General: It takes a little work, but it'll be much better than going out and buying an overpriced bootleg disc. Sometimes, it seems hard to get something from nothing, but you've got a few things going for you as a newbie. First of all, the generosity of folks on the net. Watch the net for periodic "Newbie Offers", "Beginner Tape Offers", "reverse tape grovels", and Adopt-a-Phreak announcements. Details relevant to each are usually explained with the posting. It might involve trading, but will probable just require you to send money or blanks and postage. There's also the possibility to be a leaf on a tape tree even if you don't have tapes; in fact, that's a great place to be on a tree! There are also print resources. Buy a Relix or Duprees Diamond Blues magazine; the free ads in the back are mostly trading. Write to a couple of people and see if they'll make you a show or two. Don't expect one person to make you more than four tapes at a time. Place you own ad there and offer to send blanks and return postage; a note of thanks might also be appreciated.

Asking tapers at shows: Almost any taper will make you a copy of the show if you come prepared. (It also doesn't hurt to offer a small bribe...a beer or soda etc.) If the first person you approach says no, try someone else. All tapers have to consider previous deals and trades first above just spinning a show for someone. Don't get discouraged if the first person brushes you off. If you're going to a show, bring two blanks in a padded return envelope that has your address and sufficient postage ($3 priority mail) on it. Some guidelines for that, from Jonathan Rozes <jrozes@gumbo.tcs.tufts.edu> (5-8-96):

1. Try to arrange things well before the show. Use the net!
2. Make them do as little work as possible. Instead of just giving somebody a blank, give them a postage-paid, addressed envelope with blanks inside.
3. Meet some tapers. Friends get priority (incidentally, this is why a lot of people don't make tapes for strangers at shows -- they've already got a stack of blanks at home to do for their friends.)
4. If you want cassette copies, be prepared to ask a cassette taper. Many DAT tapers don't mind doing digital dubs but absolutely hate to make analog copies. Some don't even own analog gear.
5. Learn to accept no for an answer. Don't keep pestering somebody once they've made a decision.
6. Don't bother tapers who are busy setting up or tearing down their gear.
7. Have a copy of your list (or URL if you have a web list) if you want to trade for the tapes.

As for tapers, please be up-front; just give a simple yes or no instead of beating around the bush, making excuses, or simply ignoring people.

Adopt-a-Phreak: BJ Davella (formerly <bdavella@student.princeton.edu>, now <JelloPants@aol.com>) runs the Adopt-a-Phreak program, pairing folks without tapes with someone who already has some tapes and is willing to dub for anyone that wants to send blanks. The effort is run about once every two months, between September and May.

Other resources: You may also want to check out Pete Boyle's Weeping Willow Project, other trading resources, and Charlie Dirksen <dirkch00@usfca.edu>. Also, People for a Clearer Phish have started spreading Phish via CDR (recordable discs) trades, not bootlegs.

Beginner no more: And, hey! If you have many tapes (over 50? 100!? 200!?!) post a message and offer this service to the first five, ten, or fifteen folks that respond. Have them send you blanks and tape some of your best for them! You'll be glad you did! It doesn't take 600 hours of Phish to help out the community as a veteran tape trader; if you have any Phish tapes, there's someone who's jealous and would love for you to help them out.

"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.""
-- Mark Twain (1835-1910)"