Tape Trading Guidelines

I'm afraid the glory days of tape trading are long gone for me. I no longer have the expendable income and time to keep on top of large amounts of tape trades. Therefore it is very possible that I will not be able to make a tape trade with you. I can only spend so much on blank tapes, and when they're out, they're out. However I do my best to arrange something with every interested party: if I can't trade I'll try to make copies for you anyway.

If you wish to get some of the tapes on my list, and you have concert tapes to trade me, then please get in contact with me. Let me know which tapes you are interested in, and send me a copy of your tape list. If you have a web page you can just send me the link. I'll look over your list and get back to you. If I can make a trade, we'll proceed, just look over my guidelines below. If I can't make a trade you can probably still get your tapes. Just check out the One-Way Trade section below.

If you would like some of my tapes, but don't have any tapes to trade, do not fear. I try to do what I can for newbies. Just skip down to the One-Way Trade section.

If you are new to tape trading, or if I'm not able to arrange a trade with you, just follow the guidelines below.

• Because of the work involved in making tapes, and the numbers of requests I've received in the past, I have to restrict the number of one-way trades I can do. Unless there is an inordinate amount of people waiting I will take on all requests. But I cannot make promises as to how soon I will complete them. I will promise that I will complete at least one set of tapes each week, in the order that I receive them.

• Also in terms of limiting the time I spend doing this, I must ask that each trade be restricted in terms of numbers of tapes. If you are arranging an one-way trade with me then please restrict it to three tapes at a time. (That's three physical tapes, not three shows). If you want more tapes, feel free to request them, just do so as a separate request. That way I don't get tied up on one big order.

• To initiate the trade, please e-mail me and let me know which shows you are interested in. If you have any questions about the shows, feel free to ask. I will write back to you and let if the trade sounds all right. At this point I will also try to give you an estimate as to how many sets I have waiting to be done. That way you'll have an idea how long it might take, and a chance to bail if it's too long for you.

• If all goes well, you can prepare to send your tapes to me. This is how it works. Send me however many blank tapes I'll need to copy these concerts for you (no more than three). I don't care what type of tapes you send, since you're going to be the one listening to them. However I would reccomend Type II tapes for your own benefit. Put them in a padded envelope (!, no boxes or paper envelopes please). I would suggest keeping the plastic tape cases yourself. It's up to you, but they often break in transit, and just add to the cost of shipping. Inside the envelope you will need to include two more things. One, postage for the return voyage. Basically include as many stamps as it's going to take for me to send the tapes back to you (which will be the same as it cost you to send them to me). I prefer stamps rather than cash, but I won't rip up your tapes if you send cash. Two, please include mailing labels for the return trip. With your address preprinted. That way I can just slap them over the old ones, slap on the stamps and away we go.

• If all is done accordingly, then I will spin your tapes and send them back to you. I will include printed tape inserts with the setlists and tape info, as well as label the tapes. And as said before I will get to them as soon as I can, depending on how many others I have waiting. I'll try to keep you notified by e-mail as to the status of the tapes.