Going to try and get tickets for the Dead in Chicago. Just looking for advice on attending a show in a football stadium.
don't eat the brown acid!
If you go, have fun. I've seen shows at very large venues like these and the sound was good; but I was not way up high.
Personally, I will never attend another stadium show.
Overall, the performance is rather impersonable. There is no "connection" between the performer and the audience. In Keith Richard's book, he acknowledges this. "We can't even see the audience - the only thing we can see is the stage itself ...".
From an audience standpoint, it's like watching a show that is taking place at a distance away. It's not like being at a show it's like watching a show that is taking place elsewhere. Not even like watching a film or a television, it's really (for me) like watching something happening elsewhere. There is a disembodiment about the whole thing.
The Allman Brothers show at Piedmont Park (with Dave Matthews Band) was by far, my least enjoyable ABB show (out of nearly 100). Turns out, it was a good performance, but I wasn't able to tell until I heard the instant live and saw some of the replay on TV.
In the 70's, I saw the Stones a couple of times and one of those Champagne Jam events (Atlanta Rhythm Section). These were good social events to some degree, but not great musical events.
You either end up in the tiered, nosebleed area (really far away from the scene) or down on the field where people bitch about you stepping on their blanket or something. Restrooms are miles away - as are drinks and food - which you'll need a bank loan to afford!
I don't mean to be a wet blanket. If you go, I'm sure you will enjoy this on some level.
Maybe it's a younger thing. In if I was in my teens and twenties, I would likely attend a show like this. I don't even care for the larger arena shows unless I can get seats in the first 10 rows or so.
I guess I've just gotten to be an old fart.
Wear a helmet.
I am a veteran of over three hundred shows ten 15 or so in Stadiums which were mainly stones shows.I used to love stadiums more so when i scored front row.But being 47 i can't handle the crowds and the three hour parking lot when you leave.i now limit myself to theater and small arena(under 10000).My favorite shows were seeing bands like Gregg Allman and The Black Crowes(on the Rail for all)and dropkick murphys front again in a bar with less than 400 people.Also saw the mule in 2007 with only a couple hundred in a Gym again on the rail.Gotta love Vermont.So after rambling as much as I love the dead I couldn't handle the anxiety of a stadium show.I do hope all that go have a good time.I will buy the cd and dvd but wish they didn't ask trey.Warren and Jimmy herring should be doing the shows.
just go and have fun.
get there early
Very few people can play a stadium--only 2 come to mind...Bruce and U2 (begrugingly)..I should throw in the Stones but I am having flashbacks about how much $$ the tix were
I went to ten or more Grateful Dead stadium shows in the eighties. In those days the Grateful Dead were able to command a crowd of 60 - 80 thousand people. I saw some top notch shows, notable the '89 Philly show that became the "Crimson, White, and Indigo" release. I'm not sure this line up will have the same punch.
Not that it even matters for me. At 54 I think I'm too crotchety to go. These days I go to shows for the music. I want to be comfortable so I can focus.
The last stadium show I saw was Paul McCartney at Nationals Park. I had a good reserved seat and had a great time once there, but the traffic was a snarl and the crowds a hassle.
I also had a good time at Lockn' but there was plenty of room to move around and I was there with enough people so that we staked out good territory early.
All that said, Chicago is a great city. There are many, many excellent hotels and even good deals on condos with lake views. It would be easy to get a place within walking distance of the stadium and I'm sure the folks who go will have memories that last a lifetime.
For mail order tix and faboulous envelope artwork:
Do I have a better chance at getting tickets using mail order?
For mail order tix and faboulous envelope artwork:
Do I have a better chance at getting tickets using mail order?
Yes you do; but you have to follow the very simple directions for mail order tix with a money order.
But the Chicago shows are not going to sell out, and they already have tix on scalping sites like Stubhub.
But the Chicago shows are not going to sell out, and they already have tix on scalping sites like Stubhub.
Hey Newt? Football capacity in Soldier Field is slightly over 61,000. What do you think the concert capacity is and how many tickets do you think will sell for these shows?
The whole event seems really ambitious. I don't see a lot of bands selling out stadiums for even a single night in these times.
Your thoughts?
Deadheads are a lyal lot. Someone in my office is planning to go with 5 friends to all three concerts
Yeah I know emr. I'm also hearing about the kids of Deadheads, kids in their early twenties who want a shot at the magic.
I hope I'm surprised and all three nights sell out. That would be incredible!
Yet I'm skeptical.
The ABB has 6 final shows in a city larger than Chicago in a venue that holds less than 3000. And there were still tickets available through secondary markets and released on the days of the shows.
Three days of stadium crowds?
If the core four can pull it off my hat is off to them.
Do I have a better chance at getting tickets using mail order?
They do all they can to fill our requests. Gotta follow the instructions to the "T" otherwise it gets rejected/returned.
We left-coast Deadheads have been using GDTS TOO for a loooong time.
My envelope is decorated and ready to go out tomorrow! 5 of us traveling from the left coast for these shows! Fingers crossed...
I'd much rather go through GDTS TOO than a corporate entity...or worse, a scalper...
Hoping for a Friday and Sunday show, with a Cubs game @ Wrigley on Saturday. The summer is shaping up nicely.
First off, I am considering going to the same Chicago shows. Even my wife, who doesn't like Phish or the Dead, has been openly imploring me to go. "You HAVE to go, it's two of your favorite bands together." That is a pretty great woman I married.
