This article is classified "Real"
Over the course of time, you're sure to run into them. You can't recognize
them by sight: male and female, tall and short, plump or scrawny, they
come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, if you're reading this you may very
well be one of them. Yes, I mean bootleggers. So if you're one of them,
or plan to be, read on and learn of the art!
Definition Of Bootlegging
=========================
Bootlegging is traditionally the buying and selling of an illegal product.
In the 1920s, the United States had the Prohibition against alcohol and
many people turned to bootleg moonshine [1]. Although this is what you'll
find in a book, this is not the bootlegging I refer to. What I refer to is
tape trading. And, unlike alcohol, it is technically legal to "bootleg"
cassette tapes.
As we are aware, you cannot legally record an officially released compact
disc or cassette on to a blank cassette. There is at least one exception,
however, and that's in Italy, where there are no such copyright laws [2].
A person may record a concert and keep it for their personal use, they may
distribute it, but they may not sell it legally. Big companies work their
way around this by bring their tapes to Italy and producing compact discs
there. When brought back to the United States, or another country, they
can be sold or copied as much as they please.
Two Types Of Recordings
=======================
There are two types of bootleg recordings, DAT and Soundboard (commonly
abbreviated to "SB"). DATs, or Digital Audio Tapes, are similar to
cassette tapes in appearance, but are more expensive, and do not record
"air noise". Even so, you tend to get more of the crowd than the music on
tape, so only concert-goers (non-company people) tend to use this method.
Soundboards are the alternative. Bootleg companies purchase these, because
of the superior near-studio quality sound. Basically, a soundboard is the
audio that enters the microphones on stage, and is stored digitally on a
special recording device (called the soundboard, of course). This method
tends to pick up more of the music, and less of the audience.
If you find a bootleg compact disc for sale and it does not say
"soundboard" on it, I would question the dealer; non-SB discs are not worth
the high price tag attached, which is usually between 22 and 28 American
dollars.
Trading Rules
=============
These rules tend to vary from trader to trader, but the general guidelines
are as follows:
1) Use Type II tapes, preferably Maxell XL-II.
2) Send the tapes out the same day as the other guy.
3) Use a padded envelope.
4) Do not include a tape case or J-Card.
5) Do include a set-list and all info available.
6) If a song cuts off, restart the whole song on the back of the
tape.
I repeat: these rules tend to vary.
Selling Prices
==============
If someone wishes to have a copy of one of your shows, the going price for
a cassette seems to be five American dollars, including the case. You may
wish to lower it to four dollars [3]: a lower price may get you more
customers. Note: the author does not advocate the illegal sale of
these tapes.
The selling price of a compact disc tends to vary more. I have seen discs,
including postage, costing between thirteen and thirty dollars. As a rule,
I try not to deal with people selling for more than sixteen dollars unless
I'm extremely interested. It just isn't worth the time and money, and
someone will sell a copy cheaper sooner or later; it always happens.
Grading
=======
Grades follow the basic A through F scale, using pluses and minuses to help
determine the quality just a tad more. Here is an easy-to-follow guide:
A+) This is a recording just as good as a studio recording, and
is therefore decent leggage. A must have for collectors.
A) Almost as good as A+, but maybe their CD player skipped once
during recording.
B) The music is still very clear and singing distinct, but some
of the crowd somehow got mixed in.
C) This is probably someone using an analog tape recorder. Fizzy
sound, and some crowd filling the foreground.
D) Pure bull. Barely able to tell it's music. Only for people
looking for complete sets. Basically: don't even bother.
F) Someone recording the concert sounds exactly like some
recording an air conditioner constantly exploding or
dehydrolatittilating. Perhaps a nice Christmas gift for that
punk girl that turned you down last month?
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Hope to deal with you soon!
[1] A great percent died from it, too, due to poor fertilization, and use
of rubbing alcohol [4] in the mix.
[2] This is a hazy legal point and, as such, if you get in trouble here,
you may be able to enter a plea of insanity.
[3] Blank tapes themselves cost anywhere from one to two and a half
dollars, and postage would be roughly a dollar, so you're still making
profit. Besides, the whole idea is sharing, not selling.
[4] Rubbing alcohol is something you put on cotton to rub on wounds, to
heal them.