured myself, I know what it’s like to play at places where the staff didn’t really care who you were or what you were doing — they just cared about how much alcohol they could sell. That kind of treatment always stuck with me.

So I flipped the script. My focus is on taking care of the artists: making sure it sounds great, looks great, and feels great for them. We want to give performers a real stage, a real audience — people who show up because they care about the music, the theater, the art. Not just people who happened to be there for a drink or a game on TV.

For me, it’s about people, not profit. I’m not trying to be a big mover-and-shaker or a high-dollar money maker. I just want to be known as someone genuine — someone who’s passionate about creating spaces where artists feel seen, heard, and connected when they’re up there being vulnerable and sharing their craft with the world.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me are kindness, compassion, and empathy — both in life and in the work I do. I believe that creating and expressing yourself through art is one of the most powerful ways people can connect, heal, and be truly seen.

Art gives people a voice when words aren’t enough. It builds community, it tells stories, and it brings people together across every kind of divide. That’s why I’m so passionate about making sure artists and performers have a space where they feel supported, valued, and free to share their craft without judgment.

At the end of the day, it’s about creating an environment where people can show up as their full selves — whether they’re on stage or in the audience — and feel like they belong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.englewoodarts.art
• Instagram: Englewood.arts
• Facebook: Englewoodart