Bootleg CD's/DVD's
What do I think of bootlegs? Don't care for them at all. To be perfectly honest I'd rather download albums and concerts from Mediafire than waste my hard earned money on bullshit bootlegs. First off, the artist, the company nor the people who work with the artist don't get paid from bootlegs. Second, they are just retard copies of the original with pretty photocopy replicas on the front to fool you. The disk could skip or completely not work or the quality sucks, hell even the subtitles could have a bunch of mistakes on them. I'm trying to support the artists, not a bunch of thieves who can work photoshop.
Sadly, many new fans who go to cons or surf the net have been duped by bootlegs, and didn't find out until they got home and read the package after they calmed down from excitement. Some actually researched afterwards and found actual retailers that sell the real deal and not only replace the copies, but buy future releases. Unfortunately, the main reason some fans continue to download or buy bootlegs because of the cost of the original works along with shipping has deterred people from buying. Using the simple excuses of, "I'm too poor and the price is so high, why pay $70 for a DVD when I can get a bootleg copy for $20?" or "They are already rich, what difference does it make if I buy a bootleg or download? I mean I still support them, but I won't pay that kind of money for a DVD."
If you are going to use these kinds of excuses to justify not buying, you are by no means a supporter in my opinion. Using "I'm a poor high school or college student" is cliche and useless. Kids, I'm poor, I'm in college, I still live with my parents for Christ sakes, but I still take my ass to work and do my duty. It's called saving up and budgeting. I always take care of my important needs first, and when I have some spare change, I go to a reliable retailer that I usually buy from and get a CD, DVD or magazine. I don't do this weekly or hell, even monthly, I do it when I can. The artists don't care if you get an album the first day or next year, as long you purchase it through the right means. I can attest to the fact that some of these items, CD singles usually, are a tad high for 3-4 songs, but if you look at the DVD's, the prices aren't actually that terrible. A majority of the time you get extras like postcards, posters, keychains, special boxes or booklets, etc. That's where these prices come from, the goodies that come with the works. Believe it or not, it's mostly the shipping charges that eats the bill alive. These kinds of charges the artists and staff are not responsible for even if it is being sold directly from the official store of that artist or company. These are the STANDARD shipping prices, it's not pretty to look at, but that's what you have to pay.
There is a reason for shipping prices, to put it simply, to pay the people who are going to be shipping your stuff to you. Domestic prices are always less because its just going around the country. International prices are a different animal entirely. The artists are reaching out the their local version and if they haven't done so, are trying to find a US and European distributor to put their work on iTunes. They are trying to make it as easy as possible to fans to get legal copies of their music, and these children still want to be stubborn. Most of this music is offered in the US hub for 99 cents a song, for a full album, that's a least $12-$13, same standard US price for CD's! Yet they get, "Why are they using that? I don't even like iTunes :/". Brb while I headdesk until I'm unconscious ._. They are going there because that is where most of the music community is at. How about you suggest to the artists of where else to do the MP3 deal if iTunes is so evil. These kids are so damn picky it's mind boggling.
As for the asshats who are using the "they are rich already, who cares" line, fuck.you. These works aren't made in a quick, fast, and a hurry; they take time. The songs take time to write, the instrumentals take time to arrange and create the melody. It takes time to make the cover art and the booklets. It takes money to copy the cover art, booklets, CD's and packaging of the work. It takes planning and money to create, promote, and record those tours caught on DVD that you like so much. How do you think they were able to use all those theatrics or use confetti, or use fire or any of that other stuff. That shit isn't free to use. The company must get paid for these kinds of things to happen and the staff who helps these plans come to life. These people need to be paid for their services also and they aren't rich at all. All this money comes from CD, DVD and goods sales. It's a never ending circle, you pay them the money, you get your goodies.
By the way, when these artists first started, they didn't start out rich. They were like you and me once. Most of them were just young men and women who lived with their parents, possibly in college, had simple jobs trying to make a living to make ends meet. During the span of time, they found their calling in music. At the very start of making music, they had to find trustworthy staff, buy their equipment, get with a record label, and most importantly, build up a fanbase. During that time, they spent their own money on costumes, makeup and other stuff. Just because they have the money now doesn't mean they don't deserve it. If you have the money to drive or take a plane, and hold a hotel room to go to a fucking anime con to see them live, you can give some money to the artists for their work, there is absolutely no excuse otherwise.
This is why our neck of the woods is getting neglected for concerts, fanclubs, and legal music distribution for Jpop/Jrock and even Kpop. Too many "fans" are being downright selfish and stupid to understand the importance of SUPPORTING THE ARTIST!. The music companies are deeply leery of us due to the constant illegal downloading and buying bootlegs (on purpose), and fear we will not generate enough profit to consider such expensive rewards. They are not interested in us overseas fans as a whole as long as your local moron continues to steal from them. They won't waste their time and money catering to a group of thieving children. If you refuse to support the artists and their companies the correct way, don't expect a damn thing from them. Period!
