This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What is "B&P" and how do I do it? As a Phish or tape-trading newbie, you may not have good decks to trade with, or even tapes (much less good tapes) to trade, but that doesn't mean you can't get tapes. Many people (both traders and tapers) are willing to dub tapes for you if you send them blanks and postage. This page is somewhat out of date. You may also wish to consult McNichol's B&P Instructions. Please be courteous to those spinning tapes for free (which is what this process requires of them). Make it as easy as possible for the taper to get the tapes from, and back to you, especially in competitive situations (when there are many people responding to a tape offer). Here are some tips for making that process go smoothly for all involved. (This is all condensed from posts 1/12/96 by Dean Budnick, 1/13/96 by Jake Hall , and 11/2/96 by Charlie Dirksen.) How to ask: Offer to dub for others (and be serious about it). Even the greatest tape request is lacking and might be rejected if this KEY element is missing. Tell a story, perhaps one that is amusing, about why you want a certain tape/show. Preferably one worth telling and worth hearing. Even if it is utter bullshit. Be sure to include a ;^) at the end if indeed it is fraudulent, otherwise, the person to whom you are requesting a tape may believe -- perhaps unwiiiiisely -- that you are trying to cleverly bullshit him or her. Some of the best tape requests I've read are ones discussing the requestor's reasons for wanting a show ("I was there and BLAH BLAH BLAH happened.."). Afford the person from whom you're requesting a dub, respect but not honor -- demi-God status AT MOST, IF AT ALL. Treating them like God may prove offensive, which is why demi-God admiration may be more effective. Especially keep in mind that everyone can worship and praise, but not everyone can craft a creative story or email. Usually the most excellent requests contain NO worship and praise, except of the show being requested. Perhaps, and this is a big PERHAPS, offer stuff to the person from whom you are requesting tapes. Anything except $ - no money; honorable tapers won't accept it. Even if it is the lint from the floor of your room (but preferably items that are worth a little more, like tape labels, a sticker, a scale from an 83 pound black drum fish, a weird postcard, incense, NYE ping pong balls, Halloweencandy, mysterious keys, a bizarre token, that lame t-shirt you never wear anymore, a ludicrously lame poster... anything that might set your request apart from another, but not something which might be construed as a bribe (id est, an item with serious cash value), since trying to bribe someone is usually automatic disqualification at best, and public flamehendge at worst. Remember to say 'please', and 'thank you,' and be kind to those less fortunate than yourself... What to mail: Generally: your name, snail mail address, email address, what you wanted dubbed, and return postage Make certain to send the correct brand (usually Maxell XLIIs, sometimes XLIISs or MX (metals); sometimes TDK or Sony) and lengths (eg 60 min, 90min, 100 min, or 110min) of tapes Only send new tapes; don't reuse tapes. Include tape cases and j-cards, unless the person taping says that you may do otherwise. Not only is it much less hassle to deal with a stack of tapes if they're in cases, but the cases have a purpose: you don't want the tape to come loose or the tape housing to be stressed. Moreover, some tapers will actually dub your tapes before your blanks arrive, and if you send different brands or lengths you'll just complicate things, and perhaps anger them. Mail tapes in a padded envelope inside of the normal "big yellow" envelope, and/or include a return label with your address and postage inside the padded envelope that you're mailing in. Include a message telling the taper your address and other relevant information, perhaps print out one of your email messages as a simple reminder. Also, tape a piece of paper to each blank stating what show is supposed to go on it. Type out some labels of your address and their address (two of each even), and tape them securely to both envelopes. Postal machines will rip labels off in no time if you're not careful. Send postage not cash -- it's B&P not B&C. Finally, either go to your local post office and get the guy to 1st, weigh and put postage on the padded envelope, then get them to weigh and put postage on the "big yellow" envelope with the padded envelope inside of it. After they're done, kindly ask them to seal it up for you and ship away. When you get home, email a short message to the trader saying, "My tapes went out today, (date). Please let me know when you mail them out, and thanks again for your time and effort" or something to that effect. Miscellaneous: Be patient. It may take days; it'll probably take weeks, at least 2 and maybe 3 to 6. It shouldn't take months, but in some cases it might. Do not mail the person every few days inquiring about the status of your tapes. Truthfully, this hasn't been a problem for me but I've heard horror stories about this one from others. Do not try to bribe the person into sending you additional tapes (i.e. I'll send you a few bucks if you spin me a few more shows)- people who are spinning for free are not doing it to make money, we're trying to get tapes around, remembering what it was like to start collections of our own. You should NEVER have to send two blanks to get one dubbed! If some COMPLETE JACKASS tries to rip you off in this manner, you should post a public message to the net about it (assuming the COMPLETE JACKASS hasn't already announced to the net that he wants two blanks for every one he dubs). People will dub for you just for the ability to be nice and share great music. Don't be fooled by the assholes out there. And when someone offers to dub for you, if you don't recognize their name from the net, and you question their reliability, getting (and using) a phone number is enormously recommended. Communication. Communication. Communication... Thanks also to Brian M. Gordon. "I felt at Big Cypress so relaxed and so much part of a thing much bigger than us. This amazingly cool group of people in the audience, and hooked up on the Internet. It was a turning point in my mind about this potential that had just appeared. This community that has been created around the four of us. That's why my mind is on this type of music that is a positive community-building activity. I feel the cool thing about the Internet is the availability of all kinds of music in the world. I hope a new kind of music will come out of all this. I hope that some form of non-commercial, ritualistic, spiritual music is the end product."" -- Trey, quoted in 7/3/00 SonicNet" This page last updated February 03, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.