In this episode, Matt sits down with Jesse Lauter, Head of Production & Media at Dayglo Presents, the team behind iconic venues like Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre, to talk about launching new spaces in a challenging economic climate and why live music is still one of the most human experiences we have.
From transforming historic buildings like Stable Hall into world-class venues, to navigating shifting consumer behavior and industry headwinds, Jesse shares a deeply grounded perspective on what it means to create spaces for connection, culture, and community.
Episode Timestamps:
(02:00) · What Is Stable Hall? Origins & The Pearl Jesse explains how Dayglo got involved with Stable Hall, introduces Peter Shapiro and Dayglo’s ecosystem, and describes the Pearl District’s brewery history and redevelopment.
(10:40) · Why Build Venues Now? Mission Over Money Discussion of economic headwinds, why Dayglo is still opening and partnering on new rooms, and Jesse’s view of live music as sacred, community‑building, and rooted in the Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia ethos.
(19:20) · Cracking the Texas Market: Strategy & Team How Dayglo is approaching Texas: working with Jason Adams/Outback, bringing in Hannah Gold (Newport Folk/Jazz, Luck Reunion), Stable’s independent status, and co‑promoter relationships.
(24:40) · Tech Stack Shout‑Out: Using Prism & Insights Jesse on why calendar visibility and clean UI matter when running multiple rooms, how Prism is used internally, and how Insights’ real‑time ticketing/financial dashboards drive marketing and booking decisions.
(30:40) · From Production to Dayglo & The Pussy Riot Sessions Transition into his role as Dayglo’s Head of Production, long‑term connection to Shapiro’s world, and the story of recording two unreleased Pussy Riot tracks with Lenny K (Patti Smith Group) and keeping a custom mask.
(37:25) · Economy, Sober Trends & F&B Shifts Jesse’s energetic read on the economy, pressures on fans, declining alcohol sales, rise of sobriety, and experimenting with non‑alcoholic options and THC beverages across Dayglo venues.
(40:40) · AI, Jobs & Why Live Music Is “Safe” Big‑picture talk on AI’s impact on white‑collar work, fears around AI‑generated music, and why Jesse believes live human performance and venues are among the few things that can’t be automated away.
(42:30) · Spiritual Stakes of Live Music & The Mind of Peter Shapiro Jesse and Matt frame live music as spiritual work, not just business; they connect it to broader societal well‑being and describe Dayglo as essentially “the mind of Peter Shapiro” made physical.
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