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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
Ticket prices are the same, of course, only in US dollars. There is only one option for canadian orders: canadian postal money orders in u.s. currency. THERE IS NO OTHER ACCEPTED FORM OF PAYMENT (i.e., no american express money orders as is ok in the u.s.).
Have your mail hand-stamped by the canadian postal workers.
Instead of putting stamps on your return envelope (SASE), enclose with your SASE an international postal coupon. I've been told that GDTS will accept one of these as equivalent to one u.s. first class postage stamp. Be sure to add the equivalent additional amount in coupons if you are ordering more than 8 tickets.
Since your mail is passing through two postal and border systems IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REGISTER YOUR MAIL. The price is the same as for american orders ($6.75); just add this amount to your canadian money order.
Finally, your order will take a little longer than an american order because of the border and postal issues, but it does work!
[Thanks to joseph muller - JMULLER@SSCvax.CIS.McMaster.CA]
Return Postage: $.32 for 1-8 tix
$.55 for 9-16 tix
Do not add extra postage. Remember: the registered mail fee does
NOT include postage, so you must put a stamp on your return envelope.
[Note: No address for GDTS. (Postage Stamp)
They have a stamper.]
Joe Deadhead
12345 Terrapin Way
Big River, TN 01812
NO METERED MAIL, EXPRESS MAIL, OR FEDERAL EXPRESS ACCEPTED!!
Make sure your envelopes are stamped. Postal employees may by habit meter your mail if you don't watch them. Express Mail and Federal Express are never accepted and are a waste of your money.
If GDTS decides to do a random selection mail order, they will announce it on the hotline before hand. If GDTS receives more mail postmarked the first day than they have tickets for, then the mail order automatically changes to random selection.
The mail order hotline (415) 457-8457 will give the correct information and address to mail for tickets. Do not use any other address or your request will not be filled!! If the hotline instructions are different from the above, then always follow the hotline instructions or your order may be rejected.
Please write to GDTS with any suggestions, problems, praise or complaints at:
Grateful Dead Ticket Sales
P.O. Box 9812
San Rafael, CA 94912
DON'T SEND TICKET REQUESTS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS, THEY WILL BE RETURNED![P.S. Notification from GDTS, be it tix or a rejection notice, almost always comes before tix actually go on-sale at a local outlet. If ya find yourself still waiting to hear and the on-sale date is fast approaching, say 4-5 days away, don't panic, just give 'em a ring at the ticket problem # listed above in question 1. They're usu. very helpful if it comes to that.]