#gdts

Good news: I've finally appealed the flagged posts on this blog so we're officially not a blurrie anymore! You can view it outside of your dashboard now.

Bad news: The theme for this blog is atrocious. It'll be a while before I get around to updating it.

No news: @meninsplits, formerly @gdtsnsfw, is still a blurrie for obvious reasons. Also I'm still not updating this blog very often because I'm still rather busy.

Cheers!

How do I order tickets by mail?

The Grateful Dead Ticket Service (GDTS) is set up for ordering Grateful Dead tickets direct by mail, bypassing the monopolized TicketMaster.

Here's how it works: Basically the Dead have a Spring, Summer, and Fall tour run, as well as New Year's and assorted other concerts (though these are usually in California). Approximately two months before each tour, GDTS will announce on the hotline the shows and their mail order dates. Each tour may be broken up into several different mail order dates for different shows. This fragmentation is done so GDTS can process the thousands of requests over a period of time. Typically, the hotline message will be four days before the actual mail order date, meaning you have four days to get your order (and money!) together. For Spring Tour 1993, part I was announced on December 23, and the mail order date was December 28, 1992; Part II was announced December 23, with its mail order date January 11, 1993.

[Note: For 1993's Spring Tour, the m.o. instructions included a non-standard request, that being the placement of "Spring Tour Part I" or "Spring Tour Part II" after GDTS in the address that you send the m.o. too. Since it's not standard, its not included in the following examples. If it becomes a standard practice I'll update it then.]

GDTS mail orders are processed on a first come, first served basis by the date your order was POSTMARKED. However, if there are more postmarked orders for the first mail order date than tickets, GDTS will collect all those ticket orders and employ a random selection process for filling orders. The key here is to get your mail order postmarked on the first day of mail order for the show you want. For example, if the mail order date is December 28, go to your post office and have a postal employee hand postmark your order on that day. Remember: it's illegal for the post office to postmark any date other than the current day.

The instructions for mail order are described below. I cannot stress enough to EXACTLY follow the instructions: if your order is wrong in any way, you WON'T get your tickets, unless someone at GDTS is feeling charitable that day.

Example: Joe Deadhead wants to order two tickets to all shows for the Knickerbocker in Albany, New York. The spring dates are for March 27, 28, and 29.

Items needed:

Two #10 envelopes (a #10 envelope is otherwise known as a legal-size business envelope, and measures approx. 4-1/4" x 9-1/2", why its called a #10 is apparently a mystery.)

One 3x5 Index Card.

At least one US Postal or American Express Money Orders.

At least two US Stamps= $0.32/per

Inner #10 envelope addressed to you

This is the envelope that your tickets will be mailed back to you in. Do not put any information on the outside of this envelope other than your name and the address your tickets are to be mailed to, and the necessary postage.

Outer #10 envelope, addressed to GDTS

Inside the #10 envelope:

3x5 Index card

Money order for tickets [and registered mail fee]

#10 return envelope for tickets

Please include your name, return address, the dates and # of tickets for each on the OUTSIDE of your order. The address to send your order to is:

Grateful Dead Ticket Sales - Name of Concert P.O. Box C-S 8190 (x is usually a 5 or a 9; here it is a 9) San Rafael, CA 94912

this address occasionally changes, always confirm it before ordering, by calling the mail order hotline (415) 457-8457.

Example #10 outer envelope:

Joe Deadhead (Postage Stamp) 12345 Terrapin Way Big River, TN 01812 Grateful Dead Ticket Sales - Knickerbocker [2-3/27, 2-3/28, 2-3/29] P.O. Box C-S 8190 San Rafael, CA 94912

Index Card

A 3x5 index card-NOT PAPER!-, any other size will not fit in our files and may get lost. On this 3x5 card, write in the upper left hand corner:

Your FULL NAME Your Address Your Area Code and Phone Number Work number (optional)

In the middle of the card, put how many for which date. Put your ticket request by preference:

if you want tapers tickets make sure to write TAPER next to you request

Specify GENERAL ADMISSION or RESERVED SEATING if this option is available, or;

ANYTHING AVAILABLE- as your last preference is the best way to ensure that you get something instead of nothing.

Example 3x5 Index card:

Joe Deadhead 12345 Terrapin Way Big River, TN 01812 H - (325) 458-0989 W - (325) 466-0954 Albany 3/27 - 2 tickets @ 27.50 = $ 55.00 Albany 3/28 - 2 tickets @ 27.50 = $ 55.00 Albany 3/29 - 2 tickets @ 27.50 = $ 55.00 (TAPER/GA/RES/ANYTHING AVAILABLE) registered mail = $ 6.75 -------- $171.75 enclosed

Note that if you don't want to be so verbose that it is OK to just specify the tickets and preferences and not the math part.

Payment

Total up all your tickets. GDTS recommends you have your tickets sent back via registered mail. GDTS will take care of the registered mail: all you need to do is include the registered mail cost of $6.75 in your money order.

GDTS will ONLY accept either a US POST OFFICE or AMERICAN EXPRESS money order. NO OTHER MONEY ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!

Make payable to: GRATEFUL DEAD TICKET SALES-CONCERT NAME for the exact amount. Make sure your name and address are on the money order. Keep your receipt!! If your order is not filled, your payment will be returned to you.

No personal checks or cash EVER!!

Note that the total amount on the postal money order MUST BE EXACT! Since the ticket office may receive more requests than there are tickets, correct requests will be processed first, and you may miss out. Numerous rejections have occurred due to errors like incorrect dollar amount, no stamps, etc.

Example

Joe wants two tickets to each Albany show, and each Albany ticket is $27.50. The registered mail fee is $6.75.

Payment = ( 6 tickets * $27.50 ) + ( 6.75 Registered Mail fee ) = 165.00 + 6.75 = 171.75

Make out money order to GRATEFUL DEAD TICKET SALES - ALBANY for $171.75, with Joe's name and address. Joe keeps the receipt.