Tag Archives: Fare Thee Well

Chicago

When The Official Home of Unofficial Grateful Dead and Music News was born in January, it was really just a place for me to tell jokes and entertain myself while everyone else argued on message boards. My first couple of satirical articles were copied and pasted on a couple of Grateful Dead Facebook Pages. Someone suggested I start a blog and I had no idea how to go about doing that. One thing lead to another and here we are. I never really had any hopes or expectations for any of it, I just figured I could have some fun and help the time go by while waiting for the shows. In the process I gained quite a few friends and a handful of haters. Neither mattered much really as neither had much of an impact on my daily life.

Fast forward to yesterday when my phone rings and Peter Shapiro is on the other end. When I got the call, I couldn’t help but laugh as I realized the impact of what started as just another avenue to express some creative energy, most of which was comedy, all of it initially a joke… The joke has taken on a life of its own and that’s just as hilarious. Through our brief conversation it became obvious to me that Pete Shapiro cares about all of this more than he’s really required to. I’m not going to divulge any information that was exchanged at the moment but I will say that there’s more to come. The problems that have occurred can and will be settled within our family. It was obvious to me that Shapiro gives a shit about the community and he’s interested in putting on THE BEST show possible as well as doing what he can to satisfy a fan base that has really never been very easily satisfied. I respect him for it. I’d encourage people to give it some time before talking to media outlets outside of our community. I assure you that Peter cares more about what’s going on within our community than some reporter from the Chicago Tribune.

I looked at my phone tonight and there’s a text from Peter asking me if I had a few minutes to chat. Peter’s humility and honesty was incredible. I’m a nobody with a blog and the promoter of the biggest shows in 20 years is on the phone again. I’d like to publicly apologize to Peter for the absence of respect I may have displayed over the past few days, weeks or months. I don’t apologize for bringing up the issue because the issue is absolutely being resolved. It’s being resolved in as Bold and Unprecedented a fashion as I’ve ever seen with all parties involved in complete agreement. It applies to those who purchased their tickets through GDTSTOO only. I’m gonna let Peter’s upcoming letter give you the details but it’s a solution that is much bigger than I expected. If you’re not satisfied once the resolution is offered, or if you have anything shitty to say about the band, the money or Peter Shapiro, you might be an asshole too. Naturally there will be those that find fault in damn near anything, you’ll recognize them when they post…

For now, I hope you can sit tight. A solution is coming…

Dead To The Core,

Dean Sottile (pronounced So Tilly)

bill-grahm-exhibit

In a questionable move fueled by something other than good will, those who received their tickets by mail this week were met with surprise and suspicion when the pricing levels and seating charts mysteriously changed AFTER all their money orders were cashed. People that have called me an apologist for the band and/or the promoter will love this article. I just write about things as honestly as I see them and whoever made this decision needs to be reacquainted with the Great Equalizer. I’m a Dead Head first and foremost and try to be a voice for us, not anyone else. The Dead and its affiliates have NEVER given me anything for nothing, I’ve ALWAYS paid my own way.

Prior to being aware of the demand for the Chicago Fare Thee Well Shows, widely published seating charts on The Dead’s site looked like this.

seating-chart

THIS was the chart that all of the people who sent in for Mail Order were sending their money for. THIS is what the deal was when people sent money orders to GDTSTOO.

After the unexpected deluge of requests came in from the mail order, it was announced that the floor was being opened up to all GA as opposed to reserve seating to accommodate more people which seemed like a kind and generous thing to do. The seating charts were then changed to something like this.

Seating#2

Take note, 300 Level seats are still $79.50 or $119.50. The ONLY tickets at the $199.50 price point were the best seats to either side of the stage.

Following some consideration by the organizing parties, and prior to the internet on sale, it was decided that there would be seating behind the stage to accommodate as many people as possible. That seemed like a generous and thoughtful idea as well. At that point the seating chart changed to reflect seating behind the stage.

There’s a few things to take note of as we look at these charts. The 300 level seats, were all priced at either $79.50 or $119.50.

Here’s where the Switcheroo takes place! People receiving Mail Order tickets this week received 300 level tickets that were priced at $199.50. See evidence here:

300levelticket

Not only that, 300 Level seats that were released on TicketMaster this morning were all priced at $199.50. That my friends is a real unethical, unkind, unrighteous maneuver. Whether it’s illegal, I’m not certain as I haven’t read through anything that may state that prices are subject to change without notice. What I do know, is it’s a move that stinks of greed and completely goes against everything that the band and its organization has provided throughout the years. It’s a move that Bill Graham NEVER would have made. This event misses him almost as much as it misses Garcia. Was there not enough money coming in already? This is where Shapiro goes from Genius to Jackass overnight. Is there anyone other than him that could be responsible??? I don’t think so… Loose with the truth, Peter it’s your fire… Baby I hope you don’t get burned…

We’re not a bunch of dumb, stoned kids anymore… It was completely, totally and unequivocally the WRONG thing to do. Given the situation, would fans decline their tickets or ask for a refund if they were told about pricing changes? Probably not if we’re being honest… Was this a poor decision by the leadership? It absolutely was. I don’t think the guys that make the music have anything to do with decisions like this so I absolutely don’t hold them accountable but someone should be held accountable. I probably won’t make any new friends with this post, but it’s the truth…

Dead To The Core,
Dean Sottile (pronounced So Tilly)