He sold out a DJ set in a California state park: Here's how Chris Lake made it happen

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Set us as preferred Chris Lake doesn’t consider himself to be a “money-minded person.” But if there’s one thing the British DJ has learned about being an independent artist, it’s that touring is “a really good way to spend a lot of money.”“The truth is I’ll only look at the final [cost], because if I start getting into the weeds of all the numbers, my eyes start going like this,” said Lake, imitating his eyes rolling back during a recent Zoom call.“It all depends on if the number’s black or red.”Lake recently ended his string of open-air summer concerts, where he transformed spots like the underbelly of a New York bridge, Chicago’s Navy Pier and L.A.

State Historic Park into sites of flashing lights, booming bass and countless sweaty bodies.With over 20 years of DJing under his belt, the Grammy-nominated artist said even though it’s rare for him to see a bleeding tour budget sheet, live shows are almost always worth the splurge.Touring is what keeps him and most other performing musicians afloat.

In today’s music industry, when artists aren’t reaping the full benefits of the recording economy because of streaming platforms, the live experience is as vital as ever.“If you’re an artist and you’ve got a recording business, it’s probably upside down,” said Lake, who runs his own label, Black Book Records.

“You have to make your touring business work financially, or you’re f—d.” Music With DTLA’s post-pandemic troubles amid a boom in dance music, Origin’s founders hope the scene can help again.But that doesn’t make it any less pricey, especially as an artist not backed by a major label.Touring presents a unique opportunity for musicians as it’s both a way to gain significant exposure and take a big financial risk — and still it doesn’t guarantee a sizable profit.“...