The UnGrateful Dead

Here’s a description of the book “Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead”. (Which I don’t possess, but was recommended by someone I respect).

”The Grateful Dead broke almost every rule in the music industry book. They encouraged their fans to record shows and trade tapes; they built a mailing list and sold concert tickets directly to fans; and they built their business model on live concerts, not album sales. By cultivating a dedicated, active community, collaborating with their audience to co-create the Deadhead lifestyle, and giving away "freemium" content, the Dead pioneered many social media and inbound marketing concepts successfully used by businesses across all industries today.”

Perhaps, THOSE were the days. These days, I don’t think that there are many rules left to break.

And maybe there is not even something new left to say. That can feel disheartening to wannabe creatives and innovators. You look out there, and it seems like it’s all been done.

But if it’s all been done…if we learned everything there is to be learned, and said everything that needs to be said…why does it sometimes seem like the human race is crashing around blind drunk on arrogance. Like the UnGrateful Dead.

The truth is every new age, each new day, we have to find a way to say old truths in a way that works for these times. With kindness.

Well, we don’t have to. But life gets shitter when we leave a few deluded, self-serving and compassionless parasites to decide the future.

It’s still possible to start a Ripple.