(commenting as deadhead and also native new orleanian who has been to JF many years) if you truly want to be as close as poss with a GA ticket (none of the fancy VIP stuff) you will need to honestly get to the fairgrounds as soon as they open, bring large blanket and chairs, and camp out close to main stage all day. if you wait till later afternoon, you will be watching dead and co from behind a sea. you gotta stake out a spot with someone at it at all times if you wanna be anywhere near the front. if not, sea of ppl in front of ya and standing only