What is so bad about bootlegs?

[Phan#24601]

So, why do most of the posters on BroadwayWorld.com hate bootlegs of shows so much? I know the obvious answer is that bootlegs can distract from the ticket sales, but if I see a good recording of a show, and enjoy the show, it only encourages me to actually see the show. I mean, I saw this great bootleg reording of "next to nomal", and was inspired to buy the OBC because of it. I would still love to see it onstage, too. I guess they could work either way, depending on the person, bu doesn't the same thing happen with film versions? Fo example: I, personally, love the movie version of "Little Shop of Horrors", but would never really want to see it on stage. What's your take on all this?

[Jordan Catalano]

People don't hate them, they hate the public discussion of them in threads that just call attention to their existence.

Like this one.

[Phan#24601]

Ok, sorry.

[aasjb4ever]

and

[DooWahDiddy]

To this I will only say that you SHOULD want to see Little Shop live on stage, because it's very different from the movie and that score deserves to be heard as many times as is humanly possible in one's lifetime.

That is all.

[FindingNamo]

What is so bad about bank robbery?

[N2N Nate.]

I think bootlegs are fine to watch once the show has closed. Many Broadway performers have bootlegs of the shows they have been in. Seth Rudetsky has always been open about himself owning bootlegs of musicals. I'm positive most on here have watched a bootleg or two.

[Mr Roxy]

Should you than go to the day every night to hear it?

Some cannot afford it while others may not be able to access it for whatever reason. The answer to the question sometimes the quality is bad.Since you cannot buy them legally I see no problem with it

Somes go to Canal St in NYC for a knockoff Rolex as they cannot afford the realone.Same thing here

[Liza's Headband]

Alright broadway guy/N2N Nate, we'll let you take on the job of regulating when people can watch a bootleg and when they cannot.

[N2N Nate.]

I could care less if/when people watch Bootlegs.

[Liza's Headband]

Read your original post. Then read my response. Then stop and think about it. Cheers

[bwayphreak234]

^ Hahahaha, that made me laugh, Liza

I have no problem with them whatsoever, and I actually have an extensive collection of them, but it's taboo on here to talk in detail about them, and rightfully so.

[Sutton Ross]

There's nothing wrong with bootlegs. Talk about them, don't talk about them. Just enjoy them and ignore rude people on here with absolutely nothing to contribute to the discussion.

[Mr Roxy]

Imagine how many legal DVD'S of the Boy From Oz could have been sold either inside the theater or after the show closed. All involved are shooting themselves in the foot by not being more flexible on the matter of recording shows.

[AEA AGMA SM]

I generally don't have a problem with them, until I see people charging for them. That does bother me because then people are indeed making money (and I'm not talking about the cases where it's clearly just covering the costs of shipping and the blank DVD, of VHS in the olden times).

[Mr Roxy]

$ 8 for one is not exactly making a fortune for the person selling them.

The unsung heroes are those who hold a camera for 2 hours to record it.

[AEA AGMA SM]

$8 seems very reasonable to me (probably just covering postage and supplies), but I've seen people ask for much more than that for bootlegs. Back in the days of Yahoo Groups I was part of one that would regularly see people asking for $50 for one, and then they would only actually "sell" it if a certain number of people would agree to pay. In the earlier days of ebay I remember a CD-R of Carrie could go for quite a bit of money (assuming that the auction didn't get shut down). I've been out of the bootleg loop for quite some time, but I can't imagine that nobody out there is trying to make money off of these.

[CATSNYrevival]

Not gonna say who, but some of the posters on here who jump on others for even mentioning bootlegs are the ones with the biggest collections.

Personally, I don't mind bootlegs. I own a few. I enjoy them and it would never keep me from seeing the show live if a tour came to town. Audio bootlegs are often my first exposure to new musicals opening on Broadway as well, prior to getting the cast album.

[songanddanceman2]

I love them, I have about a 1000 on DVD and go to the theatre every week

[best12bars]

I have a love/hate relationship with them. I'm grateful for their existence and for the opportunity it gives me and others to see an original production from 30, 40, or even more years ago. But I aslo understand this opportunity comes at the expense of other people. And t's absolutely akin to robbery.

But at the same time, I do see that it serves as a tool to get people interested in the shows and the performances. Often it can lead to future tickets or cast recordings being sold because of an exposure to a bootleg recording.

I'm sure some feel it can serve as a replacement for seeing a show, but for some it can also get them so worked up they have to come to NY and see it.

[Jane2]

this is one of the dumbest and most clueless threads I've read in a long time.

Namo, that went right over their heads.

[darreyl102]

I LOVE bootlegs and have many (as I have mentioned before). I see both sides of the opinion- good and bad. They have never stopped me from seeing a show as there are certain things you can’t experience on DVD that you can seeing it live. There are certain things- rushes, Goosebumps ect. That I get from Live theatre that I can’t from a DVD. One example is during the overture from ‘The Addams Family’ When the Addams Family Ancestors start vocalizing while the curtain rises. And during Material Girl in ‘Priscilla’ when there is this bass build up that gets louder and louder. Those kind of things I can’t experience on a DVD. I am very thankful for bootlegs because many shows would be lost forever without them and we would only have our memories of them. Many actors also love having copies of their shows- in fact, I actually get emails all the time from Broadway actors looking for copies of their shows.
I can only Imagine Patti Lupone’s opinion on this.
- I also agree that making a profit is NOT okay at all.

[nsguy45]

The press reel for Oz was ninety minutes long and included all of the musical numbers in crystal clear quality.

[Kelly2]

I have a problem with people who sell bootlegs. Making money off of other peoples' time and talent is pretty gross and I wouldn't want to have any part of that.

That being said, I do have several bootlegs that have been given to me over the years, so I'd be a hypocrite to decry their existence altogether. They just leave me a bit uneasy. I also have issues with those who film them so obviously that it is a distraction to the audience and performers. I sat near to a girl trying to video Kinky Boots once and she was too far for me to say anything, but the light was so irritating and she was only a few rows from the stage. Luckily, an usher dealt with her before long.

[Sutton Ross]

"this is one of the dumbest and most clueless threads I've read in a long time.

Namo, that went right over their heads."

Aw Jane, bless your heart. Nothing went over anyone's head, we just chose to ignore something stupid (bootlegging, hahahahahaa prohibition) because it has nothing to do with the thread. If you think the thread is clueless and dumb, then don't comment on it. Easy enough.

I have been looking for a bootleg copy of Next To Normal since I have even never seen it. Bootlegs are awesome except for weirdos who want like 50 dollars for them.