From: bs810@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (D. Eric Nay)
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: Frequently Asked Questions, pt. 1 of 2
Date: 9 Nov 1992 04:24:55 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


Grateful Dead Frequently Asked Questions, pt.1
[Last update: November 08, 1992]

***Please note that this FAQ is split into two sections

This article includes answers to:

    1)  What are the Official Grateful Dead Hotline numbers?
    2)  How do I order tickets by mail?
    3)  How did the Grateful Dead get their name?
    4)  How did Jerry lose the middle finger of his right hand?
    5)  Where did the Dancing Bears come from?
    6)  What is a Tape Tree and how does it work?
    7)  Who makes the Net-Head T-shirts and how do I get one?
    8)  What is Dead-Flames?
    9)  What is the Well?
   10)  What is Dead Base and how do I get one?
   11)  What is that weird thing that Mickey plays during Space?

If you're looking for the answer to, say, question 10, and want to skip
everything else, you can search ahead for the regular expression "^10)".  

If you have suggestions or corrections for any of these answers,
please send them to bs810@cleveland.freenet.edu


1)  What are the Official Grateful Dead Hotline numbers?
    ----------------------------------------------------
    West Coast: 415-457-6388	Mail Order:  415-457-TIKS
    East Coast: 201-SHIPS00		     415-457-8457
                201-744-7400

    Ticket Problems:      415-457-8034  M-F 11am - 5pm PST
    Merchandise Info:     415-898-4453
    To order merchandise: 800-CAL-DEAD
    

2)  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 [see #1] 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 Summer Tour
    1992, part I was announced on April 4th, and the mail order date was 
    April 7th:  Part II was announced April 11th, with its mail order date   
    April 14th.

    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 first mail
    order date is April 7th, 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 both shows
               for the Knickerbocker in Albany, New York.  The summer
               dates are for June 11th and 12th.

    Items needed:

    0) Inside #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.
       
    0) Outside #10 envelope, addressed to GDTS.

       Inside the #10 envelope:
            1) 3x5 Index card
            2) Money order for tickets [and registered mail fee]
            3) #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 - Albany [2-6/11, 2-6/12]
                     P.O. Box C-S 8190
                     San Rafael,  CA  94912

    1)  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 6/11 - 2 tickets @ 26.00 = $ 52.00
                            Albany 6/12 - 2 tickets @ 26.00 = $ 52.00
          (TAPER/GA/RES/ANYTHING AVAILABLE) registered mail = $  6.25
                                                              --------
                                                              $110.25 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.


     2)  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 $6.25
         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 $26.00.  The registered mail fee is $6.25.

           Payment = ( 4 tickets * $26.00 ) + ( 6.25 Registered Mail fee )
                   = 104.00 + 6.25
                   = 110.25

           Make out money order to GRATEFUL DEAD TICKET SALES - ALBANY
           for $110.25, with Joe's name and address.  Joe keeps the
           receipt.

         **** CANADIAN MAIL ORDER ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS ****

         If you are ordering from Canada, here are some helpful instructions:

         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 ($6.25); 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]


     3)  #10 Return Envelope:

         Include a #10 sized self-addressed, stamped envelope for your tickets.
         This envelope can be folded in 3 to fit in the outside envelope.  
         Please do NOT decorate your return envelope with Grateful Dead art
         or mention of tickets:  it only invites theft (e.g. - Tickets
         Enclosed).  GDTS loves and displays the artistic and colorful incoming
         order envelopes!!!

	 Return Postage:	$.29 for 1-8 tix
        			$.52 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.


         Example #10 return envelope:
	 ----------------------------
           [Note: No address for GDTS.                      (Postage Stamp)
            They have a stamper.]

                                  Joe Deadhead
                                  12345 Terrapin Way
                                  Big River, TN  01812

    Other Rules:

        One order per envelope and one order per person.  Each person must
        fill out their own order.  Duplicate orders of any kind will cause
        disqualification of all involved orders.  For example, if 3 concerts are
	announced in the same venue, you may order the max. number of tickets
	to all 3 concerts in one envelope, unless GDTS states otherwise.  Mixed
	orders or orders for more than one city in one envelope will not be 
	accepted.  All orders will be filled on a "first come, first served" 
        basis by date postmark, NOT by when GDTS receives them.
         
        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!


