--- title: Grateful Dead at the forefront of marketing technology image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601364988-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ebb4970c-250wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2009/11/grateful-dead-at-the-forefront-of-marketing-technology.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # Grateful Dead at the forefront of marketing technology November 4th, 2009 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601364988-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ebb4970c-250wi.jpg?width=250&height=241&name=6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ebb4970c-250wi.jpg) This week I had a chance to hang out with Jay Blakesberg, long-time Grateful Dead tour photographer, in his San Francisco studio. [![Bobby](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601364988-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ebb4970c-250wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ebb4970c-popup) We discussed how the band (now called [The Dead](http://www.dead.net/)) is at the forefront of using technology for marketing. This video is about 9 minutes and includes highlights from the discussions. Please take the time to hear Jay describe what a true marketing powerhouse of a band is doing more than 45 years after they originally formed. I suggest letting the video load before watching. [Direct link to the video here.](http://www.vimeo.com/7424852) **Details of what we discussed in the video:** [![Thedeadworcester](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601365003-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a8007e970c-120wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a8007e970c-pi) **:00 - 1:50** Through a partnership with [Blurb](http://www.blurb.com/), Jay Blakesberg created an official tour book for each city of the tour. At each stop, a collectible book featuring backstage and rehearsal shots is made available. A few days after the show, you go to Blurb.com and place an order and the book will include photos from the show that you attended. **1:50 - 4:00** You can get recordings of any of the tour's shows by buying from the[ official Dead site](http://www.dead.net/) as a download or purchasing a CD set at the show itself which is available just 30 minutes after the end of the show. [![The_dead_iphones_app](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601365018-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7fdb8970c-120wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7fdb8970c-pi) Jay worked on an iPhone application called The Dead Tour 2009 – ALL ACCESS includes streaming audio from all the shows on the tour, streaming video, blogs, and photomosaic images. Jay also live tweeted the set lists as each concert was happening. **5:30 - 9:00** On The Dead being on the forefront of marketing technology. 45 years into their career, they are still cutting edge. [![Jay_logo](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601365033-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ed4f970c-250wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7ed4f970c-pi) Jay has some great photography books that you can [order on his site](http://www.blakesberg.com/). Of course, I scored signed copies of them when I was at Jay’s studio! [![Jay book](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601365048-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7edaf970c-200wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e20120a6a7edaf970c-popup) *Between the Dark and Light: The Grateful Dead photography of Jay Blakesberg* More than 900 classic photos lead you on a journey through the colorful world of the Grateful Dead. Most of these images, shot from 1978 – 2002 have never been published before. With Jay’s back-stories, a foreword by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, and historical essays, Between the Dark and Light is an irresistible 25-year journey through the Grateful Dead experience. *Traveling on a High Frequency: Jay Blakesberg photographs 1978–2008* A 30-year retrospective with 304 pages featuring over 1,200 photographs from the archive of Jay Blakesberg. *Top image: Jay Blakesberg photo of Bob Weir via blog.blurb.com Second image: Tour book from the Worcester, MA shows Third image: The Dead iPhone app* [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Rock Band Web Sites ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/rock-band-web-sites) [ Social Media ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/social-media) [ Viral Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/viral-marketing) [ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing) [ Books ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/books) [ Brand Journalism ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/brand-journalism) [ Best Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/best-practices) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DMS%20Sphere.jpg?width=1500&height=1125&name=DMS%20Sphere.jpg) ### Dead & Company at Sphere Las Vegas July 22nd, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/dead-company-at-sphere-las-vegas) [![Ticketmaster lusting for Bruce Spreensteen tickets](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Springsteen%20tix%20after.jpg?width=2132&height=1638&name=Springsteen%20tix%20after.jpg) ### Bruce Springsteen and Ticketmaster Anger Fans with AI Dynamic Pricing Fiasco July 25th, 2022|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/bruce-springsteen-and-ticketmaster-anger-fans-with-ai-dynamic-pricing-fiasco) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Merch%20table.jpg) ### Real and Perceived Scarcity as a Marketing Strategy October 26th, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/real-and-perceived-scarcity-as-a-marketing-strategy) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/shutterstock_503377519.jpg) ### The Incredible Power of a Simple Gift April 28th, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-incredible-power-of-a-simple-gift) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/marketing%20wisdom%20from%20Kpop.jpeg) ### What Every Marketer Can Learn From K-Pop March 24th, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/what-every-marketer-can-learn-from-k-pop) [![American Utopia](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/American%20Utopia.jpg) ### Fandom at Its Finest: American Utopia on Broadway October 4th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/david-byrnes-american-utopia-broadway-gloriously-hopeful) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1605468660-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20192abd51d07970d-250wi.jpg) ### Building a fan base one download at a time July 2nd, 2013|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2013/07/building-a-fan-base-one-download-at-a-time.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604652642-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2017ee5bdb73e970d-120wi.jpg) ### Full video of my Inbound 2012 keynote featuring Cyndi Lauper November 29th, 2012|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2012/11/full-video-of-my-inbound-2012-keynote-featuring-cyndi-lauper.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601711918-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2017c31d4aec6970b-800wi.jpg) ### Entrenched music business hates free content (again) & blasts Amanda Palmer September 13th, 2012|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2012/09/entrenched-music-business-hates-free-content-again-blasting-amanda-palmer.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604629057-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e20163069a0bf8970d-320wi.jpg) ### Who do you compare yourself to? 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