FAQs - B&P (Blanks and Postage)
Q: How do I build my bootleg collection if I can't buy bootlegs?
A: Many traders are willing to do what are called ‘blank trades’ with new traders. It is listed in their profile if they are willing to do so. Additionally, in the trading section of the messageboard on livehole.com (link) you will find a monthly B&P tree thread where CD and DVD bootlegs that are newly surfaced, or have not been widely circulated are being offered.
Q: What are "blank trades?"
A: Blank trading involves the person seeking the show sending either blank discs or blank discs plus return postage to the person that has the show. There are two types of blank trades, 2:1 and B&P.
2:1 trading means sending two blank discs to the person that has the CD(s) or DVD(s) you want for every one disc that you want them to copy. That person sends back a copy of the show and keeps the other disc to cover the cost of shipping. B&P means sending the number of blank discs equal to the number of discs you want copied plus return postage to the person that has the CD(s) or DVD(s). The return postage can be estimated by the traders or a postage-paid or stamped envelope can be included with the blanks.
Q: What is a B&P tree?
A: A B&P tree is a great way to get a show circulating to many people. The person who starts the tree is the “trunk.” They offer the show to a certain number of people (“branches”). Those people, in turn, offer the show to certain number of people (“leaves”). The “leaves” may be people who don’t have burners and cannot offer the show to others or if they do have burners they can choose to continue offering the show by B&P or they can offer another show up for B&P, becoming the trunk for that show.
This works very well as long as everyone who signs on to participate does their part. For example, if I open three slots for Hole’s 10/26/94 show and each of the people who receive the show from me offer at least three slots then at least twelve people end up with the show. If I offer five slots for that show and so does everyone that receives from me, thirty people end up with the show.
As stated, there will be a monthly B&P tree thread on the livehole.com message board, which will, we hope, have a few different trees for a few different shows on both CD and DVD. (Though until more members have DVD burners it is likely that DVD trees will just consist of “trunks” and “leaves.”)
Q: What are the rules for the B&P trees on holelive.com?
1. You must be a registered user who is not on the Bad Traders List to participate in the B&P trees.
2. When you offer to start a B&P tree for a show, please post all available information about the show, including source and generation info if available.
3. When offering a show for B&P in the tree (as a trunk, branch, or leaf), you may ask traders to send a blank and up to one dollar if they are in the same country as you or two dollars if they are outside your country. This should adequately cover postage. However, it is preferred that the trader send a stamped or postage-paid envelope when possible. This is the most accurate way to pay for postage and the most fair to both parties. If there is a problem with either getting the currency needed or a postage-paid envelope, a 2:1 may be done instead of a B&P.
4. Artwork will NOT be traded with the CDs or DVDs in the B&P trees, so you should not expect to receive it.
5. Jewel cases should NOT be sent with CDs or DVDs for B&Ps. They crack easily and they increase shipping expenses. If you like to keep your discs in jewel cases, keep your jewel case. Mail your disc in a paper sleeve. You should also mail your disc in a padded envelope. Your disc will be sent back to you in the same envelope it is shipped in, so if you ship it in a plain envelope, it will be shipped back to you like that, and if the disc gets damaged, the person who copied the disc for you will not be responsible.
6. When you want a slot in a B&P tree, you MUST POST IN THE THREAD to claim your slot from a person, stating specifically that you would like a slot for “Name/Date of Show” from “User Name.” Do NOT email or PM the person offering the show. This creates confusion because then it is not obvious to everyone how many slots are left.
7. After you have posted in the thread, it is your responsibility to PM or email the person offering the show for their address.
8. You must send the blank and postage WITHIN ONE WEEK OF POSTING YOUR REQUEST FOR THE SHOW IN THE THREAD. Likewise, the person offering the show must send the copied show back WITHIN ONE WEEK OF RECEIVING THE B&P. If packages are not sent quickly, within this time frame, then the entire tree is slowed down. All packages that are sent outside of the sender’s country must be sent airmail. If you claim a slot and the person you claim it from doesn’t receive your blank and postage in a timely fashion, your slot can be opened up again and if you do this repeatedly you will be barred from future B&P trees. If you don’t send people B&Ps back in a timely fashion, you will also be barred from future B&P trees.
9. If you are a branch, once you receive a CD from the B&P, you must IMMEDIATELY offer it in the thread. You must open at least as many slots as the trunk offered. (If three slots were originally offered, you must offer three, but you are welcome to offer more.)
10. If you are a leaf and you have a burner, once you receive a CD from the B&P, you must IMMEDIATELY post in the thread and either offer at least as many slots as originally offered for that same CD or you must start a B&P tree for another show.
11. Every show that is offered in the B&P tree MUST be burned DAO and according to our CD Burning and Trading guidelines laid out in this FAQ. Before you offer a show, whether you are starting a tree or continuing one as a branch or a leaf, listen to it. Make sure that there are no TAO gaps between tracks or any other errors on your CD.
12. If the trunk makes generation information available for the disc they are offering, all those who receive the cd from them MUST keep track of the generation information (and all information given about a show), include the generation of their copy in their trading list, and pass on this information to the people they trade and B&P with.
13. Traders can choose to substitute a trade for a B&P. By this I mean, if User 2 asks User 1 for a slot in a B&P they are offering and User 1 sees something on User 2’s trading list that they are interested in, User 1 can ask User 2 to trade instead, however User 2 must still agree to offer the show received from User 1 as a B&P in the tree so there are no holes in the B&P tree.
14. By participating in the B&P you are agreeing that you will not sell any CD received in the B&P tree, not the copy you receive, not copies you make. CDs received from the B&P are for trading or doing B&Ps only!
15. Violation of these rules can result in being banned from future B&P trees and from this site.
Q: What are some alternatives to sending cash through the mail?
A: Try sending stamps, or enough blank cdrs to make up for the difference. Make sure you ask your trader first which one they prefer. Sending extra blanks is often referred to as "2:1 Trading", because 2 blanks are usually sent for every they use to burn.