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Trees

    Trees are formal networks that are setup on permanent or non-permanent basis for distributing (live & legal) music.  They are often called "Trading Trees."  It is like a tree; it has a trunk, main braches and then smaller branches.  I guess you could also visualize a family tree or a flow chart.  It is fairly common to find "CD-R trading Trees" on the internet.  As time progresses, I think we will see more audio & video DVD trees.  Furthermore, as high space external hard drives become more affordable, we will see more "Hard Drive Trees."  This page will provide current information on CD/DVD/Hard Drive Trees that you can join or lead.  

    As a leader, you are responsible for choosing what music you want to distribute, what format is in in (data or audio) and what format (CD/DVD/HD).  You are also responsible for what you distribute.  Do not distribute copyrighted recordings.  There are plenty of negative consequences awaiting you in light of such behavior.  

In order to keep everyone organized I have found this useful & free software program for creating flow charts. Using this will be the responsibility of the Leader.

As a member of a tree you can choose from 2 roles.  You can be a main branch or be a small branch.  A main branch carries similar duties of the leader in that he/she must make copies for people.  The small branch doesn't have any duties.  

How it works:

1) A person who desires to set-up a tree will contact me.  I will set-up a related web page for her or him.  She/He will inform me of what they want to distribute and on what format and how much of that format is necessary.  I will place your name, e-mail address and phone number on that web page so that interested individuals can contact you.  Please refer them to the web page when organizing it.  Once everyone who wants to participate is organized, send me the information (see below).  

2) The leader will organize and assign people to certain roles that they desire in the tree.  He or She will make a graphical chart or text file list including everyone's name, role, address, phone #, and e-mail address.  Once it is all organized, the leader will send this "blueprint" out to everyone who is participating.

3) To begin, the main branches mail a specified number of CD-R/DVD-R/or external Hard Drives plus return shipping to the leader.  You will need to ask the leader how he will accept payment for shipping (cash/check/money order).  There may be several to many main branches all depending on how many subordinate "small branches" join the tree.  Make sure to package your CD/DVD/HD very very very well.  The Post Office has a tendency to damage stuff more often when nearing Christmas time!  How you package it to the leader is how it is returned.  I highly suggest insuring your package and buying delivery confirmation when mailing hard drives!

    P.S. when mailing Hard Drives it would probably be a very good idea to make a sticker/label with your name, address and phone number to attach to the hard drive itself.  That way, you get your exact drive back (and there is no mix-up confusion).  Here is the label that I intend my hard drive tree to use.

    Also, here is a small tutorial I composed to help you buy or build your own external hard drive.  

4) The leader will then make CD-R, DVD-R or Hard Drive copies (hopefully rather punctually), package them up very very very well, and mail them back to you with delivery confirmation & insurance coverage.  

5) Upon receiving their CD/DVD/HD back in functioning position, the main branches will notify their "small branches" (that they were assigned) that they are ready for them to mail out a specified number of CD/DVD/HD to them (the BRANCH).  The branch will then receive the media in the mail, make copies, cash the checks (or what have you), package them very very very well, mail them back to the small branch that sent them...  Okay you get it right?  If not, e-mail me at: recruitingcommunists@hotmail.com

The basic idea is to have the main braches "feed" other "small branches" in their relative area.  This helps speed up the mail delivery process (but it's probably not that noticeable). This idea is taken further when you have international leaders.  As you can already tell, this structure allows for an infinite number of participants and could really get quite big.  With taper-friendly bands you will often see permanent trees so that tour after tour, live recordings consistently flow into the hands of the many.  In combination with the "Tour Tapers" project and a Hard Drive tree, this could really get rolling!

In Addition:

The Leader or Main Branches will handle your hard drives with care.  The post office (or carrier) may not.  That's why this trading tree is very specific as to you insuring your package for the total costs of your external hard drive (likely around $200).  If a Leader or Main Branch receives your hard drive in a damaged or inoperable condition, it is their duty to make a claim with the post office or carrier.  That way the original owner can be reimbursed for his or her incurred expenses.  If you don't insure it, you are risking flushing a lot of money down the toilet!  The Leader and Main Branches will be insuring and using delivery confirmation on all return shipments in order to insure them against loss and to confirm you received you hard drive back.  I would advise the Leader and Main Branches to keep all their shipping receipts, insurance stubs and delivery confirmation stubs until everyone below you has received their HD back in safe and operable condition.  I highly stress the operable part because hard drives are delicate.  Test them right away because the carrier must know within a day or two if the shipment was intact or not.

PS, make sure to package the shipment tightly or with great cushion-type-materials.  What you use to ship it to the leader or main branch is what they will use to send it back to you.

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CD-R Trees: Currently there are no plans for such a tree.  I myself am not motivated in such a way.  I figure there is a greater ability to distribute files via DVD or Hard Drive.  If someone wants to run a CD Tree, please contact me and I will link your coinciding CD trading tree web page.

DVD-R Trees:  Currently there are some plans to do a DVD Video Tree.  Currently, 3 people are in the process of transferring VHS to the DVD format.  Afterwards, this tree will be formalized and ready to roll.  Time wise, I'm thinking around Christmas 2003. 

Hard Drive Tree:  Yes!  We are getting ready and so should you!  Though it may be Christmas by the time this gets rolling, it will be worth it!  So go get an external hard drive right away and sign up!  As the saying goes, "size matters."

Original Website Concept: Scott Bakal.  Updated on August 31, 2003 by Ryan Mulberger.