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Trading Rules
Info for newbies......
Here is a lot of common words/phrases people use for trading as well as any information that I think may help you to start out trading.
SHN- Shorten format- it is a lossless way of trading live shows via the internet. it is roughly have the size of a wav file. SHN files will not play in regular cd players
WAV- this file format plays in standard cd players
DAO- disc at once. acceptable for trading. no 2 second gap between tracks
TAO- track at once, unacceptable for trading. a 2 second gap between each track.
ISO- in search of
ssia- subject (of message) says it all
IMO- in my opinion
lmao - laugh my ass off
IEM- In Ear Monitor, what the boys use to talk to each other on stage....very illegal to record and trade.
Probably the first step into trading is performing B&P's. This is generally how most people get started into the trading scene. A B&P stand for blanks and postage. If you don't know where to look to sign up for a B&P, generally look in the Taping/Trading Forums on a message board or you can email someone if you see something you like on their list of shows. Remember to be polite when asking for a B&P and don't ask for too much all at once. There are plenty of people who are willing to do B&P's for you.
How To Do A B&P:
Here is what you need.....
(1) A big envelope (doesnt need to be padded)
(2) A smaller padded envelope
(3) A piece of paper for the person doing the B&P
(4) However many CD's you need to be copied
(5) CD sleeves to protect the CD's and to hold them (you dont need to use CD cases)
What to do:
(1) Take the small padded envelope and put the CD's in the sleeves and place them in this envelope. Then write your address in the "sending to" address spot, and the B&Per's address in the return address spot. This is the package they are going to send back to you. Place the appropriate amount of stamps on the package (if you don't know how many to put on, wait til you go to the post office and they can weigh it for you). You cannot have metered mail on this envelope.
(2) Place a note card or piece of paper in the envelope. It should include the following:
A. Your Name
B. Shows they are copying for you
C. Your email
D. A nice message thanking them for doing the B&P for you.
(3) Once you have done all this, DO NOT seal this envelope. Leave it open. Place this envelope inside the larger envelope. Write your address in the return address spot and put the B&Per's address in the "sending to" address spot.
(4) GO to the post office with both of your packages. If you need to have them weigh the smaller envelope, do that and put the appropriate number of stamps on it. Place this envelope in the big envelope and have them weigh them both together. ow you can put stamps on metered mail stamp on the bigger package. I usually ask them to postmark it for the day you are sending it out cause sometimes they do it the day after.
(5) And that is it. Just remember to be nice and polite when going through this process. This person is taking time out of their day to do this for you. Always remember to thank them. And dont forget to let them know when you plan on sending it out and email them again when you actually do. Sometimes I have planned on mailing it out on one day, and I cant do it til the next day. It's just a common courtesy.
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B&P Rules:
These are my guidelines for doing a B&P...I put these here cause I have gotten shows that have not been sent to me correctly, some without postage or the correct number os CD's, etc. So here you go.
1. Ship out your package to me in the timeframe we agree upon. If you dont send it in the allotted time, I may not have time to do it for you once I get the shows....this just seems to be easier for me to do it this way.
2. Do not send priority mail, only USPS. Use sleeves instead of jewel cases. It saves you money and it saves them from getting cracked.
3. Make sure ALL of your packages have the appropriate postage. Do not use metered mail -- only use stamps or first class . If there is not enough postage, I am not going to do the shows for you. Not being to be a jerk, but I am taking the time to do the show for you, I shouldnt have to go to the post office for you.
4. E-mail me the day you send out the package and then I will email you once I get the package and when I am send it back to you.
5. Make sure you let me know when you receive my shows because I want to make sure that we have finished the trade we discussed. That way I know you have gotten what I sent you.
If you have any other questions about B&P's, you can email me at Ants4DMB@hotmail.com
Once you have shows to trade with someone, follow these simple rules when doing so:
1. Only trade shows that are DAO. This means there should be no gap between any of the songs, unlike TAO which is like a studio album and has gaps between the tracks. This is just so that the whole CD sounds like as concert and you don't have the annoying spaces between the songs and have a smooth transition to every song. (look at the list below for meanings of shorted words like this)
2. Don't trade any shows that are an MP3 source. They have less quality than if they were .shn and they sound a lot different than if they weren't. It's just one of those things you don't do.
3. Never send money for any show. It's not necessary. It has been known that there are people who do this, but there is no reaosn to as you can always get shows from people and never pay anything.
4. Make sure you have a notecard in your package to let the trader/B&Per know what they are getting or copying for you. Also make sure your package is a padded envelope so it doesnt get broken in the mail process.
5. Send on the date you and the trader/B&Per agree on so that it gives them enough time to do the shows if it is for a B&P, and to make sure that they can send there shows out the same date if they are doing a trade for you.
6. If there are an skips or flaws in your shows, make sure the person knows that before you trade or B&P shows for them. It keeps you out of trouble and gives the person a chance to tell you if they still want the show anyway.
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The following are some tips I have found online that most people enforce when trading and doing B&P's:
1. If you are looking for a show, wait at least 2 weeks after the date of the shows before asking for it. First of all, some people will yet at you for this, so you just save yourself the trouble. Second, the tapers are busting their ass to get these shwos out there. Let them take there tie and do it right so you can have great sounding shows. Third, if you see B&P's offered up on the boards, it's ok to grasp them, but just don't ask before the 2 weeks is up.
2. When you receive a package, email the perosn who sent it to you letting them know that you got the shows and again, thank them.
3. If someone has screwed you in a B&P or trade, wait a good amount of time before you release their name to the public as a bad trader. Make sure that you try to contact them numerous times to make sure you are at least making an attempt to contact them. Do not release their address, just where they are from, their email, and their name. That is efficient enough.
4. Do as many B&P's as you can.....I think I did about 50 B&P's before I actually start trading.....people are always willing to do them for you.
5. If possible, include the tape/source info.
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Here is the link to the Dave Matthews Band Trading Policy if you would like to read more about it.
http://www.dmband.com/legal_popup.asp
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