Tim Smith knows people.
He counts entertainers and professional athletes among his friends. He rubs elbows with celebrities and politicians on a regular basis.
At the same time, Smith has strong ties to local community life, and counts his Clarkston connections among his favorites.
As director of event operations for Palace Sports and Entertainment, Smith is ‘front man? for most major concerts and athletic events in the Palace of Auburn Hills. He is also liaison to Independence Township government for events at the DTE Energy Music Theater.
Smith works long hours, but enjoys it.
‘You’ve got to be able to endure and withstand a lot of hours,? he said. ‘Once it’s in your blood, you can’t get it out. You have to have a passion to do this for a living.?
Smith started his career at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo. He came to the Palace 14 years ago as director of parking, then was promoted to assistant director of facilities before assuming his current position.
The best part of the job is the people with whom he works and, ‘being in an environment that has so much intensity and variety.?
That variety includes the people who appear at the various Palace-related venues.
‘I’ve met everyone from the President of the United States to The Ghoul,? he said, including Jack Nicholson, Renee Zellweger, Billy Ray Cyrus and Uncle Kracker.
Don’t forget Kid Rock, an area resident Smith knows well enough to call by his real name, Bob Ritchie.
Both are credited with helping the Clarkston Spraypark Committee go over the top with their fundraising drive, with the Palace and the rap star each contributing $30,000 toward the $180,000 project.
Smith said he got to know Ritchie from his concert appearances and the fact that he’s a big sports fan.
‘We just interacted, and there were some common interests,? Smith said. ‘We like riding motorcycles together. He’s turned out to be a good friend.?
The decision to help support the Spraypark came from a friendly conversation.
‘One night we were sitting around chatting, and somehow the topic of the Spraypark came up,? said Smith, who lived in Clarkston for three years and is a former board member with the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce. ‘Suddenly we realized we were both going to be donors, so we decided to get together and do it as a community project as partners.?
Smith got the OK from Palace president Tom Wilson, and that led to a $60,000 check presentation.
Smith played down his involvement, instead giving a lot of credit to Kid Rock and the Spraypark organizers (including the family of Renee Przybylski, to whose memory the facility is dedicated).
‘The money they raised on their own was incredible,? Smith said of the committee. ‘They had a drive and desire to make that happen.?
‘Here’s a guy who travels all over the globe, and gets approached by all kinds of people. For him to sink his interest into that, it’s tremendous,? he said of Kid Rock, noting the irony of the charity act for someone with a ‘bad boy? image. ‘Behind the mask, he’s the real deal.?
Smith recently gained a bit of celebrity status himself, being mentioned in a new book, ‘When Nothing Else Matters? by Washington Post reporter Michael Leahy concerning the ‘final comeback? of Michael Jordan.
Such is the life of someone with close ties to major-league-level athletics and entertainment, but Smith doesn’t take much time to bask in any glory. Indeed, with the championship Detroit Pistons and Detroit Shock under the same roof, the Palace staff’s work is as intense as ever.
The Shock championship ‘heightened our visibility,? he said, and the Nov. 2 Pistons home opener was a ‘global event.? Just as fans watch every move of a defending championship team, others are watching the Palace management closely.
‘You’re under the microscope for everybody,? he said, noting the pressure to always excel. ‘You’re only as good as your last event.?
But Smith seems more energized than ever. He believes Palace Sports and Entertainment is a ‘family-oriented? company, and he views fellow employees with the same camaraderie one likes to see in a championship sports team.
‘When you wake up in the morning, you want to come in here,? he said.