3)  How did they get the name?
    --------------------------
    One story is that they were rummaging through a dictionary at Phil's 
    parents house and came across the entry for Grateful Dead.  However, 
    there is another story that says Jerry suggested the name after
    reading this quote:

        We now return our souls to the creator,
        as we stand on the edge of eternal darkness.
        Let our chant fill the void
        in order that others may know.
        In the land of the night
        the ship of the sun
        is drawn by the grateful dead.          
  
        -- Egyptian Book of the Dead


4)  How did Jerry lose the middle finger of his right hand?
    -------------------------------------------------------
    His brother, Eugene, accidentally chopped it off with an axe when
    they were children.  Careful with that axe, Eugene.


5)  Where did the Dancing Bears come from?
    --------------------------------------
    The bears were used on blotter acid produced by Owsley.  Owsley's
    nickname was Bear, the logo is a (registered?) trademark, and it
    appears in the Bear's Choice cover art.


6)  What is a Tape Tree and how does it work?
    -----------------------------------------
    Somebody offers a tape.  The first person who gets it (maybe the
    offerer, maybe not) makes up to 5 copies, each of those people make
    up to 5 copies, etc. until everybody who signed up gets a copy.  The
    person structuring the tree ("administrator") may or may not be the
    person who provides the original tape ("seed") or the person who makes
    the initial 5 copies ("root").  To get on, you send mail to the
    administrator following a posting.  When on, you make up to 5 tapes
    for people below you (if you're a "branch"), or none (if you're a 
    "leaf").  You send the person above you either other tapes in trade,
    or blanks if you can't trade.  IMHO, if trading, each person pays
    postage one way.  If sending blanks, you pay postage both ways.

    There is no payment for this service, ever.  Don't do business with
    anyone who wants payment for taping.  Most heads are only too happy
    to make copies for anyone who asks.
 
    Q:  I don't have two decks (or a dual deck).  Can I still be on the
        tape tree without making copies for other people?

    A:  If you cannot make copies for others you are considered a "leaf" on
        the tree, and will be assigned to a "branch" of the tree, that is,
        someone who can make copies.

    Q:  Does it matter if I have a dubbing cassette deck instead of two
        separate decks for making copies?

    A:  Many dubbing decks are cheap and do not do a good job on quality
        when making a copy of a tape, partly because the consumer companies
        don't think people will notice the difference...NOT.  Deadheads are
        audiophiles.  The reason you are on a tree is:  1) You REALLY want
        the shows and, 2) You want the best possible quality tape you can
        get for a free recording.  There ARE dubbing decks out there that
        do a good job, but cost more and are usually worth it (both Sony
        and Denon make good high-end dubbing decks).  If you have a dubbing
        deck, NEVER, repeat, NEVER use the high speed dub when you are
        making a copy for someone.  Why?  You will reduce the quality of
        the tape, for the person you are making it for and any copies they
        will make.  Always make the best quality tapes you can with the
        equipment you have on hand.
        When a tree is started the root will want to know what equipment
        you have (brand, type, number of heads, etc...).  This information
        is needed so that when root sets up the tree everyone gets the best
        possible recording they can get, no matter what type of equipment you
        may have.

    Q:  What should I set my recording levels at?

    A:  Recording levels are really a function of the deck and the
        type of tape being used.  For instance, you can probably
        set the peaks at +5 dB for metal tapes, but at +3 dB for
        high bias tapes.  The key here is to KNOW YOUR DECK. The
        suggestion is to try different tapes and choose the one that
        works best with your deck.  My preference for recording tapes
        (depending on the source) are the new Maxell XLIIS tapes.

    Q:  If you miss the request cuttoff date for the tree, is there
        any way to get on the tree?

    A:  In general, no.  You can try sending mail to somebody who's
        making fewer than 5 copies, and ask if he'll make you one.
        Often, the tree administrator will indicate people who've
        offered to make more copies than they've been assigned.
        You'll probably have better luck doing this if you offer to
        trade.

    Q:  When everybody trades tapes on the net, what is the customary
        way everybody does this?

    A:  Generally, by trade.  You offer a tape to somebody and ask
        for a list of what you can get in return, and choose something.
        If you are going to be doing a lot of trading, you should get
        on the tapehead mailing list (send mail to
        tape-heads-request@fuggles.acc.virginia.edu and ask to be added
        to that list).


7)  Who makes the Net-Head T-shirts and how do I get one?
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Maya hasn't done them more often than once a year (and I don't blame
    her), so don't expect another offer until next fall, if at all.  Nethead
    shirts are a labor of love for Maya, not an obligation.  


