“DJs need to play for free every now and again”: Laurence Guy on how the live music sector could “bounce back quicker”

Laurence Guy has discussed the nightlife industry's current decline, and says that DJs taking on smaller gigs for a smaller fee, perhaps even free, could help the industry "bounce back".

It's no secret live music is struggling. Massive events like Coachella are having trouble selling tickets , and just last week, the government's Autumn Budget is putting 350 grassroots music venues in danger of closing .

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"We're not in a boom time," Guy says. "A lot of small venues are still closing. Really, [DJs] just need to play smaller venues for lower fees, and play big festivals for big fees, and yes, for free every now and again," Guy says in MusicTech's digital cover feature .

Guy is currently in the midst of a North American tour, and as he DJs impressive venues like The Midway in San Francisco and The Hollywood Theater in Vancouver, he is also finding time for smaller sets. For his stop in San Diego, he even DJ 'd at a fan's house.

According to Guy, playing in these non-traditional spaces without an expectation of a fee leads to new fans who will come out and buy a ticket next time.

"In my opinion," Guy says. "It's quite easy for DJs to do that. You can go and play a small club the day after playing a big club. Little things like that keep stuff going, and I think if more people were doing it then we could bounce back quicker."

He adds that smaller venue performances can also establish a deeper connection with fans: "Sometimes I'll go play at a dive bar alongside the main set. You get to meet people that are really interested in the music and make a direct connection... "Someone passed me a note saying one track had helped get them through a certain time in their life."

Guy was one of the many DJs—along with Disclosure, Nia Archives, and Fred Again..—who helped the UK hospitality sector bounce back after COVID by playing a series of pub sets. His favourite is The White Hart in Stoke Newington, and he assures he will play more sets there in 2025.

"You meet loads of people, you can play new music, and it's just fun to DJ in a pub, you know? I want to be playing as many nights of the week as possible to as many people, or as few, as want to listen."