When it comes to shows of this size, you just need to think more about logistics. As others have said, even a simple trip to the bathroom will most likely be a long ordeal. Plan accordingly and try not to leave your seat more than once per set, or you will miss too much of the music.
It's true that sound at this scale of event is often less than ideal, but if anybody has the money and desire to make these shows sound good, it's the same people that brought you the Wall Of Sound. I expect the Dead to do everything possible to make these shows sound excellent.
Last but not least, while there are hassles associated with this kind of show, there is a feeling you can only get from being part of a crowd that large. That many happy people in one place is a remarkable thing to experience, and as much as I love small intimate club shows, there is no substitute you and 100,000 of your best friends jamming out to music that you all know and love.
Good luck!
I guess the question all real Dead-Heads have is if one has tickets to two consecutive shows do you have to go home?
Ah for the good old days. My first ABB concert was also my first Dead concert. Outdoor show in CT July 1972. I think the show ended sometime in 1974
This seems the way to go if it is reasonably priced
PLAYING IN THE BAND SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
One (1) reserved ticket on floor or in lower bowl
3-Night or 1-Night tickets available
Limited edition, screen printed Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary event poster (1 per night)
VIP Entrance
http://www.cidentertainment.com/events/GratefulDead50/vip-experiences/
My experience with CID has been really, really good.
My experience with CID has been really, really good.
I just hope it is in my price range. Otherwise I'll probably be in the back of the stadium with that I'm glad to be here look.
Pace yourself in the parking lot before the show if tailgating will be allowed. Too easy to get caught up in all the preshow action and being a stadium show, arriving to party pretty early. Have a sober driver.
But the Chicago shows are not going to sell out, and they already have tix on scalping sites like Stubhub.
Hey Newt? Football capacity in Soldier Field is slightly over 61,000. What do you think the concert capacity is and how many tickets do you think will sell for these shows?
The whole event seems really ambitious. I don't see a lot of bands selling out stadiums for even a single night in these times.
Your thoughts?
I'm not sure if any will sell out? When I saw the other ones in 2002, the dead in the summer of 03, and the dead in 08 at Penn State none of those shows sold out. I also heard that for the huge venues that Furthur played at, all of those did not completely sell out.
I think if any of the soldier field shows do sell out it will be the 4th and/or 5th.
I guarantee there will be in excess of 10,000 tickets on stubhub for each night. I don't mean the fake locations on stubhub now but real actual tickets. The superbots and junior spinners will pound these shows unmercifully. You'll be able to buy crap seats for cents on the dollar but they will destroy the onsale just wait and see.
For mail order tix and faboulous envelope artwork:
Do I have a better chance at getting tickets using mail order?
yes, and there is no reason not to try.
in my experience, GD mail order always had good seats, as opposed to the current system that bands like Phish use.
I don't think it will sell out, but I sense a totally higher level of excitement about these shows compared to the PSU show in 08, so I wouldn't use that as a guide
Both of my Grateful Dead shows were at Soldier Field. For one we sat in the stands at the far end of the field, and it was cool, band was small but the sound was good, and we were seated with a good bunch of people.
At the second show we were sitting in the stands at the left of the stage. We could look down and see Jerry warming up and Sting fooling around offstage. That was a pretty cool place to sit (although I could really have lived without seeing Sting)...
For mail order tix and faboulous envelope artwork:
Do I have a better chance at getting tickets using mail order?
yes, and there is no reason not to try.
in my experience, GD mail order always had good seats, as opposed to the current system that bands like Phish use.
I don't think it will sell out, but I sense a totally higher level of excitement about these shows compared to the PSU show in 08, so I wouldn't use that as a guide
Was going to but new tires and a battery for my car had top priority.
Soldier Field is much different than the last shows - I saw the show when Steve Miller was backup.....1992 I think....now Soldier Field is a big space saucer.......
Soldier Field is much different than the last shows - I saw the show when Steve Miller was backup.....1992 I think....now Soldier Field is a big space saucer.......
From the outside, I would agree with that comment. I think it is fine inside.
A couple of thoughts on other comments:
If you want a hotel, book it now and if you can't make it, just cancel the reservation.
Soldier Field is accessible via public transportation but it can be a pain. And getting a cab there after a show is almost impossible. They have always had some trolleys to take you to the area. Walking is a bit of a hike depending on where your hotel is (pun intended). Getting a cab in off of somewhere along Michigan Ave. should be relatively easy.
Regarding the sound, it hasn't been bad at all when I was there but I have never been in the upper level so I can't speak to that. I am shooting for lower level. These are reserved seats so you can sit in your own seat. I thought about trying the general admission field but I don't think I want to deal with a mass of hippies at a Dead show. 😉
If I can think of anything else about the place I will post it later.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Well, as a long time deadhead and veteran of over 300 shows, I guess I should weigh in. I'm going. It will most definitely sell out. Why? Because it's being billed as the "last shows ever" for the original members and according to insiders, this will be it. FB is all abuzz and EVERYONE's going to these last shows as kind of a full circle, closure of sorts. I'm coming from Oregon for the shows and every one of my friends around the country who mail ordered ran into other heads in their post office also ordering. When tix go on sale online, they will be snatched up by scalpers, but many heads won't pay over cost. Sure, there are people who ruin it for everyone by paying those prices, but smart people know better.
As for it being large and impersonal, that doesn't matter as long as you can hear the music, hang with old friends and dance. Water is essential and waiting in queues are mandatory. It will be epic and worth it and you just can't be in a rush to get anywhere and enjoy it all. And I want to be on that GA section with all my hippie deadhead friends...