8)  What is Dead-Flames?
    --------------------
    A mailing list that is the equivalent of rec.music.gdead.
    Everything read in dead-flames is also read in rec.music.gdead and
    vice-versa (except for those things posted to rec.music.gdead with a
    restricted distribution that prevents them from reaching the node that
    dead-flames originates from).  Dead-flames is digestified, each mail
    message may contain many postings.  Each message is about 600-700 lines
    long (about 24K characters).

    Even if you don't receive dead-flames, you can post to both dead-flames
    and rec.music.gdead using email.  Dead-flames is handy for those who do
    not get usenet.news, for those who do get usenet.news but have a slow
    feed, or even for those who have reading, but not posting, privleges
    for usenet.news.
 
    The following is the standard info that's always tacked on to each
    dead-flames digest:
 
    ** FOR YOUR REFERENCE **
 
    The service addresses, to which questions about the list itself and
    requests to be added to or deleted from it should be directed, are
    as follows:
 
    Internet: Dead-Flames-Request@Virginia.EDU
              Dead-Flames-Request@uvaarpa.Virginia.EDU
    BITNET:   DF-Req@Virginia
    UUCP:     ...!uunet!virginia!dead-flames-request
 
    You can send mail to the entire list (and rec.music.gdead) via one
    of these addresses:
 
    Internet: Dead-Flames@Virginia.EDU
              Dead-Flames@uvaarpa.Virginia.EDU
    BITNET:   D-Flames@Virginia
    UUCP:     ...!uunet!virginia!dead-flames
 

9)  What is the Well?
    -----------------
    The Well is the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, a public access computer
    network based in Sausalito, California.  David Gans hosts several
    Grateful Dead related conferences on the Well.


10) What is DeadBase and how do I get one?
    --------------------------------------
    DeadBase is a deadhead-originated manual which contains extensive set
    lists, statistics, venue info, facts and opinion on twenty-seven years of 
    Grateful Dead magic; it is an invaluable resource for any Deadhead.

    DeadBase '91 includes the year's setlist for both GarciaBase and WeirBase.

    DeadBase VI is out.  It is available in either Hard Cover or Soft Cover,
    is complete through the end of 1991, and includes a Garciabase and Weir-
    base. 

    Note all prices are in US dollars. 
    (Note: I have not been able to verify any of these with the Deadbase
     people myself, but believe they are correct. -EN)

           Pages  Book Rate  Priority
    DB '88  128    10.00      12.00
    DB '89  192    12.00      14.00
    DB '90  224	   12.00      14.00 
    DB '91  224    12.00      14.00
    DB '88/89/90/91 (set of 4 annual editions)
		   38.00      42.00
    DB V    502    26.00      29.00
    DB VI   564	   27.00      30.00(assume this is for the SoftCover, see 
                                    below for additional pricing on VI.)

    Make check payable to DeadBase.
    send to:
        DeadBase Orders
        P.O. Box 499
        Hanover, NH 03755

    Also, Ken Hays @ Terrapin Tapes has the Deadbases.  The advantage to
    this is that you may order them by phone and pay with plastic(Visa/MC).  
    There is no surcharge for ordering through Ken.
    The phone number for Terrapin Tapes is 800-677-8650.

            (Priority-UPS)
    DB 88      12.00
    89 or 90   14.00
    88/89&90   32.00
    V          29.00
    VI  (soft) 30.00 (hardcover) 42.00

   [note: Terrapin Tapes uses Priority only (UPS).  Also, at the risk of 
          sounding like an advertisement, Ken tells me that they'll beat 
          anybody's price on Maxells/TDK's by at least 5%.  If ya find out 
          different, lemme know.:)]


11) What is that weird thing that Mickey plays during Space?
    --------------------------------------------------------
    It is called "The Beam", a long aluminum I-beam with twelve piano
    strings streched along its length; the vibration of the strings is
    sensed by a very large magnetic pickup.  The sound is amplified
    through Myers speakers and sub-woofers, whose loudness can be varied
    with a foot-pedal allowing a controlled degree of acoustic feedback.
    The best example of the Beam is on the Rythm Devil's "The Apocalypse
    Now Sessions".  The Beam is used heavily, but most notably on the
    track, "Napalm for Breakfast".  Pittsburgh 06/26/88, Shoreline
    06/16/90, and Buffalo 06/06/92 are good examples of the Beam in concert.
-- 
It left a smoking crater of my mind I'd like to blown away
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead