World of Weird Al Yankovic

Why is there a no bootleg rule?

WHiZZi doesn't like them, they're unfair to Al and TBITB, etc.

How can trading concerts be unfair? We aren't selling anything, we aren't stealing. And what is a TBITB?

It cheats the original artists.

TBITB is The Boys in The Band.

All I wanted to know is why was that guy allowed to mail out bootlegs of the special, even if there is a no bootleg rule?

We don't allow concert trading because Al and the band discourage it. And since Al, Bermuda, and possibly other band members read the forum regualrly, we respect their wishes.

We don't allow trading of television shows either, but we kind of look the other way when television shows that are not commercially released are offered through the mail for free (or cost of postage) or via link (on YouTube, for example). Because, the show's not avaialbe for purchase, the owner is not losing money. Also, since it was broadcast on TV, anyone could have taped it themselves anyway.

Once the show is released (or if we know a release is coming), we no longer allow people to use the Forum to distribute copies or link to it. For example, when Al released The Weird Al Show, we asked people stop offering their taped personal copies to others and remove any links where the files could be viewed or downloaded. If A&E ever decides to sell copies of the Biography special, we will do the same.

Dave

To add a little bit to what Dave said, it's pretty clear to most of us that the reason Al discourages bootleg concerts isn't because he's a big meany, but because he wants his work, always, to be the absolute best quality he can manage, and a bootleg concert falls way short of that standard. Besides someday he may decide to release another concert video, and at that point, bootlegs will conflict with our bounden duty as fans to BUY ALL THE AL STUFF IMAGINABLE.

I like to think bootlegs would only help Al's fanbase. I guess as far as concerts go, though, it's pretty pointless. All you'd need is one bootleg for each tour, every concert is (essentially) the same.

Maybe I'm just a lousy Al fan, but how often would you actually WATCH the recorded concerts anyway? I mean WAY: Live is one thing, but fan-made recordings don't usually have that quality.

I'm no fan of bootleg concert videos for any artist. I do enjoy bootleg concert audio, but in Al's case he's so visual and his live performances of songs are a lot like the studio recordings. Yoda, probably, is the most different.