NYR More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Barry Barnes

GET UPDATES FROM Barry Barnes
 

7 Business Lessons from The Grateful Dead

Posted: 11/03/11 06:13 PM ET

Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia and the rest of his bandmates wouldn't normally be classified as entrepreneurs. In fact, they didn't much care about the fiscal aspect of running a band, so long as they could keep playing music and making their fans happy. However, their intuitive approach to the business world turned out to be one of their greatest advantages, as they tossed out received wisdom and reinvented what it meant to run an organization. Without intending to, the band ended up pioneering ideas and practices that have subsequently been embraced by corporate America.

My new book, "Everything I Know About Business I Learned From the Grateful Dead," examines the iconic band's contribution to our nation's idea of monetary success.

Tip #1
1  of  8
PLAY
FULLSCREEN
ZOOM
SHARE THIS SLIDE 
Strategic improvisation--the ability to plan, act, and make adjustments in real time--is the key to running a great organization.

The Grateful Dead were masters of improvisation; not only in their music but also in the way they ran their business. They learned musical improvisation from jazz masters like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, but they also applied these skills to their business as well.

Instead of selling a lot of records and doing limited touring as most bands did, the Dead reversed that model and toured year round -playing 80 shows a year. This new business model made them one of the most profitable and enduring bands of all time.
RATE IT!   |  
VOTE
CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5
USERS WHO VOTED
NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

 
Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia and the rest of his bandmates wouldn't normally be classified as entrepreneurs. In fact, they didn't much care about the fiscal aspect of running a band, so long...
Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia and the rest of his bandmates wouldn't normally be classified as entrepreneurs. In fact, they didn't much care about the fiscal aspect of running a band, so long...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 87
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3  Next ›  Last »  (3 total)
12:25 PM on 11/10/2011
I only attended 27 Grateful Dead shows. Followed around Bob Weir and his band Ratdog, Phil Leash and Friends, The Other Ones and then The Dead again as they re-grouped and re-named again. Every show was memorable. The Music Never Stops. As a middle-aged businessman I actually wear Jerry Garcia ties. Unbeknownst to most, he was also a talented artist. Someone turned his art work into men's ties and let me tell you, I always get a compliment. The Dead were different for many reasons but primarily they were purists to their music. Do the right thing, be honest with yourself and the money will follow. If only Wall Street and corporate america would follow this strategy.
03:09 PM on 11/16/2011
I hate to admit how many Garcia ties I have! Probably more than 30...plus some official Grateful Dead ties! And yes, the Garcia ties look great. The whole Occupy Wall Street movement seems to echo your comments about doing the right thing...if only the necessary people would listen.
04:01 PM on 11/16/2011
In regards to Occupy Wall Street, its the right message from the wrong messenger.
photo
PerfectTommy
Still getting used to the new normal
02:20 PM on 11/05/2011
I love that they unwittingly anticipated the music business model that's becoming necessary today. The music is free, and they made lots of money on the T-shirts and concert tickets. The studio albums available from "the man" are inferior to hearing them "live." I was sad when Jerry passed away but was a little comforted by the fact that if you look hard enough, almost every show they ever played was recorded and is available.
03:11 PM on 11/16/2011
Their studio albums just couldn't capture the live, improvisational music we all love. But the new Europe 72 boxed set sounds AMAZING!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
donnyraindog
Hi Mom!
11:54 PM on 11/04/2011
Saw some 200 plus shows not counting JGB concerts from 76 to 83 or so.I bought tickets for the shows along with many CDs and albums I also saw a few shows free and have had countless bootlegs which the band didn't make a dime off of I enjoyed every bit of it either way and truly think Jerry felt the same!
10:41 PM on 11/04/2011
The Dead were totally focused on music and making each and every song something unique. Their message was about sharing and attempting to allow each member in the band explore ideas that were new and unique. Some might call that socialism (especially folks from the right that FEAR the group or mass having a real say on most issues). If you had the pleasure to see the band, regardless of what you thought they were or represented you walked away fully aware that most at their shows were completely non threatening. That mentality is completely opposite of the world we all live in as people are so accustomed to following the pack, even if it's not in your best interest.

The dead were giants and still are today as they pushed everyone to focus on the ship moving forward collectively, something that scares the heck out of folks that are still in denial that folks at the higher levels of prestige ignore you because they've lost their sense of where they came from. The real irony of the dead was that they and their fans are more alive than most people. Sorry about the philosophy lesson, but sometimes it's the only path to understanding.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
donnyraindog
Hi Mom!
11:56 PM on 11/04/2011
Fanned for getting it ,once on the bus few leave!
03:12 PM on 11/16/2011
Very nice comments about the band and "philosophy". They are giants and I hope my book will help insure their positive legacy.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
09:34 PM on 11/04/2011
and second thought:

why would a deadhead be interested in exploiting the culture for economy, and why would a non-deadhead care?

it's like the 80s resurfacing..... Woodstock to Microsoft.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
09:28 PM on 11/04/2011
well, right. now in retrospect, technology has made it where touring is how money is made. that and merchandise to a lesser extent. then there are characters like you writing books, skipping and intellectualizing the obvious.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
09:20 PM on 11/04/2011
Never saw the Dead, but used to frequent a little bar in Berkley where Jerry would come play many Friday and Saturday Nights. Good music and great people.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
08:19 PM on 11/04/2011
211 shows I will never forget................THANK YOU JERRY!!!
03:13 PM on 11/16/2011
Thank you, indeed!
08:14 PM on 11/04/2011
never really liked them. i tried. its just not in me.
03:14 PM on 11/16/2011
You don't have to like the music to appreciate their approach to business.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hellotiki
Born in a log cabin.
08:10 PM on 11/04/2011
I think I was at a few of their shows.
gclafontaine
Sand is a small price to pay for sandlessness.
07:56 PM on 11/04/2011
The Grateful Dead has made every day brighter for me since I first discovered Steal Your Face in my brother's record collection back in 1977.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
grainysmith
I heart worms
07:31 PM on 11/04/2011
God bless the Grateful Dead.
05:11 AM on 11/05/2011
I never made it to a Chinese New Year show, but I did make it to China not long after Jerry died. I wonder how many others stayed in the US only because of the chance to see Dead shows? For about fifteen years my vacations and holidays involved going on (limited) tours ... 2-3 cities, 4 or five shows. The lyrics to their songs were written by the poet musicians Robert Hunter and John Barlow ... thanks, guys! My Chinese students enjoy that poetry, and the music written by Jerry and Bobby:)

-HDT

"How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."
-Henry David Thoreau, "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience," 1849
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
grainysmith
I heart worms
12:15 PM on 11/05/2011
Super cool...Thanks for sharing :)
06:59 PM on 11/04/2011
#9. Make sure your customers are trippin' on LSD........you can sell them anything then!!
07:33 PM on 11/04/2011
How the hell else could anyone stand that boring music.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
08:20 PM on 11/04/2011
boring????? LOL...that statement says alot about your life
06:48 PM on 11/04/2011
As we stand on the edge of eternal darkness let our chants fill the void , in the land of the night , the ship of the suns is drawn by the Grateful Dead .........
06:37 PM on 11/04/2011
I remember the Dead using only JBL and Mcintosh equipment in their Wall of sound and I have done the same over the years ..... use only the best . Long live the Dead ......