I just want to see the Dead

[WI inferiority Complexes]

So, the Grateful Dead are playing their "last" show ever over the July 4th weekend at Soldier Field.  Demand for tickets is absolutely insane, and I have a sinking feeling scalpers, brokers, etc. are going to snatch up all the tickets when they go on sale February 28. I've seen this stupid band over 60 times, and really just want to go one last time, (especially since it's 15 miles from my house).

Any suggestions for how to better your odds at getting a ticket from TicketMaster?

[jesmu84]

So, the Grateful Dead are playing their "last" show ever over the July 4th weekend at Soldier Field.  Demand for tickets is absolutely insane, and I have a sinking feeling scalpers, brokers, etc. are going to snatch up all the tickets when they go on sale February 28. I've seen this stupid band over 60 times, and really just want to go one last time, (especially since it's 15 miles from my house).

Any suggestions for how to better your odds at getting a ticket from TicketMaster?

Eh... if Ticketmaster is selling, you better believe >75% of the tickets will already have been spoken for before the public sale. Best bet is to know somebody. Hopefully a scoop member knows someone

[reinko]

Just show up the day of the show, and trade some magic beans or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the first white dude with dreads you see.

[brandx]

Watch an old video with Garcia and save yourself some money..

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Those shows will be awful. Phil Lesh looks like John Wooden up there and Weir recently passed out ON STAGE! during a Ratdog performance. Not to mention, the poser fans there will be unbearable.

If you truly love the Grateful Dead do yourself a favor and go see Dark Star Orchestra. They're incredible.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Eh... if Ticketmaster is selling, you better believe >75% of the tickets will already have been spoken for before the public sale. Best bet is to know somebody. Hopefully a scoop member knows someone

First round for the public was sending in the index cards and money orders a month ago, the old school way to take care of their most loyal Dead Heads (or at least try).  The post offices and their mail boxes were overflowing downtown Chicago. The civil servants were not too happy having to work. Anything left via TM will be garbage.

[Skatastrophy]

https://www.youtube.com/v/6ss-i2VgcPw

[GGGG]

Those shows will be awful. Phil Lesh looks like John Wooden up there and Weir recently passed out ON STAGE! during a Ratdog performance. Not to mention, the poser fans there will be unbearable.

If you truly love the Grateful Dead do yourself a favor and go see Dark Star Orchestra. They're incredible.

Yeah, I saw the Dead back in the late 80s at Alpine Valley.  (Quite the experience.)  They were pretty good then, but you could see how it could get ugly.  Also, I'm not sure their act is great for a stadium show either.

[Spotcheck Billy]

It will probably booted as much as the Led Zep O2 show was, save yourself the grief and download the best AUD video from lossless legs the next day

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Like the Bruce Wills movie The Sixth Sense?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Those shows will be awful. Phil Lesh looks like John Wooden up there and Weir recently passed out ON STAGE! during a Ratdog performance. Not to mention, the poser fans there will be unbearable.

If you truly love the Grateful Dead do yourself a favor and go see Dark Star Orchestra. They're incredible.

I've seen the DSO a bunch.  I remember where you could get a $5 ticket for two drinks and the show at The Rave.

I'm not expecting to see quality; I'd still really like to go.

[GooooMarquette]

Couldn't you just call Lazar?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

First round for the public was sending in the index cards and money orders a month ago, the old school way to take care of their most loyal Dead Heads (or at least try).

I tried mail order, and know at least a dozen or so others that tried; I don't know anybody that received tickets that way.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Also, I'm not sure their act is great for a stadium show either.

They're at their best in a stadium, (IMO).  They always ended their summer tour at Soldier Field, (I still have my, "Once again, the summer ends on LSD" T-shirt).  Many of my favorite memories are seeing the Dead at (old) Soldier Field.

[Blackhat]

do yourself a favor and go see Dark Star Orchestra and bring pot.  They're incredible.

FIFY. Without the pot it's debatable.

[swoopem]

Those shows will be awful. Phil Lesh looks like John Wooden up there and Weir recently passed out ON STAGE! during a Ratdog performance. Not to mention, the poser fans there will be unbearable.

If you truly love the Grateful Dead do yourself a favor and go see Dark Star Orchestra. They're incredible.

The Bob pass out was almost a year ago, he's fine now. And you're right that DSO is a great show. I've seen them a bunch, most recently in Chicago on February 6th where they played a nice 1976 show.

To the OP's question. My plan (and I'm sure everyone else's) is to have all my friends sitting at their computer and refreshing it like crazy come 10:00am on Feb 28th. With a large group attempting to do so one of us has got to get in. Once in buy as many tickets as they'll allow. I've been worrying about this for a while now, but I have a feeling it'll all work out.

[swoopem]

Actually the best Dead tribute band to see these days is Joe Russo's Almost Dead. They're blowing up and it's very well deserved

[BobWildLoyalist]

Swoopem is right, Joe Russo's Almost Dead (JRAD) is the best Dead cover project going right now. As far as tickets go...everyone is in the same boat with the gen pop on sale date 2/28. I am plan on having multiple devices qued up and ready to buy as many tickets as they will allow, if I get through. I am ready and willing to spend as much as it takes to attend these shows. I love the dead and never had a chance to see Jer. I will Andy Dufresne it in there if I have to!

[WI inferiority Complexes]

To the OP's question. My plan (and I'm sure everyone else's) is to have all my friends sitting at their computer and refreshing it like crazy come 10:00am on Feb 28th. With a large group attempting to do so one of us has got to get in. Once in buy as many tickets as they'll allow. I've been worrying about this for a while now, but I have a feeling it'll all work out.

. I am plan on having multiple devices qued up and ready to buy as many tickets as they will allow, if I get through.

If you guys could do me a solid and tell all your friends to wait until noon-ish to try to get tickets, I'd really appreciate it.

[keefe]

Couldn't you just call Lazar?

[Dr. Blackheart]

I tried mail order, and know at least a dozen or so others that tried; I don't know anybody that received tickets that way.

No one has despite the stated deadline. You are still alive. My guess you are still alive, and they are looking to add more shows. Hotel rooms now over $500 a night.

[Sheriff]

They're at their best in a stadium, (IMO).  They always ended their summer tour at Soldier Field, (I still have my, "Once again, the summer ends on LSD" T-shirt).  Many of my favorite memories are seeing the Dead at (old) Soldier Field.

On the other hand, the shows at the Uptown and Riviera in Chicago in the mid 1970's were most memorable to me.  Smoke filled theaters filled to the rafters replete with maidens in peasant dresses twirling and spinning in the aisles.

[swoopem]

If you were one of the hundreds of thousands who missed out on buying tickets this past Saturday you may be interested in attending this

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/124245/Dear-Jerry-Concert-To-Celebrate-Music-Of-Jerry-Garcia

The lineup is a pretty insane. My only problem is that it's on a Thursday. What's up with that?

[LloydsLegs]

Reports are that the scalpers are having a field day with this one.

[BobWildLoyalist]

MY friends, I got through the sea of people last Saturday on ticketmaster and scored 4 3 day passes. The power of prayer was on full display and floated to the check out. I'll be dancin come the 4th weekend!