Sadly, many new fans who go to cons or surf the net have been duped by bootlegs, and didn't find out until they got home and read the package after they calmed down from excitement. Some actually researched afterwards and found actual retailers that sell the real deal and not only replace the copies, but buy future releases. Unfortunately, the main reason some fans continue to download or buy bootlegs because of the cost of the original works along with shipping has deterred people from buying. Using the simple excuses of, "I'm too poor and the price is so high, why pay $70 for a DVD when I can get a bootleg copy for $20?" or "They are already rich, what difference does it make if I buy a bootleg or download? I mean I still support them, but I won't pay that kind of money for a DVD."
If you are going to use these kinds of excuses to justify not buying, you are by no means a supporter in my opinion. Using "I'm a poor high school or college student" is cliche and useless. Kids, I'm poor, I'm in college, I still live with my parents for Christ sakes, but I still take my ass to work and do my duty. It's called saving up and budgeting. I always take care of my important needs first, and when I have some spare change, I go to a reliable retailer that I usually buy from and get a CD, DVD or magazine. I don't do this weekly or hell, even monthly, I do it when I can. The artists don't care if you get an album the first day or next year, as long you purchase it through the right means. I can attest to the fact that some of these items, CD singles usually, are a tad high for 3-4 songs, but if you look at the DVD's, the prices aren't actually that terrible. A majority of the time you get extras like postcards, posters, keychains, special boxes or booklets, etc. That's where these prices come from, the goodies that come with the works. Believe it or not, it's mostly the shipping charges that eats the bill alive. These kinds of charges the artists and staff are not responsible for even if it is being sold directly from the official store of that artist or company. These are the STANDARD shipping prices, it's not pretty to look at, but that's what you have to pay.
There is a reason for shipping prices, to put it simply, to pay the people who are going to be shipping your stuff to you. Domestic prices are always less because its just going around the country. International prices are a different animal entirely. The artists are reaching out the their local version and if they haven't done so, are trying to find a US and European distributor to put their work on iTunes. They are trying to make it as easy as possible to fans to get legal copies of their music, and these children still want to be stubborn. Most of this music is offered in the US hub for 99 cents a song, for a full album, that's a least $12-$13, same standard US price for CD's! Yet they get, "Why are they using that? I don't even like iTunes :/". Brb while I headdesk until I'm unconscious ._. They are going there because that is where most of the music community is at. How about you suggest to the artists of where else to do the MP3 deal if iTunes is so evil. These kids are so damn picky it's mind boggling.
As for the asshats who are using the "they are rich already, who cares" line, fuck.you. These works aren't made in a quick, fast, and a hurry; they take time. The songs take time to write, the instrumentals take time to arrange and create the melody. It takes time to make the cover art and the booklets. It takes money to copy the cover art, booklets, CD's and packaging of the work. It takes planning and money to create, promote, and record those tours caught on DVD that you like so much. How do you think they were able to use all those theatrics or use confetti, or use fire or any of that other stuff. That shit isn't free to use. The company must get paid for these kinds of things to happen and the staff who helps these plans come to life. These people need to be paid for their services also and they aren't rich at all. All this money comes from CD, DVD and goods sales. It's a never ending circle, you pay them the money, you get your goodies.
By the way, when these artists first started, they didn't start out rich. They were like you and me once. Most of them were just young men and women who lived with their parents, possibly in college, had simple jobs trying to make a living to make ends meet. During the span of time, they found their calling in music. At the very start of making music, they had to find trustworthy staff, buy their equipment, get with a record label, and most importantly, build up a fanbase. During that time, they spent their own money on costumes, makeup and other stuff. Just because they have the money now doesn't mean they don't deserve it. If you have the money to drive or take a plane, and hold a hotel room to go to a fucking anime con to see them live, you can give some money to the artists for their work, there is absolutely no excuse otherwise.
This is why our neck of the woods is getting neglected for concerts, fanclubs, and legal music distribution for Jpop/Jrock and even Kpop. Too many "fans" are being downright selfish and stupid to understand the importance of SUPPORTING THE ARTIST!. The music companies are deeply leery of us due to the constant illegal downloading and buying bootlegs (on purpose), and fear we will not generate enough profit to consider such expensive rewards. They are not interested in us overseas fans as a whole as long as your local moron continues to steal from them. They won't waste their time and money catering to a group of thieving children. If you refuse to support the artists and their companies the correct way, don't expect a damn thing from them. Period!